The Times 1831 - 1840 27 Jan-09 Nov 1837 Destitute Jane Turner

27 Jan-09 Nov 1837 Destitute Jane Turner

POLICE - DESTITUTE JANE TURNER MANSION-HOUSE. - Jane TURNER, a Belfast woman, in the depth of poverty, pregnant, and having a child in her arms, and five half-naked children in her train, was brought before the LORD MAYOR by a policeman, who had, on the preceding night, conveyed them in a most deplorable condition from the street to the Giltspur-Street Compter. The policeman stated that he found the woman and her wretched family at half-past 11 o'clock on Wednesday night, near the private door of the Mansion-house. She told him that she had come to town from Saffron Waldon for the purpose of taking a last farewell of her husband, who had been transported for life for what she was told was forgery, and she showed him a letter from the unfortunate convict abounding with affection, and expressive of his anxiety to see his children before his final departure. She also said that upon arriving at Woolwich she learned that he had sailed for his destination, and that, after all the suffering which she had experienced, she was most desirous to receive some help in her walk from London to Manchester. The LORD MAYOR having read the letter, asked the woman whether her husband had written it. The woman replied that he had not, for he could not write. The LORD MAYOR. - How, then, could he have committed forgery? The Woman. - I don't know how they could make him guilty, your Lordship; for I know he can't write a word; but he was tried on the 17th of October at Saffron Waldon. Well I remember the day. The policeman said, that as far as he was able to collect from what she had told him he husband had been charged with having had something to do with forged passes, by which paupers imposed on parishes. The Woman. - That's the case, I believe, your Lordship. He was taken up with another man and woman and tried for the forgery, and they made him out guilty, though he said he was innocent, and God knows I believe him. He used to go about the country to support all of us, and in less than six weeks there'll be another of us in the wide world, and nobody to help us. Oh, you don't know what a power of misery I've suffered since he was taken from us. The LORD MAYOR. - Whatever might have been his degree of guilt, it is evident that you are a great sufferer. But what reason have you for thinking that your husband has been transported for life. The Woman. - Sure there's nobody could have the heart to tell me an untruth! I know well they have not, for I got a petition drawn up that was signed by the minister and the people that know me to the King's Minister, and I brought it up to London with me, for they all thought he wouldn't be sent away from me. The LORD MAYOR. - Are you sure that this is not a made-up story? The Woman. - I'll suffer to be parted from my poor children as well as from him for ever if I tell a word that isn't true. The minister and neighbours in Saffron Waldon did all they could, but we never got an answer from the King's Minister. They were so good to me that I must have perished along with all these poor things and the one that's not born yet, but for them. At Deptford too, that I just came up from, I got such kind help from Mrs. STONE, a lady that only lives, I believe, to help such poor creatures as myself. The LORD MAYOR. - Are all these children your own. The Woman. - Oh then, He knows it that knows all our hearts. There's the oldest, she has never been well since her father was took up. The LORD MAYOR. - She looks ill; what is her age? The Woman. - Thirteen years old. There's just two years difference between each of them. Their father wished to see them so much before he'd go that it broke my heart more than anything else that he went without it. The LORD MAYOR. - And what do you propose to do? The Woman. - My father and mother are at Manchester, and I want to go to them. They are very poor and able to give me but little assistance; but I trust in God, we could get some of the children off our hands, and then I could work for the rest. The LORD MAYOR. - Some inquiry shall be made, and in the mean time you and your children shall be taken care of at my expense, and you shall have covering and shoes. I have been frequently imposed upon, but I hope and believe that it is not the case now. The Woman. - May God reward you, and I hope you will ask if I an't telling the truth, my Lord; and if you find me out saying a word that's false, send me to prison, and keep me there for ever. Some kind-hearted creatures who witnessed this scene were much affected at it, and gave the most convincing proof of their humanity. Oct 31, 1837 QUEEN-SQUARE. - Yesterday a woman of most deplorable appearance, named Jane TURNER, was brought before Mr. GREGORIE, with her six children, one of them not more than 18 months old, and the whole of them without shoes or stockings, and scarcely a rag to cover them, charged with being in a state of destitution, and having no visible means of supporting herself or children. Police-constable Thomas DURKIN, A division, stated, that he found the poor creature yesterday afternoon crouched up upon the step of a door in Cockspur-street, surrounded by her children, who were almost perished with cold, and calling loudly for something to eat. Witness saw 2½d. given to her, and in consequence of the pavement being obstructed, he took the whole party to the station-house, considering that something would  be done for them in the shape of relief upon their being brought before the magistrates. Mr. GREGORIE. - They appear to be in a most wretched condition. What money did you find upon them? Constable. - Only 2½d., which I saw given to them. The woman upon being interrogated by the magistrate said, that she was heartbroken to see her children dying in the streets from hunger. Her husband had unfortunately been transported, and she had ever since been in a state of destitution. Mr. GREGORIE. - How long has he been transported? Defendant. - Nearly a year. He was sentenced to transportation for life for forgery, at Saffron Waldon, Essex. Mr. GREGORIE. - What parish do you belong to? She said that her husband was a native of Carlisle, and upon his being transported she received two sovereigns, upon a petition, from the Lord Mayor of London, to pass her and her children to that place, but upon their arrival there relief of any kind was refused them. She in consequence came to London to seek employment, but she did not know any person to apply to. She also said that when her husband was transported she had seven children, the youngest of whom died from want of proper attention. Mr. GREGORIE ordered the criminal records to be searched, and it was found that a man named TURNER was transported from Saffron Waldon about the time she stated. Mr. GREGORIE. - There is no doubt but that the story of this unhappy woman is true, and it is a very distressing case. I shall order their bellies to be filled before I come to a decision. They were then taken into the outer office and supplied with a quantity of bread and cheese; after eating which they were again brought before the magistrate. Mr. GREGORIE said, that the only manner in which he could deal with the case would be to send them to prison, where they would be taken care of. If he were to discharge them, they might perish in the streets. They were then committed to Tothill-fields for 15 days, in order that their case might be inquired into by the visiting magistrates of the prison. The poor woman, upon leaving the bar, said that she had experienced kinder treatment from this office than from any of the workhouses to which she had applied. Nov 09, 1837 QUEEN-SQUARE. - Yesterday CHAPMAN and DANIELS, officers of the Mendicity Society, attended before Mr. GREGORIE, at the request of that magistrate, to make a report respecting a woman named Jane TURNER, and her six children, who were committed to Tothill-fields prison from this office on Monday-week for 15 days, having been found by a police constable of the B division, in a most miserable state, crouched up upon the step of a door in Cockspur-street, Charing-cross. It will be recollected that this case was very fully reported on the following day (Tuesday). The mother was surrounded by her children, who were crying loudly for food, not having tasted any for more than a day; the policeman observing this, and also that they were very indigently clad, not having either stockings or shoes, took them to the station-house, with a view that upon their being brought before the magistrate they might be relieved. It appeared, upon her examination before Mr. GREGORIE, that her husband had been transported for life from Saffron Walden, Essex, for having attempted to impose upon that parish by presenting a forged pass, and from that time she and her children had been entirely destitute. Her husband's parish was Carlisle, but she could not obtain any relief from that place, and during her journey to London one child out seven died for want of proper attention. The Mendicity officers said, that what the poor woman had stated was true, and added, that a few months since she and her six surviving children were found upon the steps of the Mansion-house, in the last stage of destitution, and relieved. Mr. GREGORIE said that in consequence of the publication in the newspapers he had received 5L. from a Mr. MARTIN, of Liverpool, and that with other sums which had been forwarded would convey her again to her husband's parish. The magistrate added that they would be discharged from the prison next Monday, and requested that Mr. KNEVITT, the assistant manager of the Mendicity Society, would by that time obtain a passage for them to Carlisle, and if there were anything additional to pay, he was to apply to him.

 

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