Catherine Bloomfield A prolific Victorian Thief

Catherine Bloomfield, a widow with a prolific criminal record for larceny.

Born on 2 June 1839, she was recorded on her record as being a widow with no trade and a mother of one child. She also had numerous aliases throughout her criminal history, known as Elizabeth Montague and Emily Bloomfield.

While serving one of her many sentences it was noted she had suffered some kind of mania and was incoherent and refusing to eat. However, Catherine was also known to deceive the wardens and other prisoners. On a few occasions she ended up in closed confinement due to being abusive.
On her record, this slight built woman was reported by the Superintendent of the prison to be very violent in the infirmary and abusive towards the medical officer.

Catherine through her prison records proves to be an unpopular character within the prisons she served in. Her criminal history spans from approximately 1865 through to 1883.


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Sarah Anne Swann Child Murderer

Sarah Ann Swann, 25, was indicted for the willful murder of her newborn child.

The prisoner had been a domestic servant to Mr Gould, a licensed victualler. On the 22 November 1880 she was under notice to leave her duties. Early on that morning she complained of illness and a medical man was called. She left at 9am, however by 10.30 the landlord of the public house heard a noise of groaning from the coal cellar.

The potman found a newly born female child, lying on the coals, quite naked, with a piece of coal on her head. The child was quickly taken to the infirmary, where sadly she died the same night. On the child was found a lacerated wound and other injuries on the child's head, and had died from effusion of blood on the brain caused by the injuries and cold exposure.

Sarah Ann Swann had a verdict of manslaughter served on her and was sentenced to five years penal servitude.

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Mary Ann Jones larceny, stealing and prostitution

Mary Ann Jones aged 44 years, a widow with one daughter. She had a colourful record of illegal activities under numerous aliases.

Ann Jones also known as Ann Webb on the 18th December 1874, was fined 1shilling (s) and costs for drunk and disorderly.

On the 30th October 1875 was found to be soliciting prostitution. Fined 5 shillings and costs.

On the 20th November 1875 again soliciting prostitution. Fined 10 shillings and costs.

A change of direction on breaking the law, on the 30th December 1875 was found to be housebreaking - discharged.
April 1876 stealing a purse and 4s 6d. Four month jail sentence.

At Bow Street Police Station under another alias of Mary Jane Jones further criminal charges arose. On the 5th April 1879 rogue and vagabond, 2 months imprisonment.

On 11th October 1879 a charge of larceny from a person, sentenced to 4 months.

Her longest sentence was once again for larceny and stealing with another female accomplice. On the 16th April 1885 she was sentenced to 5 years penal servitude. As the Deputy Recorder remarked "it is a scandal to society that persons like Jones should be allowed to go about and prey upon it, and society should be protected from such persons who would not work honestly for their living".

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