In January of 1854 the Station Inn (also known as the Railway Inn) on Westgate did a roaring trade. The inn was quite a substantial property and consisted of three excellent cellars, two sitting rooms, a tap room, a bar, a kitchen and a larder on the ground floor. On the upper floor was a splendid billiard room. private sitting room, a store room and eight convenient lodging rooms. A dwelling house adjoined the property along Westgate was used as offices by architect Mr John Axelby. The Station Inn was run by a man called James Allen, who quickly established good local trade, combined with the proximity of the railway station across the road, generally ensured good business. Occasionally Allen was so busy at the inn that his sister, Margaret Waugh would come and help. On a market day it was usually so crowded, that for the past year Allen had also employed a married woman Mrs Jane Knowlson as a cook to help out in the kitchen. The other staff he regularly employed consisted of two women cleaners named Margaret Dyson and Mary Tansey. At some point around the previous Christmas, Allen began to suspect that he had a thief on the premises. He called in Sergeant Timms who made a note that bottles of sherry, brandy and other spirits had disappeared. Making an inventory, Allen discovered that there were also other items missing apart from alcohol, which including lump sugar, a bottle of capers, knives, forks, two silk handkerchiefs, table cloths, curtains and bedding. The landlord also found that a pair of boots which he had last worn on Christmas Day, had also disappeared. Sergeant Timms asked him about his relations with his staff, which he told them was very good, although he admitted there had been some disputes between Jane Knowlson and the two part time cleaning women.

When items continued to go missing, Mr Allen decided that it was time to take action. Consequently at 5 am on the morning of 22 January 1854, Sergeant Timms and two constables as well as Allen’s sister, Margaret Waugh called at the lodgings on Westgate where Mary Tansey resided with her husband. The sergeant told her that he had come to apprehend her on suspicion of stealing certain articles from Mr Allen’s house. Tansey denied all knowledge, but nevertheless the rooms were searched and in her box he found two bottles of brandy, two bottles of gin and three bottles of port wine. The woman claimed that she had been given the wine and gin on New Years Eve by Jane Knowlson. She claimed that the other cleaner, Margaret Dyson had also given her the brandy during a recent, severe snow storm. Tansey was arrested and placed in a cell. Later that same morning at noon Sergeant Timms still accompanied by the landlord’s sister Margaret Waugh, went to Margaret Dyson’s lodgings which she shared with her husband on Wellgate, Rotherham. The couple were still in bed as the Sergeant told the woman that she was suspected of stealing some port wine, spirits and other items from Mr Allen’s house, and once again he searched the rooms. At this point Margaret Dyson also claimed that she had been given some port wine and brandy by the cook, Jane Knowlson on New Years Day, along with two pitchers of wine. Sergeant Timms read out to her the list of stolen articles, and Dyson admitted that he would find some of them in her husband’s box. Searching it, the sergeant also found more bottles of cherry brandy, port wine and gin and the two silk handkerchiefs. Margaret Dyson was also arrested and taken to the Rotherham police station and placed in a cell. Several of the items which had been recovered were shown to Mr Allen who identified them as his own property. When the landlord heard the women’s statements, he told them that he had never authorised Jane Knowlson to give either women any alcohol. His sister Margaret Waugh was also shown some of the recovered items and she identified some bolster pillow slips, which she had made herself, three glass cloths and a window blind which she confirmed was her brothers property.

Whilst the two woman were in the calls, later that morning the sergeant returned with landlord, Mr Allen to the rooms belonging to the Dyson’s at the lodging house on Westgate to search more thoroughly. His search was rewarded. There he found some boots under the bed which Mr Allen identified as those he had last seen on Christmas Day. Richard Dyson told him that the boots were not stolen, and claimed that he had bought the boots off a tramp. A quantity of knives and forks were also found, which  Dyson claimed he had bought at Barnsley. Sergeant Timms and Mr Allen then went to Mary Tansey’s lodgings and found a valuable snuff box, hidden between the mattress and the bed, some curtains and two pictures, all of which were identified as being stolen from the Station Inn. More wine was also found, which again Mr Tansey said had been given to his wife by Jane Knowlson. The two cleaning women Tansey and Dyson were charged with stealing, and their respective husbands were charged with receiving the stolen items. To her horror Jane Knowlson was also charged with stealing the items, which she denied.

All five prisoners were brought before the Earl of Effingham at the Rotherham Petty Session on Monday 23 January 1854. They were all found guilty and sent to take their trial, but because of her good character, only Jane Knowlson was allowed bail. By the time the prisoners were due to take their trial at the Sheffield Intermediate Sessions on Tuesday 28 February, only the two Tansey’s and the Dyson’s appeared before the bench. In the interim Jane Knowlson had been cleared of all guilt, following positive statements from solicitor Mr Joseph Badger, and Mr Bland the Superintendent of Rotherham police. Now she acted as the principal prosecution witness against the other four prisoners. Thomas Tansey was found to have no direct evidence against him and was discharged, although his wife Mary received six months imprisonment. Margaret Dyson and her husband Richard were tried together, she charged with stealing and her husband charged with receiving the articles knowing them to be stolen. The defence solicitor Mr Johnstone made an urgent appeal to the jury in his summing up on behalf of Mr Dyson. He claimed that the property had been stolen by his wife, and conveyed to the room he shared with her, without his knowledge or consent. Nevertheless Margaret Dyson was given six months, whilst he was given a four month sentence for receiving. Jane Knowlson was thankfully dismissed of all charges.

Sadly little is known of the fate of Jane Knowlson or the reason why two other workers at the inn took against her to such an extent that she was accused of crimes she did not commit. Petty jealousy’s are common in such a busy workspace, but thankfully her own good character exonerated her from all guilt.