| Title | Deposition: Prosecution of Ann Sellars, Stilton, for keeping a house of ill fame. At Michaelmas Sessions 1826 Ann Sellars had been convicted and bound over to appear for judgement when called upon. As Epiphany Sessions, 1827 Adam Knebb of Stilton, Gentleman stated that the house was as badly conducted as ever. Tamar Andrew, a prostitute, being frequently there. Thomas Fletcher a carpenter, who had gone bail for Mrs. Sellars, and his wife (a witness for the defence) had been very abusive to Mr. Knebb, and had set on children to sing songs ridiculing him. Rebecca Collier (witness for the prosecution at the Michaelmas Sessions) corroborated, mentioning John Chatterton (son of a witness for the defence) who had thrown a rotten egg at Mrs. Collier's door. The prosecution pressed for a severe judgement on the grounds that the morals of the rising generation were corrupted by Mrs. Sellers, that her house situate in the High Street was an open centre of immorality (bawdy houses generally being tucked away from the public eye, that for 12 years Mr. Twyning, the respectable clergyman of Stilton had been vainly trying to stop the nuisance. Judgement - One month in the House of Correction and further till she enters into surety to keep the peace. |