Widow 'betrayed' by foundry worker who promised marriage

During the spring of 1876 widow Jane Hodge who was a shopkeeper of Fylde Road, Preston, struck up a friendship with Michael Barrett, aged 25, a foundry labourer who came from Limerick in Ireland.

- with Keith Johnson

He seemed to want a long-term relationship with her and paid her much attention, appearing open about his past saying he had been a police officer in Ireland and spent a short spell in the army.

As their acquaintanceship progressed Barrett made a proposal of marriage, to which Mrs. Hodge replied that she was willing. He suggested that they go and live abroad possibly in Australia, saying they could do so if they had the money.

She told him that she had invested some money in the bank amounting to £60 (equivalent to £5,700 in today's money) and he suggested that was enough to pay for their nuptials and to enable them to go abroad. He suggested she withdraw it, which she did a few days later.

Those events and what followed would be revealed at the Preston police court in late October 1876 when Michael Barrett stood in the dock charged with stealing £60 and a gold watch and chain.