Joseph Aaron

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C H on 16th February 2024

Capital Convictions at the Old Bailey 1760-1837 Record ID capt18360509-1134_679 Given names Joseph Surname Aaron Age 19 Gender m Trial date 1836-05-09 Old Bailey Online reference ID t18360509-1134 Recommended to mercy in court? yes Details of recommendation to mercy Prosector: Youth Defendant pleaded pregnancy? no Punishment details TL (22 June 1836) Punishment summary Transport Punishment term Life Punishment year 1836

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C H on 16th February 2024

Old Bailey Online DAVID MARTIN. AARON MOSES. JOSEPH AARON. SOLOMON HYAMS. Theft; burglary. 9th May 1836. Text type Trial account Defendants DAVID MARTIN, AARON MOSES, JOSEPH AARON, SOLOMON HYAMS Offences Theft > Burglary Session Date 9th May 1836 Reference Number t18360509-1134 Verdicts Guilty > With recommendation, Guilty > With recommendation, Guilty > With recommendation, Guilty > With recommendation Punishments Death, Death, Death, Death 1134. DAVID MARTIN, AARON MOSES, JOSEPH AARON , and SOLOMON HYAMS , were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Jane Hart, about the hour of eleven in he night of the 18th of March, at St. Botolph's Without, Aldgate, with intent to steal, and stealing therein, 1 bonnet, value 2s.; 170 yards of printed cotton, value 4l.; 34 yards of merino, value 17s.; 2 pairs of drawers, value 1s.; 2 handkerchiefs, value 1s.; 1 shawl, value 5s.; and 3 yards of linen cloth, value 2s., the goods of the said Jane Hart. JANE HART . I am a widow, and live at 33, Gravel-lane, Houndsditch. On Monday, the 18th of April, I left home about half-past ten o'clock in the evening—I left nobody in the lower part of the house—the doors were locked, the windows down, and the shutters closed, but not fastened—I went to a neighbour's, two or three doors from my house; and about half-past eleven o'clock, Michael Phillips called me from my neighbour's, and brought my bonnet in his hand—I went back with him, and found my shutters open, and the window up—I put my hand in at the window, and missed the property from the table; it had laid there exposed for sale—the table was close to the window—I missed prints and thirty-four yards of merino a shawl, two handkerchiefs, two pairs of drawers, and different articles—I went to Aldgate watch-house—Three-tun-alley, is not far from my house—I went and listened at the door of a house there—I have known Hyams by the name of Mitchell from his youth—I heard nobody's voice that I knew when I listened—I heard a person say, "There are gown pieces;" and I immediately left, and went to Mr. Phillip's for assistance, and he ran to the police—the door of the house I listened at was open—I do not know how many voices there were—I afterwards saw Hyams come out of the house and go on—I do not know whether he saw me—he walked a-pace—I called to Phillips for assistance, and said, "There goes Mitchell!" which is the name I knew him by. Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE Q. How long before you went to your neighbour, had you seen your things? A. The moment before I left my house—I had seen them all lying on the table, one over the other—the window has a sash which lifts up—there is a hasp to fasten the sashes—I do not know whether it was fastened when I left the house—I cannot swear that it was—the window was up—the hasp was not broken—it fastens inside. Cross-examined by MR. MAGUIRE. Q. What sort of a night was it; was it dark? A. Yes; there was nobody else in the court besides myself—it is a very long court, but this was the first house in the court—Cohen directed me there, to go and find my property—he did not go with me—he was on the opposite side of Petticoat-lane—Three-tun-alley is in Petticoat-lane—Cohen could see anybody come out of the court if he was standing there at the time, but that I do not know. MICHAEL PHILLIPS . I live about three houses from the prosecutrix—I came home about a quarter after eleven o'clock, on the night of the 18th and found a bonnet in the street—I took it in doors to my wife, and showed it to her—she knew it, and I went out of doors towards Mrs. Hart's door, and found her shutters wide open, and the window thrown up; I gave an alarm, and Mrs. Hart heard me two or three doors off, where she was—I showed her the bonnet, she said it was hers—I went to her house, and then went with her to the watch-house—I went to Three-tun-alley, and stood on the opposite side—Mrs. Hart went up the alley—she came back to me and said something; I then went and got Lloyd, the watchman, and went with him and a policeman named Cotton, into the house in Three-tunalley; we found the prisoners Martin and Aaron there, and a girl sitting there—I saw Moses on the second flight of stairs—I did not know either of them before—the watchman policeman secured them—I found Martin and Aaron in the room down stairs—we found a quantity of articles in that room which are here—I showed them to Mrs. Hart afterwards—the house is inhabited by different families—we were directed to to go to the alley—I cannot exactly say who told us to go to that particular house. Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. How near is the alley to Mrs. Hart's house? A. Not very far from it—we got to the house about half-past twelve o'clock. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. It is a lodging-house where many families reside? A. Yes—I went first to the watch-house, and then came back to the house. Aaron. Q. Was not I in the passage when the policeman took me? A. No—they both in the room. Cross-examined by MR. MAGUIRE. Q. Did one Cohen go with you to the watch-house? A. Yes—he is a neighbour. John Lloyd I am police-constable. On the night of the 18th I was on duty in Petticoat-lane—Phillips came to me, and I went with him and called Cotton the policeman to my assistance—I went into the first house on the left in Three-tun-alley, and found the two prisoners, Martin and Aaron, in the parlour—I found the property at the end of a bureau bed-stead in the same room—Cotton and I both went into the parlour—the prisoners were in the act of coming out—Cotton put them back, and tied them together with a handkerchief—there was a deaf and dumb girl in the house—Cotton went up-stairs with Phillips, and brought Moses down—the prosecutor's house is in the parish of St. Botolph Without, Aldgate. Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. How far from the door was the property? A. About three yards—the room was but small—it was at the end of the bed-stead—it is what we call Solomon Mitchell's house—that is Hyam's—it is not Martin or Aaron's lodging—I did not ask them how they came there. Henry Cotton. I am a policeman. I went to Three-tun-alley and apprehended Martin and Aaron there, and on the second flight of stairs I apprehended Moses—he was sitting up in the corner of the stair-case—there was a room door close by where he sat, but that was fastened, and I could not get in. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. Do you know if a female named Dyas lives there? A. A young woman lodges in the first floor—I don't know her name. Aaron. Q. Did you find me in the room? A. The room door is not above two feet from the street door—as I stopped at the room door, they were both rushing out—they had not got out of the room door—they were in the room. James Harnden. I am a policeman. I was on duty in the neighbourhood about one o'clock that night, and met Cotton going to the watchhouse with the prisoners—he asked me to go on his beat during his absence, which I did, and a female came to me—Hyams came to me—I knew him before by the name if Mitchell—he asked me concerning the three prisoners who were in custody—he told me he had been to the Garrick theatre, and the female who had been speaking to me came and fetched him from there, and told him while he was absent some thieves had entered his house and brought some stolen property there—I don't recollect that he mentioned any names—I told him he must consider himself in my custody—he said he had no knowledge of the property till he was told of it by the female. Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. Have you been on the beat for some time? A. A year and a half ago I was there—Hyams keeps a dog and cart to carry out goods. MRS. HART re-examined. These things are my property—I can tell the length of every piece here—I had bought them two days before, and measured them all—here are some drawers, and a piece of the gown I have on at present—I made it from this piece—a person standing without could reach them through the window—the table was close to the window—I am sure of the things—they are worth from 5l. to 6l. MS. PAYNE. Q. Can you venture to swear they are worth more them 5l.? A. Yes—I could not take 5/. for them. HENEY COTTON re-examined. These things have been locked up at the watch house ever since they came there that night. Martin's Defence. I am innocent of the crime. Moses' Defence. I know nothing about it. Aaron's Defence. I went to Hyam's house to hire a dog-cart, the prosecutor came and took me by the collar—I did not know what he took nie for—as I went into his house I heard somebody say he was gone to the play. Hyam's Defence. I went to the theatre and did not return till half—pash twelve o'clock, and heard this had happende. NATHAN COHEN . I live at No. 13, Fire-ball-court, Houndsditch. I know Mrs. Hart—I saw her on the 18th of April, about a quarter past twelve o'clock—I had no conversation with her—was at Aldgate watchs house with her to lay an information concerning the robbery—from there we went down Petticoat—lane to Three—tun—alley, where she heard enough at the door to convince her the property was in that house—I did not hear anything—she came out and gave the alarm. and we went for the police, but before we went for the police a man hearing her give the alarm came out of the house and ran away—I was standing at the corner of the court—she was standing in a passage on the right hand of the court (the passage is the entry of a person's house)—I saw the person—it was neither of the prisoners—it was not Hyams—I have known Hyams about ten years—I will swear it was not him—did not remain there after that—we went for a policeman. COURT. Q. What name have you known Hyam's by? A. Nothing but Hyams—I never heard him called by any other name—I never heard him called by the name of Mitchell—when the man came out and ran away Mrs. Hart said it was Hyam's son, and she said, "You have no occasion to run for I know youo:—I am sure she did not say, "There goes Mitchell"—did not know the person—Hyam's lives at that house—I live in Houndsditch. Julia Dyas. I live in Three—tun—alley. On the 18th of April I went to the Garrick theatre with Hyams and his wife—we remained there from the time the performance began, which was six o'clock, till half—past eleven o'clock—I sat by the side of him the whole of that time—I left him and his wife at half—past eleven o'clock and went home to light my fire—during the time I was lighting my fire the policeman knocked at the door—I opened it, and he came in and looked under the bedstead with a light and went away—I followed him down the court, and the neighbours came out and said where is Hyams and his wife—I said, "I have left them at the theatre"—they told me to go and fetch them—I went and met them coming from the theatre arm-in-arm, very slowly at the corner of Red-lion-street—we went straight down the lane home—we met the policeman, I think his name is Arnold, the prisoner went over and asked what had happened at his place during his absence. COURT. Q. How long have you known Hyams? A. A great while—I have lived in the same house with him for fourteen months—I have heard his friends called Mitchell, but I always heard of him by the name of Hyams—I never knew him go by any other name than Hyams—I never knew him called Mitchell—he does not go by the name—I cannot tell exactly what friends they were that were called Mitchell, they were different people. (Samuel Dyas, confectioner, of Cable-street, St. George's; and Joseph Rogers, pen and pencil manufacturer, of Petticoat-square, deposed to the prisoner, Martin's good character. Moses Davis, sale-shopkeeper, Gray'siun-lane; David Russell, furniture-broker, Middlesex-street, Whitechapel; James Richard's, earthenware-dealer, 3, White's-row, Spitalfields; Daniel Samuels, baker, 6, Petticoat-lane; William John Bishop, publican, Petticoat-lane; John Jacobs, glass-dealer, Goulston-street, Whitechapel; Louis Harris, furrier, Law's-buildings, Spitalfields, and Margaret Hayter, Dorset-street, Spitalfields, to that of Moses. Mark Marks, gold and silver refiner, 8, Sidneys's-row, Bishopsgate; Joseph Levy, fishmonger, Christ-church, Spitalfields; Elias Everet Bacon, boot and shoe maker, Cambridge-row, Mile-end; Hannah Levy, wife of a fishmonger; Michael Hayes, 3, Church-lane; Joshua Davis, fishmonger, Nightingale-place, Petticoat-lane; Charles Watson, baker, Gunn-street, Whitechapel, deposed to that of Hyams; and James Richards, of White's-row also to that of Aaron.) HYAM HYAMS . The prisoner is my brother—my mother's maiden name was Mitchell—she being a hard-working woman, and a public character, by selling fish in the street, used to be called Mitchell, and as such I and my brothers are called Mitchell at times, but we have no right to the name. MARTIN— GUILTY.— DEATH . Aged 20. MOSES— GUILTY.— DEATH . Aged 19. AARON— GUILTY.— DEATH . Aged 19. HYAMS— GUILTY.— DEATH . Aged 19. Recommended to mercy by the Proseccutrix, on account of their youth. Before Mr. Justice Park.

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VDL Founders and Survivors Convicts 1802-1853, Convict Description Record ID fas_cod12340 Arrival year 1836 Gender m Height 5/5½ Hair Black