Richard Arthur

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 20th July 2025

Tried at the Old Bailey, 4 July 1833. Second London Jury, Before Mr. Justice Gaselee. 1025. JOHN SLATER, alias JOHN WALKER  RICHARD ARTHUR, alias SIMMONS , were indicted, that they, on the 28th of June , at St. Faith, under St. Pauls , about eleven o'clock at night of the same day, the dwelling-house of John Williams , feloniously and burglariously did break and enter, with intent to steal the goods in the same dwelling-house . WILLIAM WILLIAMS . I live at No. 44, Paternoster-row - I am porter to Sanderson and Co. The house is Mr. John Williams's, he is a bookseller and publisher - he is my uncle; he does not live in the house himself, he lets it in offices - I went there at ten minutes or a quarter past eight o'clock in the evening, on the 28th of June; I let myself in with a key - I did not find any body there then; I went up stairs, and got my bed ready; I staid ten minutes, then went out again, and returned at a quarter-past eleven o'clock - I double locked the door when I went out, and when I got back I found it was only single locked; I considered for a moment how it came on the single lock, and I heard the noise of one or more persons coming down stairs - I called to know who was there, but received no answer till the third or fourth time, when one of the men inside answered, "It is only me, old fellow, I found the door open" - I immediately shut the door and locked it, and called the watchman; he came and went away for assistance and a light - he returned, I opened the door, and we all went in - we followed the prisoners up to the top of the house; the watchman there took them - after they were taken to the watch-house, there were some tools found on the first floor of the house, and under the stairs a wax candle - there were twelve holes bored in the first floor, and the top of one of the stairs had been taken off to hide the candle in; there were goods of Mr. Williams's in the house - the second floor was let out, and the shop down below; I did not go over the house, when I first went in, only to the rooms up stairs - there was no person there then to my knowledge. JOHN SMITH . I am Inspector of the watch. On the night in question I went to No. 44, Paternoster-row, about half-past eleven o'clock - I saw the last witness at the door; he let me in - I heard somebody in the house; I went up to the top landing, and found the two prisoners standing there; they said, "Don't alarm yourselves, don't use any bludgeons, we are here" - we took the prisoners to the watch-house, and came back immediately and found these things - here is a dark lantern, a crow-bar, generally termed a jemmy, one chisel, one skrew-driver, one centre-bit, - and a wax candle was in the fifth step from the door, which was broken and part of it wrenched up - in the first floor we found from twelve to fourteen holes bored in the floor; the centre-bit exactly answers the holes - we then went back to the watch-house and searched the prisoners; we found a cord on one of them, I cannot tell which, and a knife - the next day I went to search the house further, and I found two pieces of wax candle that had been lighted; the one I found the night before had not - I looked about to see if any wax had been dropt about, and there was none - they had not got into any place to disturb any goods - I found a center bit in the watch house next day. JOHN KITSON . I am a watchman. I went with the last witness to the house, I believe the house is in St. Faith's parish, I don't know any other name for it - we found the two prisoners on the top landing. COURT to JOHN SMITH. Q. What are you? A. Inspector of the watch of the ward of Farringdon Within - I know the house, it is in the parish of St. Faith under St. Paul's. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, re-examined. Mr. John Williams is not here; he was informed that the Court did not sit till five o'clock - he was five miles out of town when it happened. Slater's Defence. I own it is true I was in the house a little after eleven o'clock - we were in great distress, and are so now - we walked by the house, and saw the door open; we went in with no good intent, but the things now produced never did belong to us, and never were in our possession - we had hardly shut the door before it was opened, and we flew up stairs - I must leave myself to the mercy of the Court, it was done through want. Arthur's Defence. What I have done has been through distress with a view of getting a few shillings to support two fatherless children, which is well known. James Griffiths, a hackney-coachmaster, of Mitcham-street, St. Marylebone, deposed to the previous good character of Slater. Slater. I beg to say one thing, I am aliased in the name of Slater or Walker, my right name is John Slater Walker. WILLIAM WILLIAMS re-examined. Q. Did you look round to see if there was any way in which they could have got in but by opening the door? A. Yes, we did - no one could have got in but by opening the door. SLATER - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 23. ARTHUR - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 45.

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 20th July 2025

1843 - Possible Death record. New South Wales, Australia. Convict Death Register Richard Arthur per Ship; Hive. Date of Death;21 April 1843. at Port Macquarie Age; Invalid

Level 338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 13th February 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Indent No; 85 Name; Richard Arthur alias Simmons Age; 53 Read & write, Protestant, Married Native Place; London Trial Date; 4 July 1833 Height; 5 ft. 5 in Eyes; Light Hazel Hair; Brown to grey Completion: Dark, little pock pitted Remarks; WAS TRANSPORTED; before in the Hillsborough in 1799 as Richard Simmonds Additional remarks noted against name;