William Atkins

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Margaret Weston on 17th March 2022

London Cases, First Jury. Before Mr. Recorder. 47. WILLIAM ATKINS was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of November , a handkerchief, value 2s. 6d., the goods of Cornelius Berry , from his person . CORNELIUS BERRY. I am clerk to a merchant, and live in the Kent-road. On the 15th of November, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, I was in Fleet-street , and felt a pull at my outside coat pocket, nearly opposite to St. Dunstan's church. I immediately turned round, and saw the prisoner and another exchanging something from one to the other - I immediately felt my pocket, and missed my handkerchief; I took the prisoner into custody - his companion got away. I saw my handkerchief picked up at the prisoner's feet; he asked what I wanted of him; I asked him for my handkerchief. The officer immediately came and took him. Prisoner. Q. Did you see me with the handkerchief? A. I saw him pass it to his companion when I turned round. I cannot be certain whether anybody was between me and him. JOHN WOODWARD . I am a constable. I saw the prisoner, in company with another person, going up Fleet-street, behind this gentleman, about a minute before the robbery - I saw nobody between them; I was on the opposite side of the way, and saw one of the two lay hold of Mr. Berry's coat - a coach came between us, and I saw Mr. Berry lay hold of one of them - somebody who stood close by picked up the handkerchief - his companion passed on, towards the Strand. A coach passed, which prevented my taking hold of him. JESSEE PHILLIPS. I live in Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and deal in earthenware - my father keeps the house. I was in Fleet-street, with Woodward, and saw the prisoner and another person following the prosecutor, for about two minutes. I saw the prisoner have hold of the tail of the prosecutor's coat, endeavouring to take something out, but a hackney coach came between us, and I could not see whether he took anything. I picked the handkerchief up at his heels, and gave it to Woodward - we ran across directly we saw it - I got over before Woodward. I knew the prisoner before well. A silk handkerchief was found in his flap - he said it had no mark - it was marked E. B. I saw nobody pass between him and the prosecutor.(Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. The gentleman was talking to me three or four minutes before the officer came up. GUILTY . Aged 19. Transported for Life .

45

Margaret Weston on 17th March 2022

London Cases, First Jury. Before Mr. Recorder. 47. WILLIAM ATKINS was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of November , a handkerchief, value 2s. 6d., the goods of Cornelius Berry , from his person . CORNELIUS BERRY. I am clerk to a merchant, and live in the Kent-road. On the 15th of November, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, I was in Fleet-street , and felt a pull at my outside coat pocket, nearly opposite to St. Dunstan's church. I immediately turned round, and saw the prisoner and another exchanging something from one to the other - I immediately felt my pocket, and missed my handkerchief; I took the prisoner into custody - his companion got away. I saw my handkerchief picked up at the prisoner's feet; he asked what I wanted of him; I asked him for my handkerchief. The officer immediately came and took him. Prisoner. Q. Did you see me with the handkerchief? A. I saw him pass it to his companion when I turned round. I cannot be certain whether anybody was between me and him. JOHN WOODWARD . I am a constable. I saw the prisoner, in company with another person, going up Fleet-street, behind this gentleman, about a minute before the robbery - I saw nobody between them; I was on the opposite side of the way, and saw one of the two lay hold of Mr. Berry's coat - a coach came between us, and I saw Mr. Berry lay hold of one of them - somebody who stood close by picked up the handkerchief - his companion passed on, towards the Strand. A coach passed, which prevented my taking hold of him. JESSEE PHILLIPS. I live in Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and deal in earthenware - my father keeps the house. I was in Fleet-street, with Woodward, and saw the prisoner and another person following the prosecutor, for about two minutes. I saw the prisoner have hold of the tail of the prosecutor's coat, endeavouring to take something out, but a hackney coach came between us, and I could not see whether he took anything. I picked the handkerchief up at his heels, and gave it to Woodward - we ran across directly we saw it - I got over before Woodward. I knew the prisoner before well. A silk handkerchief was found in his flap - he said it had no mark - it was marked E. B. I saw nobody pass between him and the prosecutor.(Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. The gentleman was talking to me three or four minutes before the officer came up. GUILTY . Aged 19. Transported for Life .

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Margaret Weston on 17th March 2022

Morning Advertiser 13 December 1825: William Atkins was found guilty of picking a gentleman's pocket of his handkerchief in Fleet Street, and sentenced to be transported for life.

45

Margaret Weston on 17th March 2022

William Atkins, Aged: 19 years Born at Middlesex [MDX ENG]; Religion: Protestant; Education: Reads & Writes; Employment: Indoor servant; Marriage status: Single, Trial Crime: Picking pockets, Tried: 28 Sep 1825; Tried at Newgate, [MDX ENG], Trial Sentence: Life; Embarked from: England; ENG; Ship of arrival: Marquis of Huntley 13 Sep 1826; Arrival Status: Convict, at Sydney; [NSW] Assigned to Jonathon Hassal, Residence: Matavia NSW AUS; Source Origin: Convict Indents &c.; Repository: SRNSW ref:, Vol. number 4/4011, Ship source: Marquis of Huntley, Year: 1826; Volume entry number: 1. Convict Indents & Ship Musters 1813-1828ABOUT 1828 Nov William Atkins, Aged: 21 years Religion: Protestant; Ship of arrival: Marquis of Huntley 1826; Trial Sentence: Life; Employment: Shepherd; Householder: Walter Lawry, Household residence: Jeremy [NSW]; Residence: Jeremy; [NSW AUS]; Census District: Bathurst [NSW]. [Biog Item No. 110610714] Census &c: NSW Census 1828 ABOUT 1836 Ticket of Leave Number: 36/0689 Year: 1836; Allowed to remain in the District of Argyle; Name: William Atkins; Place of Trial: London [MDX ENG],Gaol Delivery, Ship: Marquis of Huntley, Year: 1826. Tickets of Leave Index 1810-1848ABOUT 1841 Apr William Atkins, Arrived per ship Marquis of Huntley, 1836; Recommended date 1 Apr 1841; Original Remarks: Conditional Pardon; Alfred Bell. William was received from Newgate Prison on 8th December 1825 on board the Hulk "Ganymede". He was released to board the Marquis of Huntley for NSW on 6 May 1826.