William Bailey

341

Maureen Withey on 17th August 2022

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 August 2022), June 1818, trial of WILLIAM IVES THOMAS IVES WILLIAM. BAILEY JAMES JACKSON (t18180617-69). WILLIAM IVES, THOMAS IVES, WILLIAM BAILEY, JAMES JACKSON, Theft > housebreaking, 17th June 1818. 948. WILLIAM IVES , THOMAS IVES , WILLIAM. BAILEY , and JAMES JACKSON were indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of William Bracey Kent , about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th of May , at Fulham (Mary, his wife, and others being therein), and stealing therein seventeen silver spoons, value 6l.; one silver funnel, value 2l.; one pair of silver sugar-tongs, value 5s., and one silver milk-pot, value 2l., his property . MARTHA LAWRENCE . I am servant to Mr. William Bracey Kent , who lives in the parish of Fulham . On Wednesday the 6th of May, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, I found the parlour window open, and the plate taken off the sideboard. I had been there half an hour before, the window was then shut and the plate safe-it is on the ground-floor; Mrs. Kent had been in the room after I left-the windows were not fast. I heard Mrs. Kent in the parlour, she might have opened the window without my knowing it. There is another house joins ours. I saw some dirt on the carpet, and in the room. I looked out of the window, and saw the gate open, and dirt on the window ledge, as if some person had got in at the window-it is not quite to the ground; there is a fore court to the house, I did not observe any footsteps there. I cannot say whether more than one person had been in. I missed the articles stated in the indictment; there were six table-spoons and a teapot left. I alarmed Mrs. Kent and the servants, and they gave the alarm-Blyth and Lambe went in pursuit. The prisoners were brought to the house about six o'clock. Cook brought the things back. SARAH PRING . I live with Mr. Singer, next door to Mr. Kent. I saw the prisoner, William Ives , in the road in front of the house, about a quarter after three o'clock in the afternoon, no person was with him - He asked me to buy a ball of cotton of him. I said I did not want any. I was at the window, he asked for a drink of water. I made him no answer. I went from the window for about five minutes, and when I returned he was in Mr. Kent's court, looking at the front window - He was in the forecourt. I left the window, leaving him there. About an hour and a half after I heard of the robbery, and saw William Ives ; I knew him again, and am sure he is the person. WILLIAM BLYTH . Mrs. Kent asked me to go in pursuit of the persons who committed the robbery. Lambe went with me. I received information, and went towards Kensington, I found four persons in a lane leading to Lord Holland's, one of them had his hat off, they were looking at what was in his hat-one of them saw us, and they all four ran off; we crossed a field, and called out Stop thief! I saw Lord Holland's groom stop Jackson as they ran - He was one of them-the other three ran off. Lord Holland's servants went in pursuit. I kept them in sight all the way, they at last surrendered themselves after they had crossed the canal. I am positive the prisoners are the four men that I saw standing together in the lane. It was either Thomas Ives , or Bailey, that had his hat off. CHARLES LAMB . I went in pursuit with Blyth, and saw the prisoners together in the lane, looking into the hat - I followed them. Lord Holland's servant took Jackson, the others were stopped and brought back. I am sure they are the boys that I saw in the lane-the property was not found on them; I said they must have dropped it. I went to look in the direction they had ran, and found a large silk shawl in a ditch, which had a silver wine strainer in it, broken in two, I gave it to the constable. I found nothing else. I had seen the prisoners run by the side of that ditch. EDWARD KNOTT . I was driving a dray, and stopped opposite Mr. Kent's gate. I saw a boy come out of the gate with his hat in his hand-one stood in the road opposite the gate, I believe it was Bailey, and another was sitting under the wall, about fifty yards further on-it was one of the prisoners, I do not know which; I believe Bailey came out with the hat. Jackson was in the road, and went up to the one that came out, and said, "give me a bit." I heard no answer made. After they passed me, the one under the wall got up, they all walked off together. About five or ten minutes after Mrs. Kent gave the alarm that some person had robbed the house. The people went in pursuit. OWEN DERMOTT . I was working in Mr. Hall's field, and saw the prisoners, William and Thomas Ives , and Bailey, running gently in the field towards the canal; in a few minutes after I heard Lord Holland's servants call Stop thief! I joined in the pursuit, got out of breath, and was obliged to stop; as I returned I found the plate in a ditch, close to the path, which they had passed while I was pursuing them; I found all the silver there, which was delivered to Cooke. I am sure the prisoners are the men I saw. WILLIAM COOK . I am servant to Lord Holland. I joined in pursuit-Jackson was stopped. I saw the other three running in the Uxbridge road; they surrendered themselves, as they could not get away. I received the plate from Dermott, and gave it to Morland. JOHN MORLAND . Lamb gave me the wine-strainer, and Cook gave me the rest of the plate-it weighs twentynine ounces, and is worth 7l. 16s. 8d., as old silver. The prisoners were given into my charge. (Property produced and sworn to.) WILLIAM IVES'S Defence. I was selling cotton laces. I had a bit of victuals given to me, we were going to eat it in the lane; the gentlemen came to us, and we ran away, thinking they were going to take us up for begging. THOMAS IVES'S Defence. I cannot say more. BAILEY'S Defence. I cannot say more. JACKSON'S Defence. I cannot say more. W. IVES - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 16. T. IVES - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 15. BAILEY - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 17. JACKSON - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 15. Of stealing in a dwelling-house, but not of breaking and entering. Recommended to Mercy . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Abbott.