Charles Banks

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 18th October 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 18 October 2023), June 1829, trial of CHARLES BANKS (t18290611-170). CHARLES BANKS, Theft > housebreaking, 11th June 1829. 1169. CHARLES BANKS was indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Stephen Wilson , and others, on the 15th of May , at St. Peter Westcheap. and stealing therein 93 yards of silk, called gros de Naples, value 12l., and 1 wooden roller, value 1d. , their property; and that at the delivery of the King's gaol of Newgate, holden for Middlesex, on the 11th of September, in the ninth year of the reign of His present Majesty, he was in due form of law convicted of felony. EDWARD WILSON . I am the son of Stephen Wilson , and in partnership with him and another person, we are silk manufacturers ; the dwelling-house is kept by the partnership, and the rent paid out of the partnership funds; the other partners contribute towardsthe wages of the servants - it is entirely a partnership concern; the house is No. 124, Wood-street, in the parish St. Peter Westcheap - I know nothing of the circumstances. HENRY COLE . I am porter to Messrs. Wilson and Co. On the 15th of May, I was in the warehouse, which is under the same roof as the dwelling-house; I had seen this silk about five minutes before it was taken - the door was kept on the latch: the goods lay on a pile on the counter, about a yard or a yard and a half from the street-door - I was gone into the back warehouse and heard the door open: I immediatly ran forward, and saw the prisoner inside the warehouse, in the act of putting something under his coat - he immediatly ran out and shut the door after him; I ran after him, and caught sight of him within ten steps - I saw he had something under his coat, and did not lose sight of him; he was stopped within twenty yards, as I cried Stop thief! - he had got out of my sight before that, but not before he dropped the goods - when he found me so near him, I saw him drop the goods, and he was stopped not more than three minutes after that; I am quite positive he is the person who dropped the goods - I had turned back with the goods; he was brought back by Gibson, and I was quite confident of him, and of the goods (only one person came into the warehouse) the silk was above ninety yards of gros de Naples, worth 3s. or 3s. 6d. a yard - I am confident the door was shut when he came in - I heard the latch go. EBENEZER GIBSON . I am a ticket-porter, and live at Mile-end; my business is in Honey-lane-market. I was in the market when the prisoner was crossing Milk-street; I heard a cry of Stop thief! which drew my attention to Milk-street, and saw him running into the market - several people were behind him, at a distance, pursuing him; I stopped him - he had nothing then; I took him back to Mr. Wilson's house, as the people in pursuit, said he had come from there - Cole spoke positivly to him; he said distress drove him to do it. JOHN SALTER . I am a City officer. I took the prisoner into custody, searched him, and found 2 1/2d. and a knife on him. HENRY COLE . This is the silk; it has the warehouse mark on it - I put the roller on myself. JOHN DUNGATE I am watch-house keeper of Whitechapel. I know the prisoner's person; I have two papers, one of which I got from Mr. Shelton's office - I was present when the prisoner was tried last September; he was the person tried on the charge, to which this paper relates - I have not the least doubt of him. The certificate of the prisoner's conviction for felony, in September last, and his having been sentenced to six months' imprisonment was here read. Prisoner's Defence. I throw myself on the mercy of the Court, One witness gave the prisoner a good character. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- National Archives, Criminal Petitions. HO 17/35/102 Prisoner name: Charles Banks the younger. Prisoner occupation: Occasional servant to W Willson (dyer) of Queen Street [London] and lately servant to E Dowling (tea dealer) of Tower Hill [London]. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey, June Sessions 1829. Crime: Housebreaking, into the house of Stephen Wilson Son and Company at Wood Street, Cheapside [London] and stealing a roll of silk, value £12. Initial sentence: Death. Annotated: 'Considered at Report in Council 16 July 1829'. Petitioner(s): Two petitions from Charles Banks (the elder) (father) of Aldgate [London], the first undersigned by Stephen Wilson, Son and Company (prosecutors) and six other inhabitants of London; the second undersigned by 30 inhabitants of London. Date: 1829 Jun 19 – 1829 July 7.