Samuel Barby

341

Maureen Withey on 28th April 2023

HERTFORD ASSIZES. DESPERATE GANG OF; THIEVES. George Bracee and Samuel Barby were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Field, at Hertingfordbury, in the night of the 21st of February, and stealing therein three sheets and a great many other articles of property, exceeding the value of forty shillings.-Mr. Jessopp conducted the prosecution. It appeared in evidence that the prisoners were part of a desperate gang of thieves who have long infested this county as trampers, living under hedges in a tent, and carrying their bag and baggage upon donkies. In the night of the 21st of February, at 12 o'clock, the house of the prosecutor, a draper, was broken open and robbed of the property mentioned in the indictment. Next day, suspicion falling on the prisoners, they were pursued and apprehended, about 4 miles from Hertingfordbury, in a house where they had a temporary lodging. Upon being taxed with the robbery, they confessed the fact, and produced produced some of the bundles containing part of the stolen property. One of them had on a pair of shoes which had been stolen from the prosecutor's house. These facts being uncontradicted, the prisoners were found Guilty_ Death. The same prisoners were again indicted for another burglary in the dwelling house of William Draper, of Herttngfordbury, and stealing a pair of shoes, a tea chest, and various other articles of property. To this indictment the prisoners pleaded Guilty- Death. The same prisoners were again indicted for stealing at Wormley, on the 22d of February, a sheep, the property of Sir Abraham Hume, Bart.; and Abraham Cockman was indicted for receiving part of the carcase of the same sheep, knowing it to have been stolen To this indictment, Bracee and Barby pleaded guilty, but they were put, to the bar with Cockman in order that the case might be made out against the latter. It appeared in evidence, that on the 22d of February one of a flock of 227 Southdown sheep was stolen from the park of Sir A. Hume, and slaughtered in the field. The skin and the breasts were left behind. To support the case against the prisoners, Benjamin Tapp, an accomplice, who was admitted approver, and Sarah Haddock, a woman who cohabited with Tapp, were called; and they stated that on the night in question they were in company together and had been drinking at the Valiant Trooper public house, kept by Cockman, after which the men entered the park of Sir Abraham Home, and slaughtered a sheep, carrying away the shoulders and the hind quarters. They then returned to tile house of Cockman where they lodged, and dressed part of the shoulders, of which Cockman and his wife partook. The next day one of the legs was dressed, and they all dined off it. These facts were clearly established, the case depending upon the evidence of the accomplice and the woman with whom he lived. The Jury, under the Learned Judge's directions, found all the prisoners Guilty, and Cockman was sentenced to 14 years' transportation. Oxford Journal, 15 March 1823.

10

Heather Bester (nee rowarth) on 30th October 2012

convict no.685 conditional Pardon No. 1852 19/10/1838 extended 12/05/1941. Assigned to Mr. Thomson "Paterson"s Plains' Married 08/05/1830, Maria Christian, Convict, transported to Tasmania January 1827 "Sir Charles Forbes", for stealing, sentence 7 years. Free certificate No. 176< Octo ber, 1832