John Beark

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 13th April 2026

Tried at the Old Bailey, 27 May 1830. 1162. JOHN BEARK and JAMES WEBB were indicted for stealing, on the 16th of May , 113 knives, value 22s.; 111 forks, value 11s., and 6 pieces of ivory, value 3s. , the goods of Luke Broomhead . LUKE BROOMHEAD . I am a cutler , and live in Union-street, Spitalfields ; the two prisoners were my apprentice s - Beark has been five years with me; Webb has been out, of his time about twelve months; but continued to work for me out of doors till about a week before this happened. On Sunday morning, the 16th of May, Beark was going out, and I saw a small paper drop from him - I asked what it was; he said Nothing: I said, "Let me look," and I found two knives in it - I asked where he got them, but he made no answer; I called an officer, but could not make him hear - I then went back, and Beark said, "I will tell you the truth - Webb set me on to do it, and we have robbed you a great deal;" I had not made him any promise; I got the Police-officer, and he said the same to him - he said he had robbed me of pen-knives, pocket-knives, and scissars, which he had taken from the show-glass - I believe all this property to be mine, but some of the ivory I cannot swear to, as it has been worked upon - these handles were brought to me by his mother, who said he told her he had bought them of Mr. Marsden. JOSEPH TROVELL . I am a pawnbroker, and live in Church-street, Mile-end New-town. I have twelve knives and forks, pawned on the 21st of April by Webb, also four dozen of knives and forks, and a pair of carvers, pawned on the 4th of May by Webb. ROBERT NEAVE . I went with the prosecutor on the 16th of May, to his house, and took Beark; these two knives he had in his possession. THOMAS BICKNELL . On the 16th of May Beark was brought to the station-house, and I took him to the watch-house; previous to my locking him up, he said he wished to confess - I told him the consequences of it, but he said he had taken two pen-knives with two blades each, and twelve knives in ivory handles; and about a fortnight before he had taken a large quantity, and given them to Webb - he said he had entered the shop with Webb, and taken one hundred and fifteen Knives and forks; I asked if he had any share of the property - he said No: I then went to Webb, who denied all knowledge of it - I found there these pieces of ivory; I took them both to the watch-house; and there Webb acknowledged that he had taken the knives and forks, that he pawned them, and sold some others - I found this key, which opens the shop door. Webb's Defence. I did not know the things I pawned were stolen. BEARK - GUILTY . Aged 18. WEBB - GUILTY . Aged 21. Transported for Seven Years .