Thomas Biggs

135

C H on 10th March 2024

Old Bailey Online THOMAS BIGGS. Theft; grand larceny (to 1827). 4th December 1816. Text type Trial account Defendants THOMAS BIGGS Offences Theft > Grand larceny Session Date 4th December 1816 Reference Number t18161204-97 Verdicts Guilty Punishments Transportation 100. THOMAS BIGGS , was indicted for stealing, on the 1st of December , at St. George's, Bloomsbury , eighteen plates, value 12s.; four hinges, value 4s.; and four bits, value 2s., the property of John Wilson -two saws, value 12s., and one apron, value 2d., the property of John Tooley -one saw, value 9s., the property of George Walter -one saw, value 7s., the property of John Whittington -two saws, value 12s., and two aprons, value 6d., the property of Richard Crossfield -two saws, value 12s., the property of Thomas Forster -two saws, value 12s., the property of Henry Feakins -two saws, value 12s., and one apron, value 3d., the property of James Dowling -one saw, value 6d.; two bits, value 6d.; and one > rule, value 6d., the property of William Mortimer -and two saws, value 12s.; three bits, value 9d.; and one bevil, value 2d. , the property of Thomas Tweedale . JOHN WILSON. I am a coach-maker , and live in Thorney-street, Bloomsbury, in the parish of St. George's . I lost eighteen plates, four hinges, and four bits, out of my work-shop. I fastened my premises on Saturday, the 30th of November, and returning on Monday, about seven o'clock, I found both the back and the inside door had been opened. I missed several of my men's tools, and some of my own; I am sure they were safe on the Saturday; I saw them afterwards with Wiltshire, the officer; my things are worth 18s. Prisoner. Did you not say, at Bow-street, you was sure it was not me-A. I said I was certain it must have been done by more than one person, as you did not know my premises. JOHN TOOLEY. I am a workman, at Mr. Wilson's . When I left work, on the Saturday night, I left two saws and an apron on my bench; they were gone on the Monday morning. I have seen them since, in the custody of Wiltshire; I know them to be mine; they are worth 12s. 2d. together. Prisoner. Do you recollect saying, when I described the person who had got the things, that you suspected him-A. I do. RICHARD CROSSFIELD . I work at Mr. Wilson's. I left two saws and two aprons there; they are worth 12s. 6d. together. I saw them with Wiltshire; they are mine. THOMAS FORSTER. I left two saws at Mr. Wilson's, on the Saturday; I missed them on the Monday morning; I have seen them at Wiltshire's; he had several more tools; they were not more than one person could carry. HENRY FEAKINS . I work at Mr. Wilson's. I left two saws there on the Saturday; they were gone on Monday morning; I saw them afterwards in Wiltshire's custody; they are worth 12s. JAMES DOWLING. I work at Mr. Wilson's. I left two saws and one apron in the shop, on the Saturday; they were gone on Monday morning; they are worth 12s. 3d. I saw them in Wiltshire's custody afterwards. WILLIAM MORTIMER. I left two bits, one rule, and one saw, at Mr. Wilson's, on Saturday; I missed them on the Monday morning; they are worth 7s. together. I saw them in Wiltshire's custody afterwards. THOMAS TWEEDALE. I left two saws, three bits, and one bevil, in Mr. Wilson's shop, on the Saturday, and missed them on the Monday morning; they are worth 12s. 11d. I saw them in Wiltshire's custody afterwards. JOHN WILSHIRE . I am a constable. I was in Crown-court, Cheapside, on Sunday night, the Ist of December, about half past ten o'clock, I saw the prisoner tying the things up in two or three aprons. I asked him what trade he was; he said, he was in the coach line, and that they were his own. I suffered him to bring them out of the court, and when he came to the corner of Queen-street I saw the watchman, and then took hold of the prisoner. He threw down the bundle, and made a blow at me, and got out of my grasp. The watchman, whose name is Taylor, ran after him, and secured him. I secured the bundle, and picked up some more tools which he left behind in his hurry to tie them up. When he was taken to the watch-house, he had some more tools in his pocket, and three old keys; the keys will not fit any part of the premises. I learned, the next day, that the tools belonged to Mr. Wilson. The prisoner said afterwards, that he was hired to carry them, by a person in St. Paul's Church Yard, for one shilling, to East Smithfield. They were claimed by the several persons who have seen them to day. GEORGE TAYLOR . I am watchman of Cheap Ward. I was at the corner of Queen-street when Wilshire laid hold of the prisoner; I saw him get from him; I pursued him, and took him. I saw him throw down the bundle of tools; I am sure the prisoner is the man. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. I had been acquainted with a man of the name of MKenzie. Last Sunday week, as I was returning from Drury-lane, I met him with three packages under his arm; he asked me to carry them, saying, he was going the same way as me. I took one of them; he walked faster than me. As I was coming down Cheapside the watchman stopped me, and said, he suspected me. I threw them down, and endeavoured to escape. JOHN WILSON. It would not require a great deal of force to break into the premises; but it appeared to me to be the work of more than one person. GUILTY . Aged 32. Transported for Seven Years .