Abraham Bilbie

342

Maureen Withey on 12th February 2024

Somersetshire Lent Assizes. Abraham Bilbie, Richard Peters, John Williams, and Samuel Frappell, were indicted for having, the 23rd Dec. 1833, burglariously broken and entered the dwelling-house of Dinah Swarm, at Brockley Coombe, and stolen therefrom divers monies and other articles, her property. The poor old woman (Dinah Swarm) was years of age in 1833, and on Dec. 23d early in the morning she was found lying on the ground a corpse near the entrance gate of Brockley Hall, the seat of Mr. Pigott, and upon parties going to her cottage they found had been broken open and ransacked. An iron bar was lying near the door. William Clarke was the chief witness and was an accomplice.— He stated that he met the other prisoners, and Bilbie told them he knew where there was plenty of money, and they could get it—an old woman lived in the house, which was near Brockley hall. They all set out together and arrived at Mrs. Swarm's cottage, which was detached, about one o'clock in the morning the 23rd December— they attempted to break in by breaking the lower windows, but not being able to get in they broke open the door with an iron bar. Mrs. Swarm called from the window that she had nothing for them, they had better to Mr. Pigott's. Before they got into the house Mrs. Swarm came down stairs. When they went in Bilbie laid hold of the old woman, and put her on the ground, and held a handkerchief over her face prevent her seeing or calling Help—witness staid outside to watch, and Williams and Frappell went up stairs and got the money—they then left the cottage and proceeded about miles and then divided the property which amounted to forty-nine shillings and sixpence each. On cross-examination he stated that he had been sentenced to years transportation for picking a pocket. and which was commuted to imprisonment in the penitentiary—he came out in June last—he did not know how many crimes he had committed—he was eighteen years old at the time of this this burglary—he had assisted in committing three burglaries before that time—he had run away for stealing fowl. Other evidence was given that the house had been robbed, and some person stated that he had been asked that he had been asked by Clarke and Bilbie to join in the commission of this act—but there was nothing else to fix these persons, except the statement of Bilbie before the magistrates, in which he gave exactly the same account that   Clarke did, Mr. Kinglake and Mr. Edwards addressed the jury for the prisoners they defended—Bilbie stated that Clarke had so frequently told him about the transaction, that he stated it before the magistrates in the hope that he should admitted King's evidence but that it was all false, for he knew nothing about it. Williams had very good character given him. Lord Denam summed at considerable length, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty against Bilbie and Peters and acquitted the other prisoners—Bilbie and Peters were sentenced—death recorded. Bath Chronicle, 12 April 1838.