James Binks

4

Jane on 19th December 2015

At the age of "14" (actually 16) on May 7th 1822, James Binks was caught stealing 9 yards of lace, valued at 30 shillings, from a Haberdashery Shop in Goswell Street, Islington and was sentenced at The Old Bailey on Wednesday May 29th to Transportation for life to Van Diemen's Land. 882. JAMES BUCKS was indicted for stealing, on the 7th May, nine yards of lace, value 30s, the goods of John Veall, privately in his shop. JOHN VEALL. I am a haberdasher, and live at Islington. On the 7th May about twelve o'clock the prisoner came in with another boy, who asked for some pins - I came forward suspecting them, and told the young man to take the lace box off the counter, as it stood near them ; they said they only had 2d., and left without buying any thing. I had put this lace in the box two days before, but did not miss it till the officers brought it. RICHARD WHITE. I am Mr Vaill's servant. I was putting the laces in order when the boys came in. When I brought the pins the prisoners said they wanted some at 2½d., he stood nearest to the lace box ; it is worth 34s. 6d. DANIEL VAUGHAN. I am the Revenue officer. On the 7th of April between one and two o'clock, I heard a cry of Stop thief! in Goswell-street; the prisoner and three others were running away, and was crying Stop thief! himself - but I stopped him as he was being pursued. I found the lace in his hat which Mr. Veall claimed. (Property produced and sworn to.) GUILTY. Aged 14. Transported for Life. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder. note: "BINKS" is incorrectly spelt as "BUCKS". The Index to "The Whole Proceedings....." has his name spelt correctly. He spent one month at Newgate Prison and was then transferred to the Prison Hulk "Retribution" at Sheerness on June 29th 1822. After almost one year he was transferred on April 14th 1823 to the Prison Hulk "Bellerophon" also at Sheerness. His Hulk reports were that he was unknown, also indifferent at "Retribution", double ironed once, solitary confinement once at the ship. The Chaplain of the "Retribution", the Reverend Price, recommended that a frigate be fitted up for the reception and imprisonment of "juvenile depredators" rather than have them spread throughout different gaols and hulks. As a result the Bellerophon become a prison bulk for about 320 male juvenile offenders at Sheerness in 1823. The Bellerophon was the 74 gun "man o' war" that brought Napoleon to England after his surrender on July 15th 1815 at the battle of Waterloo. James Binks was discharged from the hulk Bellerophon to the ship "Phoenix" on March 22nd 1824 to be transported to Van Diemen's Land.