Mary Brown

341

Maureen Withey on 10th October 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 10 October 2023), April 1833, trial of MARY BROWN CHARLOTTE SMITH (t18330411-7). MARY BROWN, CHARLOTTE SMITH, Violent Theft > robbery, 11th April 1833. Before Lord Chief Justice Denman. 678. MARY BROWN and CHARLOTTE SMITH were indicted for feloniously assaulting John Charles Gates , on the 16th of February , at St. Pancras, putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, six shillings his property . JOHN CHARLES GATES . I am a journeyman baker , and live at No. 5, Prospect-terrace, Gray's Inn-road. On Saturday-night, the 16th of February, I was in Johnson-street, Somer's-town with some bread, and as I was coming home in Weston-place, by the Small-pox Hospital, between eleven and twelve o'clock, the prisoner Brown came up to me at the corner of Weston-place, and asked me to go and give her some drink; I accompanied her to her house in Haddon-place , and gave her a shilling to fetch some drink; while she was gone, I laid my hands on the table and fell asleep; two men came in, and asked me what I did there, and asked me if I had any money - I said No; they knocked me down and kicked me about, and while I was on the ground Brown came in (while the two men were there) and then the two men ran away; and after they were gone, she put her foot across my throat, and took 6s. out of my left-hand trousers pocket; I saw her, and am certain of her person; there was another female there; who I took to be Smith - I did not know her before; that female held my hands while Brown took my money - she held both my hands - I was on my back; after they got my money, Brown ran to the door and called Police - he did not come - she then came to me, and told me I could not be there, I must be off, and she pushed me out - I met the Policeman about forty yards off, and told him - he went back with me to the house; Brown and Smith were both there - it is a house of ill-fame; I was only in the parlour - there are several rooms in it - the Policeman took them both to the station-house, and in going along they said it would be all right; I told them when they got there, if they would return me the 6s. they should go about their business - they said it would be all right; the inspector asked them if I had been there - they acknowledged that I had been there, and that two men had been there, but they denied all knowledge of the two men at the station-house, and at the office they acknowledged that I had been served out by two men - they said I had been injured by two men, but they had nothing to do with it; they said they saw the scuffle between the men and me - I had had a glass or two, but knew what I was about; I did not observe the features of the second woman - she was the only female besides Brown that was in the room; they were both there when the Policeman went in. Brown. Q.When you came into my house, you asked if I had got a fountain in the house - I asked what you meant? A. I did not ask that question. Brown. He ran through, and ran into the kitchen - the two men rushed in after him, and one of them attempted to strike me. Witness. I saw no violence offered to her by the two men. Smith. What Brown has stated is the truth - I was not in the house. WILLIAM BOWHILL . I am a Policeman. On the night of the 16th of February I saw the prosecutor in Battle-bridge, about forty yards from Haddon-place - he told me he had been robbed; his account appeared sensible and correct - he said two women had robbed him; I went with him to the house, No. 3, Haddon-place, which is kept by the prisoner Brown - I know that; I found her there - Smith and her were both in the room when I went into the house; Gates went into the room with me, identified them, and said it was the room they had been in, and that they were the persons who robbed him; I asked Brown what she had to say to it - she said she knew nothing about the robbery, that some man came into the house, and ran away, and she had called out Police - Smith said she was not in the house at the time, that she had just come in - I took them to the station - Brown had 6s. 6d. in silver and 9d. in copper in her pocket; the prosecutor had said he had lost about 6s. 6d.; she said she had had the money before he came to the house - I found nothing on Smith. Brown. Q.Do you not recollect my calling you into the house, before you saw the man? A. No you did not call me in. Q. I said the man ran in with his basket, and two young men rushed in after him, and desired you to look after them? A.No; I had not spoken to you that evening. The prosecutor said Brown robbed him, and Smith held his hands the while. Brown's Defence. The man came into my house and asked if I had got a fountain. - I said I thought the street was the best place for him; two men rushed in and wanted to strike him, and said, "Jack come out;" I went to the door to look for the Police, and saw Smith - I asked her to go and look for a Policeman; she came in; the two men ran away - he took his basket and ran after them, then returned with the Policeman, and said we had robbed him; he was asked which had robbed him, and pointed to Smith - he said the same at the station; I said she was not there, and then he said I assisted to rob him. Smith's Defence. Brown fetched me into the house; I found this man scuffling with two others; the Police was called - the prosecutor remained in the house, and presently he took his basket and went out - he came back in about twenty-five minutes, with a Policeman, and charged us with robbing him; I was not in the house at the time; he said at the station that I had robbed him, and then accused Brown of it. WILLIAM BOWHILL. He gave the same account at the station as he has now, that Brown took his money, and Smith held his hands. BROWN - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 40. [April 11th] SMITH - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 26.

33

Kate Fearnall-Heath on 22nd May 2018

acc to Gerald Stone's book 'Beautiful bodies' Mary was a brothel keeper aged 40 when transported & drowned in the shipwreck.She was sentenced to death originally for beating up & robbing a drunken customer, with another girl, which was changed to transportation. Makers her birth abt 1793

221

D Wong on 11th July 2014

On the 31st of August 1833 the Amphitrite ran aground on a sandbank in sight of Boulogne and it was apparent to locals that the ship was in grave danger as it was low tide and the locals knew that it would soon be swamped by the massive tide. Attempts were made by the French to save the passengers and crew but assistance was refused by Captain Hunter. 108 female convicts, 12 children and a crew of 16 were on board and only 3 of the crew survived.