Henry Buckingham

116

Tony Beale on 7th February 2021

Old Bailey Online (DOB from here) 1464. HENRY BUCKINGHAM , WILLIAM WELLS and ROBERT SPENCER were indicted for stealing, on the 24th of October , one handkerchief, value 2s., the goods of William Webster , from his person . WILLIAM WEBSTER . I am a solicitor , and live in Finch-lane, Cornhill. On the 24th of October, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, I was walking up Fleet-street with a friend, opposite Fetter-lane; the officer came up and asked me if I had lost anything; I immediately missed my handkerchief-it was safe a quarter of an hour before. I had been told that it hung out of my pocket and put it in; the officer told me to follow him - We crossed over - He looked about for two or three minutes, then went up a court; there were three boys dancing and laughing at the end of the court; the prisoners, Wells and Spencer, were two of them; the officer desired me to see that they threw nothing on the ground; he took them into a public-house; I did not see them drop anything, supposing I might not have watched them narrowly enough; I went back to the spot where they had been dancing, and found my handkerchief; I had not left the place more than a minute-there were other boys looking there when I returned - They might have put it there. Cross-examined by MR. BARRY. I could not have dropped it. I found the handkerchief in Red Lion-court. JOHN CARLISLE . I am a night-patrol. On the 24th of October, I was in Fleet-street; I was watching the prisoners, Wells and Buckingham, for a quarter of an hour before, they were going towards Temple-bar and met Spencer by Salisbury-court; they stood talking together for five minutes; Mr. Webster and a gentleman passed on that side of the way going towards Temple-bar; the prisoners, Wells and Buckingham, went after him and beckoned to Spencer - He joined them; Wells went to Mr. Webster's pocket and pulled out the handkerchief about five or six inches - They went on a little farther, and opposite Red Lion-court, Buckingham took it quite out; they all ran across the road together; I informed Mr. Webster, and told him to follow me; I hardly knew which way they turned, but I thought it must be up the court; I went up to the top of Red Lion-court, and found them jostling about; I stopped them and took them to a public-house and found nothing on them; Mr. Webster went out and brought in the handkerchief. I had seen See originalClick to see original them that evening before for some time and am sure they are the persons. (Property produced and sworn to.) BUCKINGHAM - GUILTY . Aged 14. WELLS- GUILTY . Aged 13. SPENCER - GUILTY . Aged 15. Transported for Life . London Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant. New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869 for Henry Buckingham no 29/953 dated 10/12/1829 Allowed to stay in Parramatta. Then altered to Lane Cove in 1831. Received a cond pardon 8/9/1836 New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Marriages, 15/3/1831. Henry Buckingham 28 per ship Speke to marry Mary Ann Johnson 22 per ship Grenada 4 Rev Samuel Marsden. Witnesses Joseph and Hannah Bootle of Parramatta