Benjamin Buckle

135

C H on 25th March 2024

Old Bailey Online BENJAMIN BUCKLE. WILLIAM CREW. Theft; simple larceny (from 1827), Theft; receiving. 20th February 1834. Text type Trial account Defendants BENJAMIN BUCKLE, WILLIAM CREW Offences Theft > Simple larceny, Theft > Receiving Session Date 20th February 1834 Reference Number t18340220-178 Verdicts Guilty, Guilty Punishments Transportation, Transportation 493. BENJAMIN BUCKLE was indicted for stealing, on the 7th of February , 7 caps, value 7s. , the goods of James Spencer ; and WILLIAM CREW was indicted for feloniously receiving the goods aforesaid, well knowing them to have been stolen . JAMES SPENCER . I keep a sale-shop , Batchelor-row, Battle-bridge - on Friday night, the 7th of February, about half-past nine o'clock, I missed seven caps, which had been inside the shop - I saw them again the same evening in a chair at Crew's, the prisoner's house, in Bagnigge Wells-road , about a quarter of a mile from my house - he is a dealer in marine stores - he has a shop; but I found him in his private house - he said the caps had been brought there to be sold. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. Was anybody else there when he told you this? A. His wife was, and Buckle might have been. WILLIAM HOLLINGSWORTH . I live next door to the prosecutor - on the 7th of February, about half-past nine o'clock in the evening, I saw Buckle pass my door with something in his hands, which induced me to go and ask Mr. Spencer if he had lost anything; and I told him which way Buckle went; I remained at the shop door, and in a few minutes I saw a boy at the window, who, I thought, was connected with him, and I taxed him with it; and from what he said, he and I went after Mr. Spencer; he took us to Crew's house, in York-buildings - he went and tapped at the shutter twice with two signal knocks - he then knocked at the door, and wished us to wait outside; but I pressed forwards, and we went in; and on a chair by the side of Crew were the caps, which Spencer identified as his, and asked him how they came there - Crew said they were brought there for sale. Cross-examined. Q. Was not Crew's shop shut up? A. I do not know - he did not say that he had declined to purchase the caps. THOMAS GRIFFIN . I lodge at Crew's, in Hamilton-row, York-buildings - he keeps a rag and iron shop, and buys all sorts of things - he generally shuts up about eight o'clock, but he buys things in the house after that - on the night of the 7th of February I went with Buckle - we stopped at Mr. Spencer's shop, and Buckle took the caps - he lived at Crew's, the same as I did - we set out a little after eight o'clock - after Buckle took the caps I was waiting till he came back, and the gentleman took me to the prosecutor, - I took them to Crew's, because I knew Buckle would take the caps there - I gave two taps at the shutter for them to let me in, which is the way we all knock, and Buckle opened the door - we lodge, and eat and drink there sometimes, not always - we generally get up at seven or eight o'clock, and go to bed at nine or ten o'clock - when I lived with Crew, I generally used to carry out phials to serve the doctors - I have been out with Buckle in an evening, and stolen things, which we have sold to Crew. Cross-examined. Q. Did you not tell Buckle to take the caps to Crew's? A. Yes; and to tell Crew to allow them to remain there - I did not hear Crew say that he had refused to buy them, that he would have nothing to do with them. WILLIAM COLSON . I am an officer - I went to Crew's, and asked him about these caps - he said they were brought to his house for sale, but he did not buy them. WILLIAM REYNOLDS . I am an officer - I assisted in taking the prisoner - these are the caps. MR. SPENCER. These are mine - I know this one in particular; it has been mine for six months - it has been discoloured by being at the door. Buckle's Defence. As I and Griffin were going to Somers Town, I saw these caps in the foot-path; I took them up, and he said, "Take them to Mr. Crew's, and ask him to buy them," and he said he did not like to have them at his place. (W. Ward, a street-keeper of Christ's Hospital; William Corket , a bedstead maker; John Yeoman , a hatter; gave Crew a good character.) BUCKLE - GUILTY . Aged 11. Transported for Seven Years . CREW - GUILTY . Aged 18. Transported for Fourteen Years .

Benjamin Buckle was 11 years old when indicted for stealing 7 caps, value 7s., the goods of James Spencer. William Crew, stated age 18, but apparently had a wife was indicted for receiving the goods from buckle. Bothe were transported. 20/10/1841: COF The only other reference I could find was from the Gaz. 14/5/1902, which would have made Benjamin 79 years old was; Yesterday morning a man named Benjamin Buckle whose occupation was stated to be that of a rat-catcher was taken to the Sydney Hospital in a semi concious condition by Constable Pearce. Buckle was found by the officer in Riley Street, Woolloomooloo. He is said to have no fixed place of abode. No death, marriage, or children on the BDM.