Thomas Child

221

D Wong on 25th May 2016

Thomas was on the Fortune 1806. Old Bailey: THOMAS CHILD, Theft > theft from a specified place, 5th December 1804. Offence: Theft > theft from a specified place Verdict: Guilty > theft under 40s Punishment: Transportation THOMAS CHILD was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 23d of November, a plated sugar bason, value 10 s. four silver desert spoons, value 40 s. a silver table spoon, value 15 s. and two silver tea spoons, value 3 s. the property of John-Henry Stevenson, Esq. in his dwelling-house . WILLIAM SUMMERS sworn. - In November last I lived with John- Henry Stevenson, Esq . No. 46, Barnard-street, Russel-square. Q. Did you know the prisoner before? - A. I never saw him before that occasion; on the 23d of November, about nine o'clock, I went into the front parlour, and was laying the breakfast; I heard the alarm of stop thief called by my fellow-servant, Jane Meredith; I heard the area-steps rattle very much indeed, it is a kind of a ladder; I looked over the blinds in the parlour window, and saw the prisoner go out from the gate. Q. Are you sure of the man? - A. Yes, I saw him go out from the area gate, and I pursued him to Russel-square; after I got into the street, I never lost sight of him; I am sure he is the man, he was running when I came out. Q. How near might you be to him when you got into the street? - A. I suppose it might be two hundred yards: I gained ground upon him, and came up with him; I called out stop thief, and a person of the name of Baynes stopped him; I came up, and seized him. Q. How far were you from Baynes when he seized him first? - A. I suppose about fifty yards; Baynes and I brought the prisoner back to the house; we sent for John White, the constable; when we got him into the passage of my master's house, he persisted in dropping the plate there, and he accordingly dropped it; I saw him drop it; Wood, the constable, picked it up; that is all I know about it; Baynes is confined for debt in the King's Bench prison. JANE MEREDITH sworn. - I was servant to Mr. Stevenson in November last. Q. Do you remember being at work below stairs in your master's house, and being alarmed? - A. Yes, I saw this young man come towards the butler's pantry; I had never seen him before. Q. You don't know how he got in? - A. No. Q. Was the area door open? - A. Yes. Q. He was going towards the area? - A. Yes, I heard the things rattle in his apron; I cried out stop thief; he then ran up the area steps; I ran up the steps after him, but no further; I then saw William Summers come out at the street-door, and go after him; Mr. Baynes and he brought him back, and I saw him drop the plate in the passage from out of his apron; Mr. Wood, the constable, picked it up. THOMAS WOOD sworn. - I was sent for to take charge of the prisoner; I searched him, and he acknowledged having dropped those things, (produces them); I have had them in my possession ever since. Q.(To Summers.) Is it your business to take care of the plate? - A. It is. Q. Look at these articles, can you take upon yourself to say they are your master's? - A. I can swear that every one of these things were under my care. Q. Can you speak to the value of them? - A. No, I don't know the value of such things; the sugar bason is not worth above five shillings. Prisoner's defence. I never was guilty of any thing of the kind before in my life; I am a plasterer by trade. GUILTY, aged 20, Of stealing goods to the value of 39 s. Transported for seven years. No further records of Thomas found.