Robert Couling

342

Maureen Withey on 30th October 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 30 October 2021), January 1815, trial of ROBERT COOLING (t18150111-30). ROBERT COOLING, Theft > burglary, 11th January 1815. 151. ROBERT COOLING was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of William Peaty , about the hour of twelve on the night of the 7th of December , and burglariously stealing therein two tea-cadys value 4 s. a sugar bason value 6 d. and a steal pen value 2 d. the property of William Peaty . SUSANNAH PEATY . My husband's name is William Peaty , we live in George yard Hatton wall , my husband is a coachman . On Wednesday the 7th of December, my husband came home between twelveand one o'clock in the morning, he had his coach and horses to put up, I went out to assist him, I latched the door after me and left no one in the house; there is but one door to the house, I am sure I latched the door after me, I did not lock it I am sure, I latched it; I entered the stable, I staid there about a quarter of an hour; when I returned I found the door latched, and when I went in, I missed two caddys off the dresser; when I came out there were two caddys on the dresser, and when I returned, I missed them, that was on the ground floor; there was a small gold broach in one of the caddys, a silver caddy spoon, a steel pen, and a red case. Q. Did you miss both the caddys - A. Yes, they were on the dresser when I left the house, I am sure of it, the other caddy was full of bills, receipts, and papers. Q. What might they be worth - A. I will say six shillings for all together; I would not wish to value too much. The officer has them, I have seen them in the hands of the officer. I did not see the prisoner take them; I am sure I latched the door I tried the latch, and I am sure it catched, it is a common latch. JAMES HANCOCK . I am an officer; on Friday the 9th of December, I was in White-cross street, looking about there, I am generally there of an evening about seven o'clock, I saw the prisoner with these things under his arm, he was in company with a tall man, I asked him how he came by the property; he told me he took them from his father, his father lived at Islington, he was going to take them to a brother of his in Crown Street Soho; he would not tell me any more. I then said to him, if he was going to Crown street Soho, he was in the wrong direction, he was making for lower White-cross street, and within a few doors of it, that lies south of the place, and Soho lies westward; I then took him to Hatton garden office; I took the caddys and him into my custody, I asked him who was along with him, he said, he did not know the name of the tall young man, he did not belong to him; I then took him to the office, he told the same story nearly to the magistrate; the magistrate asked me if I had any thing else against him. I could not say although I suspected him. The magistrate said, if he would bring his father the next day he would liberate him. He was ordered to bring his father, the next day the father came, but nobody came forward to own the things, a carpenter came into the public house and said he was going to put up some iron bars to a house that had been robbed; I took the prisoner to the Shears public house, the parties came forward and swore to the articles, he was committed for trial, These are the caddys, I took from the prisoner. The prisoner had just been discharged from the New Prison when I took him; I never had him in custody before. Prosecutrix This tea-caddy is my husbands property, I know both the caddys, this is the key of one of the caddys, I lost the key of the other caddy some years ago, I have brought the key of one of the caddys, I had it up stairs in my bed room. I have brought the key with me now, it will lock, and unlock it both. The caddys were unlocked. The prisoner left his defence to his counsel, and called one witness who gave him a good character. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 17. The prisoner was recommended to mercy by the jury and the prosecutrix on account of his youth. Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Barron Wood . -------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Record https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/tas/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fARCHIVES_DIGITISED$002f0$002fARCHIVES_DIG_DIX:CON13-1-1/one CON13-1-1 Image 210 List of Sixty male convicts embarked on H.M. Brig Prince Leopold for the Public service in Van Diemen’s Land, with their sentences of Transportation duly extracted from the Indents, and Descriptions as taken on the Muster at arrival in New South Wales. Secretary’s Office, Sydney. 5 March 1819. Robert Couling, per Baring, Tried Middx G.D.. 11 Jan 1815, Life, age 21, native place, London. Shoemaker, 5 ft 3 ¼ height, blue eyes, flaxen hair, florid complexion. General remarks, Well behaved.