James Crowther

342

Maureen Withey on 20th September 2025

National Archives. HO 11/2-1. Indents for early Convict Ships. Indian. James Crowther, Tried at Middlesex Gaol Delivery, 12 April 1809, Life. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Tried at the Old Bailey, 12 April 1809. 340. JAMES CROWDER , alias BROWN , was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of James Meycock , about the hour of eight, on the night of the 6th of April , and burglariously stealing therein, two silk handkerchiefs, value 15 s. his property. JAMES MEYCOCK. I live at 64, Broad street, in St. Giles's parish ; I am a haberdasher . Q. Are you a housekeeper - A. Yes. On the 6th of this month, about half past seven in the evening, I heard a window break, that was the first thing that attracted my attention; it was rather a private window that gave light to a desk; it looked into Drury lane; the other window was shut up, this was not. Q. What sort of a light was there at that time - A. There was no light but what was in the shop; there was no day light nor no moon as I know of; it was half past seven o'clock. I heard the glass fall; in about half a minute or a minute I went to the place from whence the sound proceeded, of the broken glass. I saw a man's hand had got hold of my handkerchiefs, that was fastened to a line; he was pulling them out of the window, through the glass that was broken. They were silk handkerchiefs, he was drawing them out of the broken pane of glass. Q. Was that the pane of the small window that you spoke of - A. Yes. Q. Describe how these handkerchiefs were hanging before you heard the glass fall - A. They were hanging on a line of red tape, nailed on each side of the window for that purpose. Q. Were they within the shop - A. Yes; within the shop; they were fastened with three large pins. Q. Was any part of them drawn out of the house - A. Yes, as much as half a yard at least; he could not get them off; he gave them a sharp pull at the time I got to the window; I saw the handle did not get them off; he tore the corner of the handkerchief. When he saw I saw his face at the window, by the glimmer of light that was in my shop, and likewise his hand, he ran off. Q. What light had you in your shop - A. There were several candles in the shop, there were two lamps in the Broad street side, but in this window there was nothing but a candle alight standing on the desk. Q. There was light enough to distinguish him so as to know him - A. Yes; I saw his face and I knew it was the same man; when I saw him afterwards I suppose the prisoner saw me; I laid hold of the handkerchief, he ran off or walked off; he was gone very quick; I sent my boy after him, I did not pursue him myself; my boy assisted in taking of him; Samuel Parsons took him. The prisoner is the man I saw attempting to take the handkerchiefs out of my shop; he was brought back in about two or three minutes after he was gone. Prisoner. When Mr. Meycock was at the office he charged me with breaking the window; he then said he did not know whether there were four or five handkerchiefs; now he has indicted me for two. Prosecutor. There were two handkerchiefs at the office; there were neither four or five handkerchiefs mentioned; I did say two or three; I did not know which till I counted them. SAMUEL PARSONS . Q Were you near the house of Mr. Meycock on the 6th of this month - A. Yes; I was standing on the opposite side of the way in Drury lane, about half past seven o'clock in the evening. Q. Was it dark then - A. Yes. Q. Is Mr. Meycock's the corner of Drury lane - A. Yes; on the left hand as you go from here. I saw the prisoner come up Drury lane. Q. Did he come up alone - A. Yes; I saw the prisoner go up to Mr. Meycock's window; it is a small window that looks into Drury lane; he stopped there about a minute; I heard the glass break. Q. Where was he standing when you heard the glass break - A. He was standing close by the window; I saw him with his hand put on the glass at the bottom of the window. Q. Was his hand touching the glass of the window - A. Yes. Q. Upon the glass breaking what did he do - A. He walked off about two yards to the corner of Drury lane and looked up Broad street; he found nobody come out; just at that moment he turned back again to the window that was broke, he put his hand in through the broken pane, and gave the handkerchiefs a pull. Q. Did you see any handkerchiefs at that time - A. Yes, they were hanging outside of the window, about half a yard. Q. Where were the handkerchiefs hanging - A. Inside. Q. What was the consequence of this pull - A He drawed them out about half a yard; he then walked five yards away, he left the handkerchiefs there, about half a yard hanging out; he walked off five yards from the window; I crossed over the way, with intent to take him; he turned his head round a little, and seeing me behind him - I was about half a yard behind him - he ran away; I pursued him to the Coal yard, there I took him. Q. How far was that - A. About fifty yards. Q. Was that the same side of the way - A. No, the other side of the way; he crossed over the way. I took him and brought him back to the shop again. Q. Mr. Meycock's shop you mean - A. Yes; he was there delivered to the watchman. The prisoner said nothing in his defence, nor called any witnesses to character. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 20. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. justice Lawrence.