William Davies

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd April 2026

Tried at the Old Bailey, 16 Feb 1826. 509. WILLIAM DAVIES was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Sarah Keen, about the hour of twelve, in the night of the 31st of January , at St. Bridget, alias St. Bride, with intent to steal, and stealing therein, 4 tea-spoons, value 8s.; 1 printed bound book, value 2s.; 1 pair of spectacles, value 4s.; 2 glass salts, value 9d., and 1 pepper-castor, value 3d. , the goods of the said Sarah Keen . SARAH KEEN. I am the tenant of the house No. 5, Goldsmith's-street, Gough-square, Fleet-street, in the parish of St. Bride . I keep a chandler's shop there - I lost the articles stated in the indictment, on the 31st of January, from a small cupboard in the back room adjoining the shop - I went to bed about eleven o'clock that night, and my house was all secure - I am perfectly sure of that; I got up at seven o'clock next morning, the 1st of February, and found the shop door unlocked, and the padlock gone - the back door was open, and the sash of the back room window - the back door leads into my own private yard - it had been unbolted - it was bolted when I went to bed; it was getting light, but I had a candle in my hand, There was a strong suspicion that the person had been concealed in the lower part of the house, where there was a large cupboard, in which there was the print of some feet, and the ends of matches, which led us to suppose they had been in the house before we went to bed; the shop door had been locked with a padlock, and the padlock was gone - they went through the shop into the back room, and took the things from the cupboard; I slept on the first floor, but was not alarmed in the course of the night; I have seen the property since, and know it to be mine. JOHN ROBERTSON . I lodge with Mrs. Keen. On the morning of Wednesday, the 1st of February, I came home, and had a large key to open the door, which I did, but previously to that, I observed a light in the shop, through the holes in the window shutters - it looked like a candle moving about; but as soon as I opened the door the light disappeared - I took no notice but went up stairs to bed. ROBERT CURTIS . I am a Bow-street officer. About half-past seven o'clock in the morning of the 1st of February, I saw the prisoner near a pawnbroker's shop in Broad-court, Long-acre - he took something out of his pocket which appeared like silver spoons - he then went to several other pawnbrokers' shops, which were not open, and kept repeatedly looking at the things in his pocket. After I had watched him some time, he got to Mr. Townshend's, in Russell-street - I saw him go in, and, after a little time I followed, and questioned him as to whose property those two spoons were which he was offering to sell- he said his name was King, and they were his own property - he had had them some time; he offered a prayer-book to pawn, which he said was his own, and his name was in it - I searched it, but could find no name - he afterwards said the spoons belonged to his mother, who lived near Hyde-park-corner. I took him into the back room, and found on him two glass salt-cellars, a pair of spectacles, and two silver spoons in his watch-fob, and a pepper glass; I asked him how he came by them - he said he was a poor unfortunate fellow; I again asked where he got them; he said "You know;" I said I did not know; he then said they came from Mrs. Keen's, No. 5, Goldsmith's-street, Gough-square. After he had had a hearing I found the prosecutrix out - I likewise found a phosphorus bottle and some matches on him.(Property produced and sworn to.) COURT to SARAH KEEN. Q. Was the padlock quite gone? A. Yes, and I had left it quite locked I am certain. JURY. Q. How is your shop situated? A. It has a door in the passage - the lodgers have no occasion to go through the shop into the house. The prisoner pleaded distress. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. Recommended to mercy by the Jury on account of his apparent distress, and believing it his first offence, and by the prosecutrix, having lodged with her and conducted himself well . Hulk Records. HO-9-7_2 (page 41/48) Retribution Hulk at Sheerness. Received from Lancaster, 12 May 1826. Wm. Davis, age 20, Burglary. Tried at London, 16 Feby 1826, Life, To NSW 31 July 1826.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 31st March 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Ship; Speke - 1826. Indent No; 83 Name; William Davies Age; 23 Reads & writes. , Single Native Place; London Trade or calling; Lace maker. Offence; Privately stealing Trial Date; 16 Feb 1826. Sentence; Life Height; 4 ft. 2 1/2 in Eyes; Grey Hair; Lt. Brown Completion; Fair freckled Remarks; This man is a dwarf and deformed 1835 - Ticket of Leave; 35/227/ 1843 - Conditional Pardon. No; 43/18. Dated 1 Jan 1842.