John Dew

221

D Wong on 2nd December 2014

Old Bailey: JOHN DEW, Theft > theft from a specified place, 20th April 1803. Reference Number: t18030420-27 Offence: Theft > theft from a specified place Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Death JOHN, alias ARCHIBALD DEW was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 30th of March, a trunk, value 10d. six shirts, value 16s. eleven pair of stockings, value 12s. a nightcap and fillet, value 6d. two neck-handkerchiefs, value 1s. two cotton handkerchiefs, value 4d. a guinea, a crown-piece, and 3s. 6d. the property of John Turpin , in the dwelling-house of the Hon. Margaret Gage . JOHN TURPIN sworn. - I am servant to Mrs. Gage, No.44, Dover-street . On Wednesday the 30th of March I lost the property from a trunk in the servants hall; I saw it there about half past three o'clock; I left it locked; I put my shirts in that had just come from the wash; about a quarter past three I went out with the carriage, and returned about half past five; I found the prisoner in custody; I missed the trunk, and when it was produced, I knew it to be mine. PETER BANKS sworn. - I am servant to the Hon. Mrs. Gage; I was left at home when the prosecutor went out. About five o'clock I was setting my tray for dinner in the pantry; I thought I heard a foot in the passage below, which occasioned me to open the pantry-door; I opened the door, and saw the prisoner with a trunk in his hand; he was coming out of the hall into the passage leading to the area; as soon as he saw me, he set the trunk down, and asked me if the house was Lady Middleton's? (she lives in the same street, the name on the door;) I told him it was not; I asked him who he wanted, or what he wanted if it was Lady Middleton's, or who told him that it was; he said, some person in the street; I asked him again, and he said, dear me, I thought it was Lady Middleton's; then he went out, put the trunk down, and went up the area-steps; I followed him, and overtook him about ten yards from the gate, in the street; I caught him by the collar, and charged him with robbing our house; he said, my dear Sir, you must be mistaken, it could not be me; do you think a person like me would come down your area-steps to rob your house; I told him I was certain he was the man, and I insisted upon his going down stairs with me; he made no resistance, but went with me; I shewed him the trunk, and told him that was the trunk he had taken out of the servant's hall; he begged very much for me to let him go; I told him he might depend upon it I should not till my mistress came home; he said, he had a wife at the end of the street, who was waiting for him, and I was keeping him out of his business; he begged to go out to speak to his wife; I said, if he had any thing particular to say to her, he should, but he might depend upon it he should not go out of my hands; I went into the street with him; a woman came up who said she was his wife, and he said she was; she asked me if I thought a man of his appearance would come down to rob a servant's hall; I told her it mattered not what his appearance was, he was the man; she tried to loose him from me; a soldier was going by, and I charged him to assist me, which he did, and we took him down stairs again; I set the trunk before him, and desired the soldier not to let him go out of the house, and when my mistress came home, he was secured. Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. Q. Was the prisoner a stranger to you? - A. Yes. Q. The trunk was never removed out of the house? - A. No. Q. He asked you how you could suppose he was the person? - A. Yes. Q. How came you to suspect him? - A. I never lost sight of him till he was taken. Q. Is your mistress a married lady? - A. No, she is a widow lady. URIAH COSTER sworn. - I was desired by the last witness to assist him in apprehending the prisoner; I took charge of him in the house; I saw the trunk there.(The trunk was produced, and the property indentified by the prosecutor.) The prisoner left his defence to his Counsel. GUILTY , Death , aged 33. Colonial Secretary: DEW, John. Per "Fortune", 1806 1810 Feb 6: Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3164; 4/1846 p.70) 1818 Sep 10: On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1818 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.49) 1818 Nov 7: Appointed constable & watchman of Heaving Down Place, Sydney Cove (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.518) 1823 Mar: On list of constables in Sydney from Sep 1820 to Mar 1823; died (Reel 6056; 4/1764 p.64) No Date: Had a CP 3/6/1809: CP Cancelled – no reason found. 1811: TOL 1811: Married Jane Williams (possibly arrived per William Pitt 1806) – no children found. 31/1/1814: CP 7/11/1818: Appointed as a Constable 1821: John Dew died aged 50 in Sydney. Jane Dew then married William Ambridge (Perseus and Coromandel 1802).