Timothy Driscoll

343

Maureen Withey on 8th June 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 08 June 2020), September 1829, trial of TIMOTHY DRISCOLL (t18290910-108). TIMOTHY DRISCOLL, Violent Theft > robbery, 10th September 1829. 1640. TIMOTHY DRISCOLL was indicted for feloniously assaulting Jane Teasdale , on the 30th of August , at St. George, and putting her in fear, taking from her person, and against her will, 1 reticule, value 5s.; 1 sovereign, and 20 shillings, her property . JANE TEASDALE . I am single , and live in John-street, Commercial-road. On the 30th of August, between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, I was in Watney-street , Commercial-road - I had my reticule round my arm hanging by a double chain; it contained 30s. in money, two pieces of coin in a purse, a pocket handkerchief, a bunch of keys, and a silver fruit knife - the prisoner did nothing to me, but wrenched it violently from my arm - but some body else struck me on the back. Q. Did the person who took it come behind you or meet you? A. He met me; it had a double chain, and was pulled away with a tremendous pull; he gave a tremendous pull before he got away - it was not a sudden snatch but a wrench; my arm was very sore afterwards, for some time the clasp of the chain broke - he got the reticule, and rushed away with it - I called Stop thief! and he called Stop thief himself! somebody then came behind, struck me on the back, and made a catch at me, to prevent my running in pursuit, but he was taken directly on the spot, without being out of my sight; he is the man -I am quite sure of it - it happened on Sunday evening; my purse was found on the Wednesday following, over a garden wall, which the prisoner passed. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. I take it for granted you were very much agitated? A. I was - I had never seen him before; it was done momentarily - there was a person standing at a door as I passed round the corner, and her brother pursued him; I had to turn a corner in following him, but did not lose sight of him. GEORGE ANDERSON . I am a journeyman baker. I was in Dean-street, standing at my father's door; I heard a cry of Stop thief! and saw the prisoner running and calling Stop thief! his hat dropped off - he did not stop to pick it up, so I thought he was the thief himself - he was coming towards me; I told him if he did not stop I would knock him down - he paid no attention to that -I ran after him up Dean-street and laid hold of him, but missed my hold; I secured him at the top of Dean-street; he said he had done nothing, he was not the thief, and was very resolute to get away - I held him, and said,"What as he robbed;" the lady said he was the man immmediately; I took him into a public-house, as the rest of the persons round said I should not illuse him. Cross-examined. Q. Were not a good many persons behind pursuing him? A. Several were running after him, calling Stop thief! whether that hid him from the lady I cannot say - I did not see her till she came up to me - if I had let my hat fall I should have stopped to pick it up- I kept very close to him; there was nobody between him and me, I swear - I did not see him do any thing; the others were all just behind him when I first met him. Prisoner. I leave every thing to my counsel. Three witnesses gave the prisoner a good character. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 22. Recommended to mercy by the Prosecutor, on account of his friends. -------------------------------------------------- National Archives. Ref: HO 17/50/16 1 individual petition (Jane Tisdale prosecutor but sent in on her behalf by William Perry) and 2 collective petitions (Timothy and Mary Driscoll parents and 9 people from St George in the East Middlesex) on behalf of Timothy Driscoll convicted at the Old Bailey in September 1829 for highway robbery against Jane Tisdale. Grounds for clemency: honest and industrious character, first offence, distress drove him to commit offence, respectable parents. Initial sentence: death. HO16 Date: 1829 Oct.