Caroline Ellis

343

Maureen Withey on 10th October 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 10 October 2023), May 1833, trial of CAROLINE ELLIS (t18330516-24). CAROLINE ELLIS, Theft > pocketpicking, 16th May 1833. 908. CAROLINE ELLIS was indicted for stealing, on the 5th of April , 7 sovereigns, the monies of Charles Cossins , from his person . CHARLES COSSINS . I am a waiter , and live at the Portugal-hotel, No. 154, Fleet-street. On the 5th of April, at two o'clock in the morning, I was out and fell in with the prisoner in Fleet-street - I had been waiting the day before, and had gone in the evening to see a friend - I had had two glasses of brandy and water, and one glass of gin and water - I was a little the worse for liquor, but knew what I was about - I was on my way home when I fell in with the prisoner; I am not certain whether I spoke to her first or she to me, but we got into conversation and I agreed to go home and sleep with her - we went to a house in Star-court and I think up two pair of stairs - I fastened the room-door with an old lock; I turned the key, and left it in the lock - I pulled off my clothes, put them on the table, and went to bed - I had seven sovereigns and some silver in my trousers pocket; I am sure I had it safe when I went up stairs - I awoke about eight o'clock in the morning the prisoner was then gone - I am sure she is the person I went to bed with - I looked at my trousers and missed seven sovereigns, but the silver was left - I had seen the prisoner before, but I never went with her before - I named the circumstances to the street-keeper the same day, and the prisoner was taken in a week or ten days afterwards; a person on the first floor told me her name - I had locked the door when I went into the room, but I cannot say whether any one went in after she came down. Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIPS. Q. Were you not rather tipsy? A. I might be; if I had been sober, I dare say I should not have gone with her - I am married; I went into one public-house with the prisoner, and had a glass of half-and-half - I had forgotten that before - I had forgotten to put the money out of my pocket. ROBERT TAYLOR (police-sergeant F 4.). The prisoner was taken by another officer, and brought to the station-house - she was put into the cell with another woman - I knew the prisoner, and knew her voice perfectly well; I heard her say to the other woman that she supposed she should be transported this time - and the other asked her what she was there for - she said for robbing a man of some money, that it had done her no good as she had been drinking about ever since, and all she got out of it was a bonnet. Prisoner. It is false - I said I was there for robbing a man of seven sovereigns, and I had not had it; for if I had I had no occasion to have pawned an article that week to have got my bonnet from the cleaners - he came in while I was speaking to that woman, and she asked him if she could have a pint of beer, and I said if she had not got the money to pay for it, I would give it her - and she said to me that if I was to be transported, it was what she had been and had returned - I have the duplicate of what I had pawned that week. Witness. I am quite certain of what I heard her say through the door. Cross-examined. Q. How many persons were in that cell? A. Only that one female and the prisoner; the door was shut - I knew the prisoner's voice well - I cannot say what has become of the other woman - I knew her by sight - I did not hear the prisoner say that she need not have pawned her articles if she had had this money - there is a trap in the door - I did not stand to listen; I was in the yard - I don't think the prisoner could see me - I was rather above the door; the flap is about six inches square - I was about half a yard from it - there were some men in some other cells; the other woman was there for drinking - the prisoner was sober - I cannot tell the name or number of the officer who took the prisoner - he was before Sir Frederick Roe , but I believe he was not examined. MARY ANN JOHNSON . I am a dress-maker, and have a little annuity; the prisoner is my sister - I met her the day before she was taken at a relation of ours at Fulham, and she had but three half-pence in the world - I paid for the omnibus to Fleet-street for her - she told me she had been obliged to pawn her gown to get her bonnet from the cleaners, to go to where I met her. GUILTY of stealing only . Aged 27. Recommended to Mercy. - Transported for Seven Years .

221

D Wong on 11th July 2014

On the 31st of August 1833 the Amphitrite ran aground on a sandbank in sight of Boulogne and it was apparent to locals that the ship was in grave danger as it was low tide and the locals knew that it would soon be swamped by the massive tide. Attempts were made by the French to save the passengers and crew but assistance was refused by Captain Hunter. 108 female convicts, 12 children and a crew of 16 were on board and only 3 of the crew survived.