Edward Everson

341

Maureen Withey on 2nd June 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 02 June 2023), November 1832, trial of JOHN HARRIS EDWARD EVESON (t18321129-126). JOHN HARRIS, EDWARD EVESON, Theft > stealing from master, Theft > receiving, 29th November 1832. 127. JOHN HARRIS was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of November , 10 shawls, value 10l., the goods of Joseph Bowman and another, his masters ; and EDWARD EVESON was indicted for feloniously receiving the said goods, well knowing the same to have been stolen . MR. PHILLIPS conducted the prosecution. CHARLES WALLER (City Policeman No. 71). On Friday, the 16th of November, I met Eveson on Holborn-hill with this bundle - I asked what he had got there; he said he would not tell me, and dared me to stop him in the street, for he was going on business - it was twelve o'clock in the day; I said I had some suspicion that the bundle was stolen, and he must go to the watch-house - he went a little way, then said he would not go, but I made him go; on getting there, before I opened the bundle, I asked him what was in it - he said shawls; I asked how many: he said he believed there were ten - I asked where he got them from; he said he brought them from a person named Hawkins, at No. 39, London-wall - I asked if they belonged to Hawkins; he said No - I asked if they belonged to himself; he said No - I asked where he was going to take them: he said no where - I asked if he hawked them about; he said No - I said, "Whose are they then?" he waited a few minutes, then said they were a person's named Harris, but he did not know the young man, nor his Christain name, nor where he was to be found; I asked what he was himself - he said he was a plumber and glazier out of employ; I then gave him into custody of a brother officer - I went to No. 39, London-wall, and saw Mrs. Hawkins, I went to the first floor room, and there found two small bits of paper, which I produce; I have kept them ever since - I brought the shawls to the prosecutor, and marked them before I parted with them at all; these are the same shawls. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. He first mentioned Hawkins? A. Yes; he afterwards said he did not have them from him. JAMES STOGDEN . I was with Waller when he had the conversation with Eveson in Holborn; his evidence is correct. DAVID SMITH . I am a clerk to Messrs. Bowman and May, No. 15, Wood-street , warehousemen . Eveson came to the warehouse; the prisoner Harris has been porter to our firm nearly twelve months: Charles Waller had some conversation with me, in consequence of which, when Harris came in, I called him aside, and asked him what he had been doing - he kept wringing his hands, and seemed in very great agitation, and would not give me any answer; I pressed him, saying it was his duty to his employer who he had robbed, to give information where there was property, to say where it was to be got back - he at last said, "There are these things, I have been taking to London-wall;" I had not mentioned shawls to him - I asked him what things; he said shawls - nothing more was said about the shawls; he was given into custody. Cross-examined by MR. BARRY. Q. Might not these things have been sold? A. We have no customers in London-wall; we sell wholesale - we sell as many as ten shawls at a time; I do not manage the shawl part of the concern. GEORGE PERRY . I am a warehouseman to the prosecutors. I believe these shawls to be theirs; these two bits of paper have my hand-writing on them - I had affixed them on shawls of this description; I have not a doubt of the shawls having never been sold - here is a mark on the shawls where the marks have been gummed on. Cross-examined. Q. Are the marks on the shawls? A. No. RICHARD HAWKINS . I am a baker, and live in London-wall. The prisoner lodged on my first floor. HARRIS - GUILTY . Aged 21. Transported for Fourteen Years . EVESON - GUILTY . Aged 24. Transported for Seven Years . There were four other indictments against Harris.

341

Maureen Withey on 2nd June 2023

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/69/107. Date: 1832 Nov. Prisoner name: Edward Everson. Prisoner age: [24]. Prisoner occupation: Journeyman painter and glazier. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey, November Sessions 1832. Crime: Receiving stolen goods. Initial sentence: Seven years transportation. Gaoler's report: 'Not known before'. Annotated (Outcome): 'Send abroad'. Petitioner(s): The prisoner undersigned with six character references. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Previous good character; prisoner was hoodwinked by John Harris in to committing the crime; prisoner has employment if freed. Other papers: Page of six character references. Additional Information: Prisoner ordered to Cumberland hulk ship. Prisoner lived in Eye, Suffolk. His wife was Jane Potter, niece of Henry Gobbett of Hailsworth, Suffolk. Prisoner tried with John Harris. John Harris was 'sent abroad' in the Lotus to Van Diemen's Land.