James Fleming

51

Chris Ison on 13th December 2024

11th June [1839]. The spoons and watch stolen from Mr. SHARPE’s Quarters in May last were found in the Civil Hospital and on investigation it was proved that BARTHOLOMEW KELLY who was supposed to be mad and confined in the Hospital had committed the robbery. FRANCIS McMANUS another supposed madman turned apprise and declared they were dissembling to the doctor. On evidence it appeared that FLEMMING [James Fleming] a door keeper had assisted KELLY in getting off his irons and to scale the wall and both were sentenced to receive 300 lashes each. McMANUS was sent to work in heavy irons for the deception practised on the Medical Officer. Overseer McDONALD and the cook belonging to the Hospital were dismissed their situations for negligence on the occasion. ('History of Norfolk Island from the period of its Discovery in the year 1774', to-1 August 1854, by Aaron Price)

110

Ron Garbutt on 7th July 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 July 2020), September 1831, trial of JOSEPH CROFT JAMES FLEMING , alias CONNELY (t18310908-387). JOSEPH CROFT, JAMES FLEMING, Theft > simple larceny, Theft > receiving, 8th September 1831. 1924. JOSEPH CROFT was indicted for stealing, on the 1st of September , 1 spoon, value 10s. , the goods of Frank Godman Capel ; and JAMES FLEMING , alias CONNELY was indicted for feloniously receiving the same, well knowing it to have been stolen . SARAH GALE . I am cook to Frank Godman Capel, of Nottingham-street, Marylebone . The prisoner Croft was in the habit of coming to the house, to go on errands, but was not regularly employed. On the 23rd of August, about one o'clock in the day, I had this spoon in use in the kitchen; I saw Croft standing by the kitchen door, about six o'clock, and about nine I missed the spoon - I found it at the office next morning. JOSEPH PIKE . I am a stone-mason, and my sister is housekeeper to Mr. Capel. Having been informed that Croft had made a confession, I went to him, and asked where the spoon was - I did not make him any threat or promise; he told me that a boy, named James Connely , was offering it for sale for him, at the corner of Peter-street, and the boy had told him the party had detained the spoon - I went to Peter-street; no spoon had been offered there - I went with Croft to Stingo-lane; he gave me a description, by which I found Fleming. BENJAMIN ETCHELLS . I am a Policeman. Pike applied to me, and I took Croft, who gave the account Pike has stated; he said Connely told him to bring him any thing that was silver, and he could sell it for him; I wentto Edwards'-place, Seymour-place, where Fleming lived, and Clark brought Fleming to me, with the spoon in his hand. CHARLES CLARK . I am a Policeman. I heard Croft's description of the boy; I was going up Crawford-street, and saw Fleming running as hard as he could, with another person; I took him, and found the silver table-spoon in his left hand, which I saw him take from his pocket, wrapped in a green cloth - I took it from him.(Property produced and sworn to.) Croft's Defence. I was putting some shavings away in the cellar, and found this spoon - I cleaned it, and asked this boy to mind it for me till morning, when I meant to return it. Fleming's Defence. He came to me, and said he had found the spoon in the vault - he did not know whether it was silver, but if it was he would take it back in the morning, and asked me to mind it for him, as he did not want his father and mother to know it; in the morning the Policeman came and made a noise about it - I came out, and ran across Crawford-street; the Policeman came up, and I gave it to him. CROFT - GUILTY . Aged 15. Fined One Shilling , and Discharged. FLEMING - GUILTY . Aged 13. Transported for Fourteen Years . https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18310908-387