James Freeman

110

Ron Garbutt on 22nd March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 22 March 2020), January 1817, trial of JAMES FREEMAN (t18170115-86). JAMES FREEMAN, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 15th January 1817. 234. JAMES FREEMAN , was indicted for feloniously assaulting James Judd , on the King's highway, on the 5th of November , and putting him in fear, and taking from his person and against his will, one hundred shillings, in monies numbered; twenty half-crowns, value 50s.; twenty silver three-shilling tokens, value 60s.; and eight 1l. bank-notes the monies and property of our Lord the King . SECOND COUNT, the same, only stating them to be the property of James Judd. JAMES JUDD. I am a two-penny post letter-carrier , between five and six o'clock, on the 5th of November, I was in Bell-lane, Spitalfields , which is my district. I had delivered my letters, and had received 10l. for them, consisting of eight of 1l. bank-notes and the rest in silver and copper, there were shillings, sixpences, and half-crowns among it. I was stopped by three men, one of them held my right arm down, while the prisoner robbed me of the money stated in the indictment. The notes were in my right hand breeches pocket, the silver in the left, and the copper in my left hand waistcoat pocket, which he tore in taking the copper out. The third man stood by; they were with me about five minutes; they then ran away. I gave information at the police office, and described the men. I saw the prisoner in custody at Lambeth-street, on the 21st, I knew him directly. I am sure the prisoner is the man, I picked him out immediately from several others. There was a good light at the place, from a factory lamp; it was by the lamp that I was robbed. Prisoner. Was you intoxicated at the time? - A. No. SAMUEL MILLER. I am an officer of Lambeth-street office. I took the prisoner into custody, on the 28th of November, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, from the description that I received from Judd. I found him walking along Whitechapel. I told him that I wanted him for a robbery, and the next morning I took Judd to look at him, and then told him, that I wanted him for the robbery of the postman in Bell-lane, with two others; I did not tell him what day it was, he said, he knew nothing about it. Judd saw him when he was before the magistrate. This (producing a paper) is the examination before the magistrate I heard him state what has been taken down.(read.) "Middlesex, Rex v. John Freeman . - Public Office, Whitechapel, 19th of December, 1816. The prisoner says, I have nothing to say. I was at home the whole of that day on which I am charged with the robbery. I did not go out from three to eight o'clock on the 8th of November. Taken before me. (Signed) DANIEL WILLIAMS . Prisoner's Defence. The man came and looked at me, and said he did not know me. I have witnesses to prove that I was at home on that day. JUDD. I never said, I did not know him; I knew him the moment I saw him. MILLER. The prosecutor never said, he did not know him. HANNAH CARR . I am in the silk line. I called upon Mrs. Elliot on the 5th of November, about three o'clock in the afternoon, and waited there till eight o'clock in the evening. The prisoner lodges with her. I left him there when I left, he was not out of the house all the time that I was there. Mrs. Elliot lives at Dog-row, Whitechapel-road. Cross-examined by MR. GURNEY. I live in Dukesbery-court, Whitechapel. The prisoner lives more than half a mile from Bell-lane. I did not go to inform the magistrate that he was at home on that day. I knew he was taken up, but it was three weeks after he was taken up, that I knew he was charged with doing any thing on the 5th of November. I do not know what day of the week the 5th of November was on. I had been to buy some linen and called on Mrs. Elliot, she was sitting by the fire reading, when I went in; the prisoner was nailing his shoes; the prisoner drank tea with us; I staid till eight o'clock Mrs. Elliot went to her needle-work after tea, another woman came in while I was there, and staid till four o'clock. She was Mrs. Elliot's acquaintance - I do not know her name. It was eight o'clock when I went away. DIANNA ELLIOT. I live in the Dog-row; the prisoner has lodged six months with me; he is a rope-maker. He came in about half-past one o'clock, and nailed his shoes; it was a wet day; he was nearly all the afternoon nailing them. He drank tea with us. Mrs. Carr also drank tea with us; she came to my house about three o'clock. I see her almost every evening. Q. What did you do while she was there - A. I was chiefly talking to her. and looking at her things: she went away about eight o'clock; the prisoner did not go out at all. I heard that he was taken up on the 29th. I do not know what day the 5th of November was, I only noticed it by its being wet. Cross-examined by MR. REYNOLDS. The prisoner lives at my house; I was cleaning my room when Mrs. Carr came up. Q. Did any body come in while Carr was in the room - A. Mrs. Clayton came in with her; I knwo her by sight. The reason of her coming was because she was with Carr; we all three came home on Saturday together. Mrs. Clayton stopped at my house, drank tea with us, and went away with Carr. I had not been reading the whole of that day. GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 21. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Park. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18170115-86

James was indicted for feloniously assulting James Judd a two-penny post letter carrier and stealigh eight 1 pound notes, 100 shillings, 20 half crowns, 20 silver 3 shilling tokens. 11/5/1819: Re sending of to Newcastle per 'Elizabeth Henrietta' under sentence for insolence to his overseer and for refusing to perform his duties. Aug. 1819: On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle. 23/5/1822: On list of prisoners Assigned. 1827: TOL 20/7/1837: Recommended CP 20/10/1831: Permission to marry Mary Smith (Kains) age 20. He was 36. at Syd. 14/11/1831: Married Mary Anne Smith, Servant Born 1805 Manchester (per Kains. Mary died in Swansea age 86, and is buried at Belmont Cemetary, Lake Macquarie. She died of senile decay and breast cancer. She had a child born on the Kains 3/1/1830 called John. Mary had been assigned to work for Robert Henderson, which is how she met James Freeman. James had been put in charge of Henderson's dairy at Cabbage Tree. After receiving his CP James bought about 30 acres of land at Cabbage Tree. He moved to a place near where Wyee Creek enters Lake Macquarie in the 1850's-60's. James was injured when a tree fell on him, he received head injuries and was never the same again. He then developed dementia and died on 18/12/1871 at the age of 76 and is buried in Gladesville Hospital cemetery.