Henry Godfrey

221

D Wong on 8th January 2021

Old Bailey: ROBERT JONES, GEORGE ROBINSON, HENRY GODFREY. Theft: housebreaking. 17th May 1832 Verdict Guilty > with recommendation; Guilty; Guilty > with recommendation Sentence Death; Death; Death ROBERT JONES, GEORGE ROBINSON and HENRY GODFREY were indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Malkin, on the 22nd of April, at St. John, at Hackney, and stealing therein 3 spoons, value 1l.; 1 pair of sugar-tongs, value 12s.; 1 watch-chain, value 1l.; 1 seal, value 12s.; 2 rings, value 12s.; 1 brooch, value 6s.; 1 pin, value 2s.; 4 shirts, value 8s.; 4 silk handkerchiefs, value 24s., and 1 cork-screw, value 6s., the goods of the said John Malkin ; and 1 watch, value 5l.; 1 seal, value 5s.; 1 watch-chain, value 6d.; 2 watch-keys, value 1s.; 1 spoon, value 12s.; 1 neck-chain, value 5s.; 1 brooch, value 5s.; 1 pair of ear-drops, value 2s.; 1 pair of bracelets, value 3s.; 1 necklace, value 1l.; 2 shawls, value 30s.; 1 dress, value 10s.; 6 yards of lace, value 1l.; 6 collars, value 1l.; 1 purse, value 1s. 6d.; 9 sovereigns, 2 half-crowns, 5 shillings, and 3 sixpences, the property of Sarah Smith , in the said dwelling-house. JOHN MALKIN. I live at No. 3, Lock-place, Kings land-road , in the parish of St. John, Hackney; I rent the house, and have it on lease to myself only. On Easter Sunday, the 22nd of April, I left my house a little before eleven o'clock in the morning, to go to St. Paul's church, Ball's-pond; I left nobody at home - Sarah Smith is an intimate friend of mine, and was living at my house, having come for medical advice; she went to church with me - I am certain I left the house perfectly safe; I locked the street door, and the garden gate in front of the house - I think I saw one of the prisoners pass me as I left the house; they are all strangers to me; I was called out of church by Mr. Bowyer, and got home about half-past eleven o'clock - I found a number of people round the house; the street door was shut, and a skeleton-key broken in the lock - I found a trunk of Miss Smith's in the back parlour, open, and property strewed about; I went up stairs, and found the room in confusion, some of the drawers out, and things strewed about; on the drawers laid a pistol, which had been taken out of the drawer; I did not see any of the prisoners in the house; the property was taken out of the house; I lost the articles stated in the indictment, (enumerating them) - a brace of pistols was taken out of my drawers, and placed on a table, and a cupboard in that room broken open. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Did you not find a considerable number of persons in your house? A. No, nobody was in the house; they were outside - Bowyer went in with me, and I believe Mrs. Bumstead; I found the door shut to. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Is your house in the parish of Hackney? A. It is - I pay taxes to that parish; I am an officer in His Majesty's customs - Miss Smith had been at my house four or five months, backwards and forwards; I am married, but do not live with my wife. SARAH SMITH. I am single - I was living at the prosecutor's, and went to church with him; my box was safe then - I did not return till the end of the service; I went up stairs immediately - most of the property was taken from a bed-room up stairs; I found the drawer taken out, and the property stated as mine all taken away; I consider it worth 5l. - I also lost nine or ten sovereigns and some silver - my property altogether was worth about 20l. - I found it at Worship-street. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. I suppose you found a great many people in the house when you returned? A. Not a great many; I think the carpenter and locksmith, and a female friend. SARAH BUXTON. I live in Tottenham-row, Kingsland-road, near the prosecutor's. I had been on an errand, and as I returned I saw a man standing within the prosecutor's door, about ten minutes past eleven o'clock - he was within the street door, which was wide open; I thought he had no right there, and stood to watch him - I saw two men behind him; they saw me watching, and stood some few minutes, then came out with a bundle, shut the door after them, and walked at rather a quick pace - the first person I saw was Mrs. Bumstead; I told her, and she gave an alarm - I saw sufficient of them to recognize their persons; I did not see them again till about half-past three o'clock that afternoon, when they were at the station-house; I was certain the three prisoners were the persons, and not as now: I did not see Mr. Bowyer. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q.Do you mean to represent that you saw Jones in the house? A.He is the man I saw on the step within the door - I did not see him go into the house; I saw him come out - I call the step of the door inside; I do not know which of the three had the bundle, but one of them had - it was about the size of a peck measure. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q.Who shut the door? A. I cannot say; I do not know which was the last man; Jones came out first - I never said I was merely passing, and did not stop at all. JAMES BOWYER . I live in Newland-row, about thirty yards from Malkin's, and am a carpenter. I was standing at my door, about a quarter-past eleven o'clock; I could see Malkin's door from my house - I saw a man standing at the door without his hat; the door was open -I looked to see if it was Malkin, as I thought it odd he should not be at church, as he always goes; when the man saw me he drew back into the passage, and I went into my own house; I had not been there five minutes before a woman informed me Malkin's house was broken open - I directly went to church to fetch him; I came back with him - there was nobody in the house then - the door was shut, and a broken key in the lock; I got a pair of pincers and opened the door with the key, which was in the lock; it was a skeleton-key - I saw a trunk broken open in the back parlour; the house had been plundered and was in confusion - I had not spoken to the man who was at the door; the prisoners are strangers to me. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Jones is not the person you saw at the door? A. That I cannot say - I never said he was not the person; Mrs. Buxton passed me as I stood at my door - the man at that time stood at the door; he drew back into the house before I saw him - I could see him head, but not his body for the wall. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q.Is your house next door to Malkin's? A. No, on the other side of the way - when I saw Mrs. Buxton there was some man at Malkin's door; Buxton was standing still, to the best of my recollection - she afterwards passed by. GEORGE DALBY . I am a chairmaker, and live at Union-row, Kingsland, about fifty yards from Malkin's On Sunday morning, from a quarter to half-past eleven o'clock, a Policeman gave me information, and I ran after three men, whom I saw running, about three quarters of a mile from Malkin's house, but could not overtake them; their pockets appeared to bulge out - I only saw their backs; I saw one of them drop a watch - I picked it up, and delivered it at the station-house; it was claimed at the prosecutor's - I saw the prisoners at the office next day, but cannot swear to them. CHARLES PETTY. I live in Kingsland-row, Dalston, and am a gardener. On Sunday morning, about half-past eleven o'clock, I was returning from Hackney, and three men passed me; I did not particularly notice them then - about a minute or two afterwards I saw a Policeman running; he called out to me, "Have you seen three men running?" I said I had - I then pursned, and saw three men running; one of them dropped a watch - Dalby picked it up, and gave it to me; I took it to Malkin, who told me to take it to the station - it was claimed at Worship-street by Miss Smith. Q. I suppose you lost sight of the three men before they were takes? A. I lost sight of them altogether; I found a silver tea-spoon, about two hundred yards beyond where the watch was picked up - it was in the direction they had ran, in a narrow passage, between a garden wall and a field; I gave the spoon to Bedford. JOHN BEDFORD . I am a Police-inspector. Petty delivered me this watch and tea-spoon; I have had them ever since - I received a crow-bar from Cockrell; it fitted some marks of violence on Malkin's door. JOHN MALKIN . I know this watch to be Miss Smith's; the tea-spoon is mine, and corresponds with others I have here; I missed two. MISS SMITH. This is my watch; I have had it twelve or thirteen years - I am sure it was safe when I left the house; it is gold, and worth 5l. TIMOTHY WRIGHT. I am a labourer, and live at Shacklewell-row. I was going through Kingsland-turnpike, about a quarter or half-past eleven o'clock, and received information from a female; I then returned down Dalston, and met a Policeman at the back of Tyssen Arms - I went with him in pursuit, and caught sight of three men, about three-quarters of a mile from the prosecutor's; I did not overtake them - they were running on the footpath; I saw one of them throw away a bag and part of a key - the bag fell into Smith's nursery; I got over the pales, and picked it up - it contained skeleton keys; the part of a key was thrown into a gentleman's garden - I got that also, and delivered it at the station with the bag; I have not seen it compared with any thing - I did not see the men's faces at all. JOHN SUANES. I live with a gentleman, at Dalston. On the Sunday in question, I had information from a gentleman, and went in pursuit; I caught sight of three men running, about a quarter of a mile from the prosecutor's; I pursued, and when I got to Smith's nursery I saw one of the three throw a bag into the nursery; I saw it picked up by Wright, who delivered it at the station; it contained skeleton-keys, and I saw part of a key thrown into a front garden, beyond that; it was picked up, and delivered at the station - I saw one of the three afterwards drop the gold watch; Malkin wished it to be taken to the station -I cannot recognize the prisoners as the men. HENRY WILLIAMS . I am a Policeman. On Sunday morning, the 22nd of April, from a quarter to half-past eleven o'clock, I was at the back of the Tyssen Arms, Dalston, and I observed the three prisoners at the bar running towards me - I am certain of them; when they saw me, they stopped running, and walked very slowly by me - I looked after them; Jones was then in the rear of the other two - he had a stick in one hand, which he knocked against the pales, and said to the other two, "She is caming;" I had not got many yards further before I met Wright, and from what he said I went after them; I saw them pass Smith's nursery, - I did not see any thing thrown away, but I had information; looked over the pales, and saw a bag; Wright jumped over, and took it up; he took it to the station - I never saw it opened; I followed the prisoners to Hackney, and then lost all trace of them; I then gave information to the Police who were on duty there, and they were taken the same day - as I returned back to the house which was robbed, I found a piece of a key sticking out of the door; I have kept it ever since - as I could not get it out, I sent for a blacksmith, who took it out, and I have it here; I saw it compared with the piece of a key which Wright found, and in my opinion it is part of that key - I have some tea which Cockrell gave me. THOMAS SIMMONDS . I am a brickmaker, and live at Dalston, about a quarter of a mile from Malkin's. I found a spoon, which he claimed, in Pigwell-lane; I did not see it thrown there, and know nothing of the prisoners. JOHN MALKIN . This is the other spoon - it corresponds with what are left. TEESDALE COCKRELL. I live at Dalston, about ten minutes' walk from Malkin's. I found two silver table-spoons, a pair of silver sugar-tongs, and a crow-bar, thrown over my garden wall, on this Sunday morning, between eleven and twelve o'clock; I was in the garden, and heard them fall - I gave the crow-bar to Bedford. JOHN BEDFORD . This is the crow-bar; I matched it with the place at the house. JOHN MALKIN . I have no doubt one of these tablespoons and the sugar-tongs are mine; I only lost one table-spoon - it corresponds with mine. MISS SMITH. This other table-spoon is mine; here are the initials of a relation now deceased, on it; I saw it safe that morning. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. How came you to bring your plate to the house? A. I brought a few spoons which I had occasion for. WILLIAM JONES. I am a Policeman. I was on duty on this Sunday morning at Homerton; Williamson asked if I had seen three men - I said I had; they were within sight at that time; I pursued, and never lost sight of them- I came up to them, and apprehended Robinson; the other two were taken in my sight by Williamson; and an officer, named Robson; they were taken to the station - I found a gold brooch in Godfrey's waistcoat pocket; Jones had 18d. in silver; three sovereigns and 18d. were found in Godfrey's waistcoat pocket; Miss Smith claimed the brooch. MISS SMITH. This is my brooch; I had left it in the house that morning; I have had it about four years. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q.Have you always said it was yours? A. Yes; I never expressed a doubt about it - I described it before it was shown to me. EDWARD ROBSON. I am a Policeman. On the morning in question I was walking through Homerton; Williamson informed me that three men who I had just seen pass had robbed a house; I went after them, and apprehended Godfrey and Jones - they all three stopped when they found us so near them; I searched Robinson, and found a skeleton-key concealed up the sleeve of his coat, and sixpence in silver. Cross-examined by MR. BARRY. Q.Robinson stood still before you got up to him? A. Yes; I was not above ten yards from him - he did not give me the key, and say he had picked it up; I took it from his sleeve at the station-house. THOMAS TOWNSEND . I am servant to a gentleman at Kingsland. On Easter Sunday, between five and ten minutes past eleven o'clock, I saw Godfrey standing at the door of Malkin's house - the door was wide open; I looked at him and went on - I saw no other persons there; I did not know him before, but am certain he is the man - I saw him at the Police-office on the Friday after, and am quite certain of him. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Were you there when Mrs. Buxton was? A. I did not see her; I pointed Godfrey out from among several other persons. WILLIAM WILLIAMSON. I live in Morning-lane, about a mile from Malkin's. On this Sunday I was walking across Pigwell-field, and saw the three prisoners running; they are the men - I never saw them before; they were about half a mile from Malkin's house - I lost sight of them for about half a mile, but before that I saw the middle one wiping his face with a handkerchief, and one of them take something out of a piece of white paper, and put into his pocket; I cannot say which of them it was - I saw them again at Homerton, walking in Mr. Bristow's field; I saw Jones, the Policeman, and gave him information - he and Robson ran after them, and they were all three apprehended; I am sure they are the three men I had seen before. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Have you been in custody yourself? A. Never in my life. Jones' Defence. I was going to the washerwoman for my linen, and no doubt went by Malkin's house; a boy came up to me there, and said there had been a robbery committed down there; I went back, saw nothing, and went on - then a girl came up to me, and said, "There they go down there;" I immediately followed as far as Marsh-gate, where I was taken - they were quite out of sight then; the brooch belongs to me, I have had it a long time. Robinson's Defence. The Policeman says he took the key out of my cuff - I had it in my pocket, and threw it out at the station from my pocket; he caught hold of my hand, and said, "You are going to put it up your cuff;" I declare I never was in the house. Godfrey's Defence (written.) - I went to Ball's-pond to see a person, of the name of Mrs. Maisham, who was very ill, and is since dead; and likewise to call on a relation of hers, for whom I had fixed a stove the week before, and who told me they had a copper and another stove to fix; and my object of calling was to ascertain when they would have it done; as I was entering the gate of their house, I heard the cry of Stop them! I turned round, and saw some persons running; I run after them, and had overtaken them as the Police came up, and took me into custody - in regard to the money found on me, 2l. of it was given to me by my deceased friend; the rest of it I received from my father for work done for him, and the rest from other people for whom I had worked. I have a father and mother who have brought up a large family, who never brought any disgrace on them; and sorry am I to think, by my running after the mob, I have inadvertently brought this trouble on myself. I am truly innocent of the charge, but should it please God that I get through this trouble, I will strictly guard my actions. Four witnesses gave both Jones and Godfrey a good character. JONES - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 23. [May 24.] ROBINSON - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 22. GODFREY - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20. Jones and Godfrey recommended to mercy on account of their characters. Robert Jones and George Robinson were also onboard the Georgiana. _______________________________ Henry Godfrey was listed as 21 years old on arrival. Henry had been in prison before, he was flogged on board, behaved well since. From Henry's death record he was listed as 49 years old when he died, so born 1812 - dates listed for his birth: 1811, 1806, 1814 and 1812. Occupation: Bricklayer & Rough Plasterer. Henry was 5'8" tall, single, reddish brown hair, grey eyes. 1833 Muster: Public Works. 25/3/1835: Permission to marry Sarah Pickle (free). {No marriage listed}. 3/3/1841: TOL 19/8/1841: Permission to marry Matilda Lemon (free). {No marriage listed} 17/6/1843: Permission to marry Mary Clark/e (free). 27/7/1843: Married Mary Ann Clark (1819-1855). Marriage registered at Launceston - Henry was 29, a Bricklayer and Mary 24. They had 5 children. March 1845: CP approved. C1855: After wife Mary died, Henry and the children returned to England - came back to Tas. C1858. 26/1/1862: Henry Godfrey died of Influenza, a licenced victualler, 49 years old.

4

Tanya Prowse on 8th January 2021

Granted pardon in 1848, was first licensee for the General Havelock Hotel on the corner of Shadforth and Adelaide Streets in St Giles (Hells Corner) Tasmania