Elizabeth Gray

135

C H on 14th February 2024

ROBERT SHEARSTON. THOMAS CROSSLEY. ELIZABETH GRAY. SOPHIA MARSHALL. Theft; theft from a specified place, Theft; receiving. 4th December 1828. Text type Trial account Defendants ROBERT SHEARSTON, THOMAS CROSSLEY, ELIZABETH GRAY, SOPHIA MARSHALL Offences Theft > Theft from place, Theft > Receiving Session Date 4th December 1828 Reference Number t18281204-3 Verdicts Guilty > Lesser offence, Guilty, Guilty, Not guilty Punishments Death, Transportation Before Mr. Baron Hullock. 3. ROBERT SHEARSTON was indicted for stealing, on the 2d of September , at St. Mary-le-bone, 2 watches, value 15l.; 1 clock, value 4l.; 2 rings, value 10l.; 2 pins, value 10l.; 3 pairs of ear-rings, value 30s.; 2 necklaces, value 10s.; 1 pair of bracelets, value 5s.; 2 fans, value 15s; I toast-rack, value 5s.; 12 forks, value 2l.; 12 spoons, value 20s.; 1 caddy-spoon, value 2s.; 4 pairs of gloves, value 4s.; 1 pair of half-boots, value 5s.; 3 pairs of shoes, value 10s.; 1 shawl, value 20s.; 1 scarf, value 2s.; 5 dresses, value 4l.; 1 pelisse, value 4l.; 1 habit, value 3l.; 2 pairs of sheets, value 20s.; 3 tablecloths, value 2l.; 6 napkins, value 12s.; 2 towels, value 2s.; 1 gold medal, value 5l.: 1 piece of foreign coin, called a dollar, value 4s. 6d., and 2 crowns, the property of Elizabeth Ann Palmer , spinster ; 1 cruet-stand, value 7l.; 1 pair of sugar-tongs, value 10s.; 1 mustard-pot, value 4s.; 1 spoon, value 1s.; 1 pair of bottle-stands, value 10s.; 1 pair of snuffers. value 7s., and 1 snuffer-stand, value 3s., the goods of the said Elizabeth Ann Palmer and Mary Palmer , spinster ; and 3 dresses, value 3l.; 1 necklace, value 30s.; part of a minature-picture, value 15s.; 4 rings, value 4l.; 1 brooch, value 10s., and 1 thimble, value 20s., the goods of the said Mary Palmer, in the dwelling-house of the said Elizabeth Ann Palmer ; and THOMAS CROSSLEY , ELIZABETH GRAY , and SOPHIA MARSHALL , were indicted for feloniously receiving, on the same day, at the same parish, the aforesaid goods and monies, they well knowing the same to have been stolen ; against the Statute, &c. MR. BODKIN conducted the prosecution. MISS ELIZABETH ANN PALMER . I am single, and live in Great Cumberland-street, in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone - I am the owner of the house and pay the taxes; nobody but myself is interested in the house. I left town on the 15th of July last - Eliza Shearston was then in my service, as cook; she is still in my service - I left a great deal of property in my house, but no other servant than the cook; a woman, named Clifton, had permission to sleep in the house, to keep the cook company - I paid her for sleeping there; I had a French clock, which stood on a musical-box; that was in a glass bookcase - it could be seen from the outside: all the other articles stated in the indictment, were quite out of sight, and all locked up in different parts of my house. I returned to town on the 23d of October - I found Eliza Shearston there, and the house apparently as I had left it; she made a communication to me on my arrival, and in consequence of that I went to the bookcase - the clock was gone; the bookcase was still locked: I then examined my drawers and places, and found my property gone - I missed every one of the articles stated in the indictment, besides other property. ELIZA SHEARSTON . I am in Miss Palmer's service as cook - the prisoner Robert Shearston is my brother; he came to my mistress' house, after she left town in July - he was then out of a situation, and I allowed him to sleep in the house occasionally; he first slept there about a fortnight after mistress left - he took leave of me on the Monday before the Friday on which I missed the clock; he left near a fortnight before mistress came home - it was about the middle of October; he told me he was going, with a party of performers from Astley's, to France - this was on the Monday; I recollect a musical-clock which mistress had in the bookcase - I had seen it there on the Thursday or Friday before the Monday; I missed it on the Friday, after my brother took his leave: I wrote into the county to mistress, to inform her of it, and I went to Lady Steward's about it. On the 23d of October, when mistress arrived, I communicated the subject to her - I had never seen either of the other prisoners at the house; I have not the least knowledge of them -I was constantly in the house during mistress' absence. MARY CLIFTON . I slept in Miss Palmer's house during her absence from town, every night; I never saw Crossley, Gray, or Marshall at the house, nor have I any knowledge of either of them - the prisoner Shearston used to sleep in the house occasionally; he is the only person I ever saw about the house. WILLIAM WARRE . I am assistant to Mr. Muncaster, a pawnbroker, of Skinner-street, Snowhill. I know the prisoner Crossley; on Wednesday, the 24th of September, he offered this set of cruets and frame to pledge, and he had in his hands a pair of bottle-stands - I cannot say whether they were silver or plated, as I had not them in my hands; he asked how much I would lend him on the cruets and frame - I asked him whose property they were- he said "I bring them for my mistress," or, "My old woman," I cannot say which; I told him he must send his mistress - he left the shop and I detained the castors; on the following morning the prisoner Gray came, and said she had come about the castors - I have known her some time before; I asked her whose property they were- she said "They are my own;" I told her I did not think they were her property - she then said she brought them for a friend of hers; I told her I must see that friend, and he satisfied that all was right before I advanced money on them - she left the shop, I still detaining the castors and stand; no one applied, and on the following Tuesday, information was given at Guildhall - I afterward accompanied Martin to No. 11, Ship-yard, Temple-bar, and saw Gray, Shearston, and Marshall; the caslors were given up before Sir Peter Laurie - I can swear these are the same Crossley brought to me. JOSEPH MARTIN . I am a City officer. A commonication was made to me on the 3d of October, by Warre; I went that day with him to Ship-yard, Temple-bar, and found three of the prisoners there - on my entering the room Warre pointed out Mrs. Gray, as the person who sent the castors there to pawn; I then desired the others to leave the room - I then told Gray I was an officer, and had come to make inquiry about the castors which she bad sent to pledge: I asked to whom they belonged - she said they belonged to a friend of hers; I asked who the friend was, and where they resided - she said they were gone into the country - she did not know where they resided, but she expected they would return in a few days; this was after I had told her I was an officer: on my conveying her to the Compter she gave me another account of how she became possessed of them, and in consequence of that I returned with her to Shipyard, in search of the person she said she had the castors from; I found Marshall there, but Shearston was gone - I asked Marshall what had become of the young man; she said he had gone out of the house immediately - I then took Gray to the Compter: I endeavoured to discover the owner of the property, and advertised it, but could get no information, and on the 11th of October the Magistrate discharged Gray, on her own recognizance to appear when called on; the castors were given over to me, and have been in my possession ever since: I first saw Miss Palmer about a fortnight after Gray was discharged; I was sent for to the Bank, and produced the castors, which she claimed and identified. On the night of the 1st of November, about seven o'clock in the evening, I saw Marshall and Gray walking up the Old Bailey- I said to Gray, "You did not appear according to the recognizance you entered into;" she said, "I did not know what I was to do:" I said, "You have left Shipyard" - she said, Yes; I said, "Where do you now live?" she said she had no lodging; I took them into custody, and the nurse at the Compter searched them - some keys were given to me, which Gray said were hers, and that she lodged at Mr. Smith's, No. 51, Portpool-lane; I went there next morning (Sunday), and found a box in her lodging, which was locked - the keys I had opened it, and in it I found, among other articles, this fan; I asked Gray repeatedly, if she had pledged any thing else, or ever had any thing else - she said she had not, repeatedly: I asked her if the whole contents of the trunk were hers; she said they were; I asked her afterwards about a watch - she denied having had one; I told her I had received information that she had pawned one of the gold watches which were lost - she said she never had; I said, "You had better say you never pledged any of the forks or the mustard-pot - she said, "Yes, I did pawn them;" I asked where she had pawned them - she said somewhere about Fleet-market, she could not exactly tell me the name of the street. On Friday, the 7th of November, Crossley came to the Justice-room at Guildhall, to prefer some complaint, and I took him into custody: I got information, and went to Harrow on Sunday, the 9th, to Northall, to a cottage kept by one Ball, a bay-binder; I saw Ball - he came out of the cottage; I got in at last, but the prisoners were not there - I went into the yard, looked to the left, and saw Shearston just stepping through a gap of a hedge, which led to an adjoining field; I called him, and said, "Your name is Robert Shearston - I want you;" he stood still - I took him, brought him into the cottage, told him I was an officer, and apprehended him on suspicion of robbing the house where his sister was a servant - I did not hold out any threat or inducement to him; he was dreadfully agitated, and said he was very sorry for what he had done, and hoped his poor sister had not got into any trouble; I said, "It was a shocking thing of you to be guilty of such an act, when you were bound to protect the property;" he was so agitated he could say nothing more -I then brought him to town, and on the road he said he had given the whole of the property, except the clock, to some persons whom he named; I asked what he had done with the clock - he said he had lost it: before that I cautioned him not to say any thing which would be injurious to him - on our way to town he wished to see his sister, and saw her at Miss Palmer's; they were both so dreadfully agitated that neither of them could speak; I only heard the sister say, "Oh! Robert, how could you do so;" I took him away directly - he told me he understood the duplicates were wrapped up in brown paper, and placed somewhere for security, but he did not know where; I afterwards found the duplicates at Price's gin-shop, at the corner of Broad-court, Long-acre - I received them from Mrs. Price, wrapped up in this brown paper, which also contained a pair of snuffers and four knives, which have been used. WILLIAM MOORE . I lodge at No. 11, Ship-yard, Temple-bar, and have lived there about eighteen months. I know Crossley and Gray, by the names of Mr. and Mrs. Gray - they lodged there, on the first-floor; I cannot say whether I have ever seen Marshall before - I may have seen her, bnt not to have any acquaintance with her. ALEXANDER SMITH . I keep the house No. 51, Portpool-lane. Crossley and Gray took an apartment at my house, about twelve days before they were apprehended, and passed as Mr. and Mrs. Gray, till within two days of Gray leaving the apartment; Marshall used to come to see them - I knew nothing of Shearston: I was at home when Martin searched the room which Mr. and Mrs. Gray occupied. MARY PRICE . I keep a wine-vaults, in Long-acre. -This paper, containing the duplicates, snuffers, and knives, I delivered to Martin; I received it from Gray: I do not remember whether any one was with her - I have seen Martin with her; she asked me to take charge of that parcel till she called for it again - it was sealed up, and I gave it to Martin in the same state: I do not know the other prisoners. SUSAN WARD . I keep the house No. 3, James-street, New-cut, Lambeth. The prisoner Marshall came for lodge with me the beginning of May, by the name of Sarah Green - she lived with me till about the 8th of September: I have seen Shearston several times at my house - he came to see her; I only knew him by the name of George: Marshall only had one room - Shearston has passed the night in that room several times. I pledged a ring for Marshall, in the name of Green, at Cannon and Co.'s; she gave it to me in the kitchen - I do not remember when it was; I asked 7s. upon it - they gave me 5s., which I gave to Marshall, with the duplicate - I remember seeing a dark coloured box in the possession of George; I never heard it play - ho was trying to open it: George gave me a pair of spoons, to pledge for 17s. - I gave them to my sister to pawn; she gave them back to me - I gave them back to George, and told him the pawnbroker said they were plated; he said a relation had left him a great deal of property in plate, but no money; I saw a necklace, which I thought was cornelian, on Marshall's neck - she said something to me about it, but Shearston was not present; I told Marshall she had better not wear the things, but give them back to him again, and said," I do not think he is any good- you had better get rid of him as soon as you can. On the morning I saw the necklace on her I called her down stairs, and said, I understood some things had been brought into my house, and the sooner she left my house the better - she went out, and left that night; I never saw her or George afterwards. JOHN FLOWER . I am shopman to Cotterell and Co., pawnbrokers, of Shoe-lane. I produce a gold watch, pawned by the prisoner Gray. on the 3d of October, in the name of Morris - I have known her many years, and that is the name she went by; I advanced two guineas on the watch - it is a French watch, and worth three guineas, or 3l. 10s. JOSEPH PARKER . I am shopman to Cannon and Co., pawnbrokers, of Charlotte-street, Lamheth-marsh. I produce a garnet-ring, pawned by Marshall, in September; nobody was with her to my knowledge. I produce another ring, pawned on the 5th of September, by Ward, in the name of Mary Green, of James-street, for 5s., and a brooch, pawned by Ward. GEORGE BARBER . I am shopman to Mr. Essex, a pawnbroker, of the Strand. I produce a gold watch, pawned on the 5th of September, for 4l., by Crossley; he afterwards called, and wanted 1l. more on it - I saw nobody with him either time; it is worth about five guineas or 5l.: I produce a miniature-frame, pawned on the 10th of September - I do not know who by; I asked Crossley where he lived - he sad at No. 11, Ship-yard; when he wanted a further advance, I inquired there, and found he was gone. HENRY FOWLER . I am shopman to Lamb and Gideon, pawnbrokers, of Stanhope-street, Clare-market. I produce a neck-chain, pawned by neither of the prisoners, to my knowledge. SAMUEL HAVS . I am also shopman to Lamb and Co. I produce some silk dresses, pawned by Gray - also six silver forks and a mustard-pot, pawned by her at different times - also a fan, pawned by her on the 11th of September; I have six other forks, four dessert-spoons, and two tea-spoons, pawned on the 16th of September, by Gray, in the name of Ann Marshall - three gowns, pawned by her on the 17th of September, in the name of Marshall; I have two other dresses, pawned for 2l. WILLIAM DUTTON TOWNSEND . I am a pawnbroker, and live in Little Russell-street. I have a purse, some bracelets, a gown, and a variety of articles, pawned by Gray, in the name of Marshall, on the 20th of September - also a pair of jet ear-rings, pawned on the 25th of September; I do not know who by. THOMAS RYLAND . I am shopman to Mr. Cotterell, a pawnbroker, of Shoe-lane. I have a riding-habit, pawned on the 22d of September, in the name of Ann Gray , and I believe by Gray. JAMES DRY . I am shopman to Ashman and Son, pawnbrokers. I have a pair of bottle-stands, pawned on the 23d of September, by Gray, in the name of Marshall. SAMUEL HUISH . I am shopman to Mr. Wassal, a pawnbroker. of Pickett-street, Strand. I produce a gown and some other articles, pawned on the 25th of September, in the name of Marshall; I do not know who by: I have a pair of ear-rings pawned on the 30th of September, by Gray, in the name of Marshall. MISS PALMER. This cruet-stand is the property of my sister Mary and myself - she is single; the stand is worth 7l. as old silver, besides the cruets - I have seen all the other property, and as far as I can judge, it is mine; it was all in the house when I left town. WILLIAM WARRE re-examined. I have weighed this castor-frame - it is worth between 8l. and 9l. as old silver. The prisoners made no Defence. SHEARSTON - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 23. Of stealing the castor-frame, being above the value of 5l., in the dwelling-house. Recommended to Mercy by the Jury, conceiving him to be the dupe of other parties . CROSSLEY - GUILTY . Aged 72. GRAY - GUILTY . Aged 44. Transported for Fourteen Years . MARSHALL - NOT GUILTY . Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 9.0) December 1828. Trial of ROBERT SHEARSTON , THOMAS CROSSLEY , ELIZABETH GRAY , SOPHIA MARSHALL (t18281204-3). Available at: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18281204-3?text=Crossley