James Grear

342

Maureen Withey on 30th March 2026

NSW Convict Index. James Grear, per Albion, 1828. Ticket of Leave, No 39/835. District, Goulburn; Born, Kingston on Hul; Trade, Bricklayer; Tried York QS. James Grear, per Albion, 1828. Ticket of Leave, No 52/113. District, Wollongong; Tried York QS.

342

Maureen Withey on 22nd March 2026

On Thursday, James Grear was committed for trial, on a charge of receiving a £5 note, which was stolen under the following circumstances:--On Tuesday week, a man, named Fewster, of Sculcoates, happened to be in the Three Crowns, public-house, in which were the prisoner and a girl named Frazer. Fewster  took the note out of his pocket, and observed he ought to have another, while feeling in his pocket for the latter, the girl snatched the £5 note out of his hand, and gave it to the prisoner, after which they both ran off. The prisoner was taken by Taylor, a few days afterwards, but the girl has hitherto escaped apprehension. Hull Packet, 11 March 1828. Hull sessions. JAMES GREAR (22), charged with feloniously receiving a 5£ note of Messrs, Pease and Liddell's bank, stolen by another person from John Fewster, The prosecutor stated that he is a publican, residing at the mile-house, H….-turnpike. On Tuesday 6th of February, at about nine o'clock at night, he was at the Three Crowns, in the Market-place, Hull, in company with James Grear, the prisoner and Harriet Frazer. He had seen the prisoner before. Witness was not quite clear from drink, but was not drunk. Had met the parties at a public-house, from which they went to another at Spring- Row, and then came to the Three Crowns. Had in his pocket two 5£ notes, a guinea-bill, and some silver ; one of the five pound notes was of the Hull Old Bank, but does not know what bank the other was, When he arrived at the Three Crowns he called for some  drink, and pulled out a 5£, note to pay for it, but recollecting he had small change, he was about returning it into his pocket ; while holding the note in his band, the girl Harriet Frazer suddenly took it from him, On his demanding the note from her, she said she thought it had been a piece of tobacco paper, and had flung  it into the fire. Witness had not observed her do any thing with the note. Grear did not say any thing about the note. The prisoner cross-examined the witness in a very loud tone of voice, and with  a considerable share of effrontery. The object of his questions was to get the prosecutor to admit that he was drinking with the girls before he (the prisoner) joined them ; and never entertained any suspicion  of his being a partner to the robbery until it was afterwards to him by the other girl,  M... stated that she and the prosecutor on Mill street, and that they went to the White Swan and had a glass or two. Grear and Harriet Frazer came in together, and the whole party then proceeded to Spring Row. They then went to the Three Crowns in the market, Fewster, the prosecutor, called for glasses a-piece, and while taking out a note to pay for them, the girl Frazer took the note out of his hand, and passed it to the prisoner. This she swore positively. The prisoner cross-examined this witness with the same air of assurance he had previously displayed, to the infinite  amusement of several gentlemen of the bar who were present in Court, and who certainly would never have surpassed the prisoner in brow- beating a witness. His case, however, was not served by his skill in cross-examination.  Daniel Taylor, the constable, who apprehended the prisoner some days after the robbery, found no money  on his person, In his pocket was a note addressed to Frazer, in which he cautioned his ”dear Harriet” to keep out of the way, or “she would be lagged.” It also contained some instructions respecting “attending fairs, as usual,” As the original of this precious billet-doux had been lost, no evidence upon the subject was allowed to go to the Jury. Henry Lee, the constable, produced a certificate of the prisoner’s having been convicted at the Beverley Easter Sessions of stealing six fowls, and identified his person, The prisoner, in his defence, made a long harangue, in which the  main points insisted on were that the girl Frazer threw the note into the fire, mistaking it for a piece of tobacco paper, and that he was never suspected by the prosecutor, or searched. The Jury returned a verdict that they found the prisoner Guilty of the offence charged, and also of having been previously convicted of felony. Hull Advertiser, 25 April 1828.