Margaret Haley

341

Maureen Withey on 14th February 2024

Wednesday a very interesting looking young girl, named Margaret Haley, was charged on suspicion of having robbed her master, Mr. Boys, tailor, residing at No. 21, Dean-street, Tooley-street, of IC4I. 14s. in Batik of England notes, and gold, with a variety of' silk pelisses, some linen and other articles. on Sunday, Nov. 21, whilst the family were at church. When the robbery was discovered, information was given at Union Hall, and the chief officer, Hall, caused a number of hand-bill. to be struck offering a reward for the apprehension of the prisoner, who had absconded. Hall having learnt that she was a native of the South of Ireland, sent some of the bills which described her person, to the packet office at Bristol, suspecting that she might be induced to return to her native country. His Conjectures were well founded, for she applied to the packet office at Bristol, on Thursday, for conveyance to Cork, in the name of Mrs. Paseman, and was suffered to go away, through a mistake on the part of the clerks in the office. On the following day, however she again presented herself, and taken into custody. She underwent an examination - before a Magistrate at Bristol and was about being discharged; but some additional suspicious circumstances were elicited, and she was taken into a private room and examined by a constable's wife, when a bundle of sovereigns was discovered tied within her stocking, round the knee, and several Bank of England notes  in her shoe. The lodgings which she had in Bristol were afterwards discovered and searched, and several of the things enumerated in the hand-bills corresponded to those found in her lodgings. She was then secured, and on Tuesday morning brought to London to undergo all examination at this office. Mrs. Boys deposed that the prisoner lived servant in her house ; that on Sunday afternoon, the 21st instant, she left her in charge it, whilst she went to church, and on returning home she found that the prisoner had absconded.  On searching the apartments she missed a 801. Bank of England note, one 10£ , two fives, 40 sovereigns, 14 guineas and a Bill of Exchange for 8£. 17s. She likewise missed several silk pelisses, a poplin dress, a lace cap, and various articles of wearing apparel. Some of the articles which had been found in the prisoner's possession at Bristol were now shown to witness, who identified them as being the same which she had lost. Garroway, the , Bristol constable, produced the money (95£.) and articles found in the prisoner's possession when she was apprehended. The prisoner was fully committed for trial. Hall stated that he had received a letter from the Packet office, containing the reward of 30£. which had been offered for the prisoner's apprehension; but he considered that Garraway and another person, who had been instrumental in securing her, were equally entitled to a share; and he suggested that each party should have 10£. This arrangement was considered by the Magistrate to be equitable, and it was agreed to. London Packet, 3 Dec 1824. Winter Assizes. Margaret Haley was indicted for stealing, on the 25th of November, Bank notes and other property to the value of 100£, in the dwelling-house of Thomas Boys, in the parish of St. Olave, Southwark. it appeared that the prisoner was a. servant ... ... went to her lodgings and apprehended her, with the greater portion of the money upon her. It appeared that she had taken her passage for Ireland, and was to have sailed next morning. The case was clearly made out. The prisoner, who was bathed in tears, said nothing in her defence. The Jury found her Guilty, and sentence of death was recorded. Common Sense, 2 Jan 1825.

341

Maureen Withey on 14th February 2024

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Margaret Hurley, alias Huley, age on arrival, 19, per Midas (1) 1825, Tried at Kingston, England, 1824, Life. DOB, 1806, native place, Cork, House maid.