John Handley

341

Maureen Withey on 13th July 2022

Prisoners Convicted at the City Sessions. A letter received from the office of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on Monday last, announcing that the undermentioned felons, convicted at the Sessions, and against whom sentence death was recorded, have had their sentences commuted as follows : Elizabeth Morris and John Handley, convicted highway robbery in Steam Millstreet, transportation for life; Richard Davies, for the same offence, and Frederick Weigh, for breaking into the premises of Mr. Walton, grocer, Northgate - fourteen years ; Wm. Wright, (an accomplice in the same offence) seven years ; Chester Chronicle, 22 Nov 1833. --------------------------------------------------- Removal or Convicts.—On Monday last, Richard Davies and John Handley, convicted at our last City Sessions of a highway robbery Steam Mill street; also Frederick Weigh and William Wright, for breaking into the shop of Mr. Walton, grocer, left the City gaol on their route for Woolwich. Handley is to be transported for life; Davies and Weigh, each for the term of fourteen years; but in answer to petition sent to to the Secretary State, in behalf of Wright, a letter has been received from Lord Melbourne stating that would be allowed to his time (seven years,) in the Penitentiary. Chester Chronicle, 13 Dec 1833.

341

Maureen Withey on 13th July 2022

Brutal Attack and Robbery.— A labouring man, named William Hesketh, charged Elizabeth Morris, prostitute, with aiding and aliening three other individuals (not in custody) in robbing him on Saturday night. Hesketh said met with Morris early in the evening, and treated her to a quart of ale at a public house in Boughton. About eleven o'clock he left the public-house, and was proceeding home through Steam-Mill street, when he was followed by the female Morris, a man named George Walker, another man, and also a boy. When near the top or the street, next to the canal, Morris took hold of him round the middle and threw him down; had his hand in his small-clothes pocket at the time. While he was on the ground, George Walker seized him by the throat; the other man held his hand over his (Hesketh's) mouth, so that he was unable to cry out for assistance. Morris encouraged them to further acts of violence, saying he has money in his pocket; d—n him. The boy then pulled his hand out of his pocket, and took from him 9s. telling the other offenders that he had got the gilt. The whole of the party then made the best of their way off; and poor Hesketh, much injured from the violent treatment he had received, that on setting forth, blood gushed out of his mouth, he immediately gave information the robbery describing the parties to the watchman, and the female, Morris, was taken into custody in about an hour after the transaction. Morris, her defence, said she had never handled a farthing of money but she acknowledged being present at the time when some men, whom she did not know, abused him. Morris was remanded for further examination. Chester Chronicle, 11 Oct 1833 --------------------------------------------------- Chester City Sessions. HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Richard Davies, John Handley, and Elizabeth Morris, for feloniously assaulting William Hesketh on the night of the instant, and stealing from his person nine shillings in silver, were all found guilty. On passing sentence, the learned Recorder told the prisoners that the offence for which they been tried was of so serious a nature that their lives might justly have paid the forfeit for their crime; but would relieve them from any apprehension of the extreme sentence of the law being carried into execution. With respect to Morris, he could merely recommend to the Crown that her punishment be commuted to banishment from this country during the remainder of her natural life. There was some difference in the characters of the other prisoners, and probably their punishment might not equally severe, but did not think could recommend further commutation for Handley, than transportation for life; that, however would depend upon subsequent inquiries which would cause to made. Crimes like theirs, committed in a populous part of the city, in defiance of all law and order, must visited by exemplary punishment. The learned Recorder then ordered sentence of death recorded against them. Chester Chronicle, 1 Nov 1833.

174

Iris Dunne on 13th October 2020

Conduct Record: Tried 24 Oct. 1833 for Robbery, Single, aged 20, Trade Baker https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-21$init=CON31-1-21P94 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON32-1-2$init=CON32-1-2P88 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-5$init=CON34-1-5P325 Description List No. 1873: aged 20, Baker https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-10$init=CON18-1-10P96 Marriage 22 July 1835 to Margaret Hoy in Hobart https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD36-1-2$init=RGD36-1-2P191