Mary Hounsett

221

D Wong on 9th February 2019

Old Bailey: MARY HOUNSETT. Theft: pocketpicking. 14th January 1789 Verdict Guilty > with recommendation Sentence Death MARY HOUNSETT was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of October, nine shillings and sixpence in monies, and sixty halfpence, the property of James Digman, privately from the person of Mary his wife. MARY DIGMAN sworn. I am the wife of James Digman, a seafaring man ; I live in Whitechapel. On the 15th of October I lost my money out of my house. I had a pocket-apron, that I wore; I had nine shillings and sixpence in one side, and two shillings and sixpence, in halfpence, in the other; I had just before told it. There was nobody in the house but she and me; she lodged in the house for about three weeks. I went to take a nap, about twelve o'clock, on the bed; she covered me over; I had my pocket-apron on; I laid down upon it; I went to sleep; I was awoke by my husband; the prisoner was gone; the pocket-apron was cut at the bottom of each side, and all the money gone; there was only one farthing left. Last Thursday was se'nnight she was found by my husband; she was found in bed at her mother's room; she went away in triumph; she did not come back again. I gave her her bed for three weeks, because she said she was in distress. I never got my money again. She took away this bed-gown with her: it lay under the bolster, at my head; I found it on her bed, at her mother's; she was in bed. JAMES DIGMAN sworn. I am husband to the last witness. I came home on the 15th of October, between two and three. The door was looked; I knocked at the door; and nobody coming, I looked through the window, and saw my wife's cloathes turned up over her middle; then I knocked again, and she got up, and let me in; it is a spring-lock; and what things she had in her pocket were tumbled about the floor; her pockets were cut. When I went out, I left nobody in the house but my wife and the prisoner. The prisoner had a room in the house, and paid three-pence a night. We never got the money again. I went out about two, as near as I can guess, before she laid down. We found the prisoner with my wife's bed-gown on. PRISONER's DEFENCE. The house was a disorderly house. I thought I would leave it, and go home to my mother; I was afterwards, found in bed at my mother's. I never took the money; I know nothing of it. I used to do the houshold and needle-work for Mrs. Digman; the bed-gown she lent me. Court. Is your mother here? - No. Did you really go home to her? - Yes. Jury to Digman. What time did you go out? - I came home between two and three; I had been out about one hour. Court to Mrs. Digman. Can you tell, with any certainty, what time you went to sleep? - It was just twelve. My husband went out immediately as soon as ever they had done breakfast. I took away the table, and counted my money, and then I went to lay down; I said, how proud I was I had all my rent but two shillings. I fell into a very heavy sleep. GUILTY, Death. Jury. My Lord, we wish to recommend the prisoner to mercy. Court. I have no objection. Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before the LORD CHIEF BARON. Married John Dell - John Dell was born at Reading, in Berkshire, in 1763, and arrived in New South Wales with the 102nd Regiment of Foot, in 1788, in the ship 'Surprize'. - They had 3 children. 2/5/1800: Mary Hounsett Dell died, aged 36. John Dell died at Launceston on 2/3/1866, aged 102 years and four months.

16

Rosi on 9th February 2019

MARY HOUNSETT was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of October , nine shillings and sixpence in monies, and sixty halfpence, the property of James Digman , privately from the person of Mary his wife . https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t17890114-42

15

Peter Draper on 3rd October 2012

Married John DELL (free) 15 Nov 1795, Sydney. Two chn, dau Elizabeth and son Joseph,