John James

342

Maureen Withey on 18th January 2025

Stephen Williams (22), John James (18), Robert Mason (21), charged on suspicion of stealing, and having in their possession, a copper kettle, value  20s. the property of E. Sherwood. Oxford University and City Herald, 1 July 1826. Oxfordshire Assizes. Stephen Williams, John James, and Robert Mason,  were severally capitally convicted of breaking into and entering the dwelling-house of Edward Sherwood, and stealing therefrom a copper furnace, of the value of 20s. Edward Sherwood, of Sonning, left his premises safe fastened at nine o'clock on the night of the  2nd of April; on the following morning he found his premises had been broken into and a copper, which he had had in his possession 14 years, had been stolen; it was his wife’s; she had it before he married her ;— knew the copper from a hole near the rim, and another near the bottom, made with a prong grain; it had been used to run lye through ; it was not fixed. John Cox, servant to Mr. May, of Henley, proved that the prisoners offered the copper for sale at his master’s shop; the prisoners said they brought it from Reading, when Mr. May said, “ Tis very strange you should bring it from Reading to Henley for sale,” and refused to buy it. The Town Beadle of Henley, and Richard Potter, constable, watched the prisoners about the town until they (the prisoners) contrived to sell the copper to a man named Cook, for 12. 13d. when they took them into custody. One of the prisoners (James) put that he was a man of respectable connections, and that he have brought several persons to give him a good character, did they not live a good way off; that he was quite innocent of the crime he was charged;  he had no knowledge of it till he was taken into custody; he obtained his livelihood  honestly by buying and selling poultry : that he accidentally met the other; prisoners, who were in the act of buying the copper, and not and the reason having money enough, he lent them six shillings, he kept he kept in their company was to get the six shillings he had lent them.—The other prisoners also put in a written defence, declaring themselves to be dealers in metals, and that they had bought the copper of  a person they did not know ;— hoped the Jury would bear in mind that they had never been seen near the premises where the robbery was committed, and assured them they were very honest, innocent men.—The Jury, however, being of a different opinion, returned a verdict of Guilty. Death recorded. Oxford University and City Herald, 8 July 1826 Thomas Newbrook, who was at our last City Sessions sentenced to be transported for seven years, was on Tuesday last removed to the hulks at Portsmouth; and on the following day Robert Mason, John James, Stephen Williams, Wm. Arnold, (for life) and W. Waite (for 14 years), were removed from our county goal to the same  place. Oxford Journal, 26 Aug 1826.