Thomas Jauncey

343

Maureen Withey on 31st July 2024

Thomas Everill, Joseph Overton, Thomas , stood indicted capitally for having early in the morning of tbe 1st of June last, feloniously assaulted Charles Stockton, on the King’s highway, in the parish of St. Swithin, in this city, and forcibly taking from his person seven shillings in copper money. The prosecutor, Charles Stockton, stated, that on the morning in question, about the hour of half-past twelve o’clock, was passing along High-street in this city, and at the end of Copenhagen street, he was surrounded by gang of young men, about five in number, and he was followed very closely by Everill, Jauncey, and others. The witness, to avoid them, went up Bull’s-head-court, and Everill followed him and said, “We’ll have what you have got,” and he and Jauncey attacked him violently, and struck him on the face, and afterwards tossed his coat skirts over his head, and 7s. in copper fell out upon the ground. Witness, by the blows he received, fell on the ground bleeding profusely, and as he lay there received several kicks on the side. Several other witnesses were examined, who proved that they saw Everill and Jauncey rising off tbe person of the prosecutor he lay on the ground and it was also proved that the prisoner Overton was concerned in the robbery, and that he picked part of the money and put it in bis pocket. The prisoners were found Guilty, and sentence death was recorded against them. The learned Judge said that bad it been Overton’s hand that committed the violence upon the prosecutor, he certainly would have left him for execution as he had been twice before convicted in this Court. His Lordship said he regretted to hear that this city was infested with street robbers, and begged it to be understood an example would be made of the next person convicted of that offence. Worcester Journal, 24 July 1823.