James Jeffries

221

D Wong on 15th September 2018

Old Bailey: JAMES JEFFRIES. Theft: burglary. 8th April 1839 Verdict Guilty > unknown Sentence Transportation JAMES JEFFRIES was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Henry Bond, at Bermondsey, about the hour of three in the night of the 1st of March, with intent to steal, and stealing therein 1 printed book, value 4s.; 2 snuff-boxes, value 15s.; 1 handkerchief, value 2s.; 1 sheet, value 2s.; 1 pair of shoes, value 4s.; 1 table-doth, value 1s.; 1 frock, value 2s.; and 1 pair of gloves, value 6d. his goods. Prisoner's Defence, I was going to my master's house on Saturday evening, to see if I might return to work, as he had discharged me—I passed the Eight Bells, and as I came back, about one o'clock, I met a young sailor chap, with a book and other things in his hand—he asked me to buy it—I gave him 18d. for the book, and 3d. for a snuff-box—we went into a public-house, and had a pint of four penny ale—on the Sunday morning he met me, and said he would sell me the duplicate of a handkerchief—I said I did not wish to have it—I met him again on Monday morning, and bought the ticket of him—I gave him 1s. 3d. to get it out, and wore it, and afterwards he gave me the gloves. GUILTY . Aged 20.— Transported for Ten Years. (There were other indictments against the prisoner.) James Jeffries was 21 years old on arrival, he could read and write, was single, 5'4¾" tall, ruddy and freckled complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, large diagonal scar inner corner of right eyebrow, scar on right side of forehead crucifix, IHS inside lower right arm, mark of a scar back of upper left arm, scar on lef wrist near the thumb,,, scar on back of forefinger of left hand. Native Place: Surry. 8/4/1843 Australasian Chronicle, Sydney: James Jeffries was indicted for committing a rape upon the person of a deaf and dumb girl, named Eliza Jane Thompson, aged fifteen; but, as it appeared by the evidence that the conduct of the young lady herself bad not been altogether faultless, the prisoner was acquitted, and after being admonished by his Honor uplon the reprehensible nature of his conduct, was discharged. 7/8/1843 Sydney Morning Herald: James Jeffries, bond, housebreaking and robbery ; transportation for ten years. 28/10/1843: Arrived VDL per 'Sir John Byng'. James was then described as: 5'6" tall, a waterman, 27 years old, swarthy complexion, brown hair, grey eyes. 27/10/1847 Hobarton Guardian: James Jeffries, convicted of burglary__to be transported for life. Sent to Norfolk Island. 30/12/1850: Back in VDL 3/8/1852: Absconded.