Christiana Johnson

135

C H on 1st March 2024

Old Bailey Online CHRISTIANA JOHNSON. MARY ASHTON. Theft; pocketpicking. 2nd January 1834 Text type Trial account Defendants CHRISTIANA JOHNSON, MARY ASHTON Offences Theft > Pocketpicking Session Date 2nd January 1834 Reference Number t18340102-113 Verdicts Guilty, Guilty Punishments Transportation, No punishment > Sentence respited 297. CHRISTIANA JOHNSON and MARY ASHTON were indicted for stealing, on the 1st of January , 1 crown, 1 shilling, and 1 sixpence, the property of Henry Solomons , from his person . HENRY SOLOMONS . I was crying, "Old clothes," on the 1st of January, between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, near Gray's-inn-lane - the prisoner Johnson came to me, and said she had an old coat and waistcoat to sell - I asked her where, and she took me to a one-pair of stairs room, in Bell-court - she fastened the door when we got into the room, and I asked her where the coat and waistcoat were- she said "Stop a minute" - she then opened the door and let in the other prisoner - the door was then closed again, and I heard a man and a woman on the stairs - Johnson then ordered me to open my waistcoat - I said, "For what?"- she then opened it, and the other prisoner took my crown piece and 1s. 6d. out of my pocket - Johnson said to me,"I will knock your b-y brains out if you make a noise" - I made no noise, but presently the door was opened, and a man and woman came in - I ran down very much frightened - I went to Holborn and got a policeman - we came down to the door, and the two prisoners were standing outside, and I pointed them out - Ashton had her hand closed; the officer opened it, and found a crown-piece and three pence half-penny in it - we took them; and, in going up Holborn, she said, "You will go against me" - I made no answer; she then said, "If you will not go against us, I will give you your 6s. 6d. back." Johnson. He came into the court and asked me if I would go up stairs with him. Prosecutor. No, she invited me up. MARTIN DUMPHY (police-constable F 35.) I took the prisoners, and found a crown-piece and threepence-halfpenny in Ashton's hand. Johnson's Defence. I was not given in charge till we got half-way up Holborn, and then I said, "What are you going to take her for?" - the court is a thoroughfare, the prosecutor came through, and asked me to go up stairs - he then asked for another young woman, and he said, if we would pull our clothes off, he would give us five shillings, and he did; and then I said, there was one shilling to pay for the room; he would not pay that, and made a great noise - I then said, I would not pull my clothes off till he paid for the room; he then went and got the officer. JOHNSON - GUILTY . Aged 19. - Transported for Life . ASHTON - GUILTY. Aged 27. - Judgment respited .

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 15th February 2022

1834 - Source; CON40-1-9. Indent No; 112 Trial; 2 Jan 1834 Transported for "Stealing from the person" Gaol Report; Imprisoned Before for Disorderly conduct for 1 month Status; Single 1844 - Free Certificate. 1844

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 13th February 2022

Source; CON27 - 1 - 1 Image 17. Age; 19 years Trade; Farm Servant. Milk. Brew. Bake. Make Butter & Cheese Assigned; Major McLeod. Perth