John Johnson

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C H on 29th February 2024

Old Bailey Online JOHN JOHNSON. Theft; simple larceny (from 1827). 17th May 1832 Text type Trial account Defendants JOHN JOHNSON Offences Theft > Simple larceny Session Date 17th May 1832 Reference Number t18320517-282 Verdicts Guilty Punishments Transportation NEW COURT. THURSDAY, MAY 24. Fourth Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant. 1409. JOHN JOHNSON was indicted for stealing, on the 17th of May , 4 planes, value 10s. , the goods of Thomas Goodwin . THOMAS GOODWIN. I am a journeyman carpenter to Mr. Sawyer, and lodged in Page-street, Regent-street, Westminster. I left four planes safe last Thursday evening, in a shop at No, 38, Frith-street , which was under repair - they were on the bench, or on the mantelshelf, with other tools; I left them safe at half-past five o'clock, and locked the door; I went to work at six the next morning - I found the padlock drawn, and my planes were gone - the prisoner did not then work for Mr. Sawyer; I never heard any thing amiss of him while he did. JANE ELIZABETH FARRIS . I am single, and live at No. 27, Frith-street. On the evening of the 17th of May I was at work at the front window, and saw the prisoner at the door of No. 38, which is opposite; he was endeavouring to get the padlock off the door - I watched him, and saw him go to the end of the street, and then return to the door; he was still endeavouring to take the padlock off; he opened it about half-past eight o'clock, then went in, and shut the door after him - I informed Mr. Fenn, my landlord. CHARLES FENN . I am a cheesemonger, and live in Frith-street. On the evening of the 17th of May, between eight and nine o'clock, in consequence of what Farris said, I went over to No. 38 with a person who was then in my shop; I found the door ajar; I stood on one side, and the other person on the other, and in a few minutes we saw the prisoner coming out of the shop, with some tools under his arm, and some before him; I said,"My friend, what do you do here? who are you? do you work for Mr. Sawyer?" he said, "Yes, I am Mr. Sawyer's man;" I sent for Mr. Sawyer and the Policeman - the prisoner managed to lay the tools down on the bench, close inside the door - the officer came, and took him. JAMES BARRACK. I went to the door with Ferris, and what he has stated is correct; when the prisoner came to the door, and we asked what he was going to do with the tools, he shifted them before him - I said, "Where are you going?" he said, "I am going out;" I said,"Not out of here till somebody comes" - the officer took the same tools which the prisoner had. Prisoner. Q. Did not you take two head planes to the station-house, and then say they were not them? A. I took none; the officer took two small planes at first, and then I said there were two larger planes, which he had in his hand - I went back, and pointed them out to the officer. GREGORY COLE DUDLEY (Police-constable C 6). I produce the plane, which I got at No. 38, Frith-street - these two bead planes were first pointed out, and I took them; the gentleman said there were two other planes as well; I went back, and they pointed out these. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. I had been out of work a long time, and knowing that Mr. Sawyer would give me work, I went there, and saw the door open; I went in, and thought I should see Goodwin - I had nothing in my possession. GUILTY . Aged 29. - Transported for Seven Years .