Lydia Jones

342

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2020

..he prosecutor.) JONES's DEFENCE. A stranger gave me a shilling, and I took it; and as I was sitting by my own fireside, I heard him say he was robbed; Granger and I went down to Mrs. Murphy, and told I her. SMITH's DEFENCE. I was sitting by my own fire-side, Jones came up with the gentleman, and asked for a light; we gave her the light; she called Bevington in, and she came out again withsome papers, and said they were bank notes; I said I would have nothing to do with them; she said if I would not have something to do with them, she would swear her soul as black as a new shoe against me, and bid me not be afraid to have to do with a robbery. GRANGER's DEFENCE. I was coming by the place where the robbery was committed; hearing a noise I went up stairs to see what was the matter; the gentleman said he was robbed, and I ran down stairs and told Mrs. Murphy, and desired her to come up, and I went up with her. COLLINS's DEFENCE. Lydia Jones came in for the bellows, and said she had a cull in the room, and said that she could not do him, he was sullen; Smith went in, and I went down stairs, and met the watchman. MESSENGER's DEFENCE. On the 16th of January, between eleven and twelve at night, the water came in; Mrs. Murphy asked me to fill her water-tub; when I was done she asked me to set down; somebody said the gentleman was robbed, and Mrs. Murphy went up stairs, and desired me to come up; there was a man in Smith's room; I never went up stairs till I went up with Mrs. Murphy; I never was near Whitehouse, I never spoke to him, and never was up stairs but that once; the next morning as I was coming home with a lighted candle; coming down Newtoner's-street, I found the handkerchief, and picked it up and pawned it. (There not being any evidence to affect Roger and Jane Molloy , they were not out upon their defence.) ROGER MOLLOY , JANE MOLLOY , NOT GUILTY . JONES, GRANGER, COLLINS, SMITH, MESSENGER, GUILTY , Death . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER. ------------------------------------------------- National Archives. HO 47/9/4 1789 Apr 17 Report of James Adair, Recorder of London. Also includes a list from the Recorder of London enclosing a list of capital convicts respited but who cannot be removed until their pardons are confirmed, they are to receive sentence of transportation as set against their names: Middlesex Lydia Jones. Convicted in February 1788, recommended to transportation for life.

342

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 01 May 2020), February 1788, trial of LYDIA JONES etc. (t17880227-42). Violent Theft > robbery, 27th February 1788. 195. LYDIA JONES , THOMAS GRANGER , THOMAS COLLINS ; ELIZABETH SMITH , THOMAS MESSENGER , ROGER MOLLOY , and JANE MOLLOY were indicted for that they, on the 16th of January , in the dwelling-house of Luke Murphy , in and upon John Whitehouse , did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person, a linen handkerchief, value 1 d. a silk handkerchief, value 4 s. a stone seal, value 1 s. two half guineas, twelve halfpence, and 6 s. in monies numbered, and a promissory note, called a Birmingham bank note, for 5 l. 5 s. and a bill of exchange for 5 l. the property of the said John Whitehouse . JOHN WHITEHOUSE sworn. I am a plater and brass-founder in Stracy-street; I was going home on the 16th of January, between eleven and twelve at night, from Mr. Brookes's, who keeps the sign of the Sun, the corner of Lincoln's-inn-fields; I went up Stone-cutter's-alley, and just as I was going up some steps into King-street, I met Lydia Jones , who seemed to be in a very miserable situation, and begged I would give her something; she said she had had nothing for three days; I gave her a shilling; she thanked me and followed me, and said she was my countrywoman. Where was this? - In Cross-lane , she said she had three children in the same condition, I desired to see them, and went with her, and went up into her room; it was a very miserable place, there was a candle burning on the table; when I got into the room, she said, you and I can have a night's lodging together; I said I did not come on that business; where are the children you pointed out to me? I did not come on that business, I have got a wife at home I was going to, but you have decoyed me into this dismal place; she directly stamped with her foot, and called for some gin; the room-door was never shut; I told her I should drink no gin, and was going away; I got as near the door as I could, then the two young men came into the room. Which two? - The two outside ones, Granger and Collins. Those two men came into the room? - Yes. Are you sure those were the two young men? - Yes, I am; one got hold of one of my hands, and the other of the other, and the little woman came into the room; the tall woman was not out of the room, she remained in the room. What is the little woman's name? - She acknowledged to the name of Smith the next day at the Justice's; while they had hold of my arms, knowing I had the notes, in this pocket, I leaned back as well as I could, to prevent them from taking themout; she pushed to that pocket, and took them out; they were in my breeches pocket; she dropped a letter and a bill of parcels on the floor, and then ran out of the room. Did they take any thing besides the notes? - Yes, they took my cash; two of them had their hands in my pockets, Collins and the little woman; they took two half guineas, six shillings and some halfpence; then I recovered myself a little, they wanted to get away; I laid hold of one man with the one hand, and of the other with the other hand, and said, they had robbed me of forty or fifty pounds, and I would lose my life before I would let them go. What did Jones do? - She pulled my handkerchief off my neck, while they had hold of me. The four people were Granger, Collins, Jones and Smith? - Yes. Who did you lay hold of? - Collins and Granger. Did any body else come in before you laid hold of them? - Yes, Messenger came in, and picked up part of the writings which the little woman had dropped. When did she run out? - As soon as she had taken the notes out of my pocket. Before you laid hold of Collins and Granger? - Yes, Messenger came in before I laid hold of Collins and Granger, and picked up some of the papers, and went out again; Smith came in again while I had hold of them, and she scratched my hand, and kicked my legs; that they bled in several places; I could not put them out of the way because I had fast hold of the men; then Messenger came back and laid hold of me by the coat, in order to pull me to the top of the stairs; while he was doing this, and the other kicking me, Collins got out of my hand, and ran out of that room; the woman who belonged to the house, whom I had never seen, hearing the noise, called the watch, and the watch was coming in at the door of the house, as Collins got out of my hand; he came up stairs, and soon after another man, Stack; I gave him charge of Jones, and Smith, and Granger, and told him there was a young man just gone down stairs; I was afraid he was gone out; he said nobody had gone by him; the woman belonging to the house said she was sure he was not gone by, and she would search the next room; she took the candle in her hand, and looked into the lower closet, and said, here he is; I looked into the place, and said, you must come out young man; as soon as I laid hold of him, he tried to throw me down; but I was too strong for him; I said to the watchman, search his mouth; I saw he had something in it, I thought he had my notes; he put out two shillings and an halfpenny, and said, blast you take it; I assisted in taking them to the watch-house; they were searched at the watch-house, but none of the notes found. What was found upon them? - There was nothing found upon them there, that I could swear to; they had given the notes to another girl to take care of. There were those five people in the room at one time or another, Jones, Granger, Collins, Smith, and Messenger? - Yes. No more? - No more. Messenger was not taken that night? - No; the next day when I went before the Justice, I said there was an old man; they would not fully commit the others till he was taken; I took a neighbour with me down to the house, and asked the woman the name of the old man; she said it was Messenger, and while I was there he came in; that is the man; as soon as he came in I know him again, though it was candlelight when I saw him before; I said you are the man I want, I was looking for you, you must go with me; he said, blast your eyes, I will cut your bloody melt out; I told him it was no use to struggle, he should go with me; he then went readily, and shewed me the nighest way to the watch-house; the constable searched and found a handkerchief of mine upon him, and a duplicate in his pocket; I went with the officer to the pawnbroker's, Mr.Woodins, the corner of King's-street, Drury-lane. Was any thing else found? - An old handkerchief of mine in his pocket, the duplicates were tied up in. Was there any thing else of your property found? - No, not upon them, there was afterwards a note found, and two pieces of two five guinea notes were found in the room, there was a five guinea note thrown on the floor and found with a letter. Was there any thing else found? - Yes, the week after, Ann Bevington , a girl, who slept that night in the next room, with whom they left the notes to secret them, she gave it to a man of the name of White, who went to pay one away to a man who keeps an hardware shop in Covent-Garden; he asked him how he came by it; and said he had a friend who had been robbed of that and some other notes; he is not here. MARY MURPHY sworn. My husband, Luke Murphy , keeps a house in Cross-lane, St. Giles's. Jones, Messenger, and Smith, lodged at my house. Tell us what you know about this transaction? - A little before 12 o'clock, Jones came running down stairs very much frightened, and Granger came running down; I asked what was the matter? Messenger was fetching water for me; Jones said to Messenger, damn you, why did not you come up to me? Do you keep a common lodging-house? - Yes: then Granger came running down; I asked what was the matter? Granger said there was a man above was robbed of some property; I gave my child to the maid and called the watch, and shut the street-door, and desired the girl not to open it till the watch came; I said, Jones, go up stairs; she said, Tom, come along; he said no he would not; I said to Granger, you must go up too; he said he would go up with me; Whitehouse was then making a great noise; they went up with me, and I said what is the matter? Whitehouse said he had been robbed of 40 or 50 l.; he then said to Granger, you are one of the fellows that was here with me; with that I went into the room and asked Smith, where is the other fellow? she said she did not know, there was no one in the room; I went to the window and called the watch again. Was there any other girl there but Smith? - Yes, there was a little girl in bed in Smith's room. Was there any body in Jones's room? - No, I went to the window and called the watch, the watch then came; I said to Smith, where is the fellow that was in white here? she said there was no one; I looked, and found him in the cupboard, and said to him, come out of that; I said, when Collins came out of the cupboard, I said you have something in your mouth, is it paper? he said no, this is what I have got in my mouth; the watchman came, and as they were going down stairs, I said here is some paper in the room; the watchman came with me into Jones's room; there were a great many papers; I picked up a 5 l. draught, the gentleman said was payable the next day; I gave it to one of the watchmen. Now mind that you speak the whole truth, for you will get into a scrape if you do not; the first you heard of it was Jones coming down stairs? - Yes. Upon your oath did not you before that call the watch, and then go up stairs to see what was the matter? - No, not till Lydia Jones and Granger came down stairs, and I went up with them. Where was Messenger before? - Below stairs, fetching water for me. How long was he come down stairs? - I don't know that he was up stairs at all, he was fetching water for me three quarters of an hour. Can you or not swear whether he was up stairs before or not? - I don't know whether he was or not, he was fetching water for me three quarters of an hour. To Whitehouse. I understood you that Jones and Smith and Granger were never out of the room till the watchman came? - Jones got my handkerchief off and wentout with it; they were in the room when the watchman came. Did Jones go out of the room after she took the handkerchief? - Yes, with the handkerchief in her hand, and came in again afterwards, but I think she had not time to get down stairs; both the women had been out of the room and came in again, they left me with these men. Was Jones in the room or out of the room when you laid hold of Collins and Granger? - She had just gone out as I laid hold of them. After you laid hold of Collins and Granger, how soon did Jones come in? - I suppose she was not half a minute away; Messenger had been in the room and taken the papers. Was that before Jones ran out? - Messenger came in before she had taken the handkerchief off and been out of the room, and picked up these papers. Messenger came back a second time? - Yes, he did. Did Granger ever get away from you? - He never was away. He never went down stairs? - Not before the watchman came in. You are sure of that? - Yes. Then Mrs. Murphy don't say true in that? - No. Collins got out of your hands? - Yes. But not Granger? - No. Who came up with the woman of the house? - I don't recollect any body coming with her, without it was the watchman, I believe they came together. The woman of the house did not come up with Jones and Granger? - No. Was Jones in the room again before the watch was called? - Yes, when the watch came up they were in the room together. Did Messenger get down before the watchman was called? - Yes, he did. When Messenger laid hold of you to pull you down stairs, how came he to quit you? - He could not get me to the stairs, I turned to lay hold of him, and he let me go and ran down. That was at the time Collins got from you? - Yes. When the watchman and the woman of the house came up, Smith, Collins, and Granger, were with you in the room? - Yes. That was the room in which you had been robbed? - Yes. JOHN M'GUINIS sworn. I am a watchman in Cross-lane; about 12 o'clock I heard the alarm of watch cried out, my box is within 10 yards of Murphy's door, where I heard the alarm; I came to the door and a woman opened it. Who was that woman? - I cannot tell; Mrs. Murphy told me there was a robbery committed above stairs; she was going up stairs before, and told me to make haste up; up I went; Collins was coming out, and I stopped him. Where was he? - He was coming at the head of the stairs in order to make off; I said nobody should go out till I knew what had happened; I brought him into the room where the prosecutor and the rest of the company was. Are you sure of that? - I am; he was just come out of the door at the head of the stairs. Then it is not true that he was hid in the closet? - I had not seen him in the closet. Be as particular as you can; you were alarmed with a noise at Murphy's house? - Yes. You went there, and some woman opened the door? - Yes. You followed Mrs. Murphy up stairs? - Yes. What room did you go into? - The room where the prosecutor and the people were. Did you meet any body before you went into the room at all? - Yes, I met Collins coming out of the door before I went into the room; I told him no person should go out till I knew what had happened, and took him into the room; I found there Lydia Jones , Granger and Smith, andtwo other young women, I did not know their names. You went in before Stack? - Yes; I found the prosecutor doing his endeavour to stop any person that was in the room, struggling, as if to keep the people in; I asked him what was the matter? he told me he was robbed to the value of 40 l. or 50 l.; I asked him who were the people that robbed him? he accused Collins, Granger, Jones and Smith; Mrs. Murphy observed Collins had something in his mouth; I charged him to produce whatever he had; he said he had nothing at all; I said he should produce whatever he had, and he produced 2 s. and a bad halfpenny. Where was Collins just before the things were found in his mouth? - In the room where the prosecutor was robbed. Was not you in the other room at all? - No, not till I took them to the watch-house, then I went into all the rooms. Mrs. Murphy was up before you? - Yes, just before me; after I found the money in Collins's mouth we had some more assistance, and took them to the watch-house. Nothing was found when they were searched? - No. Was not there a paper given to you that was found in the room? - Not to me, it was given to the other watchman Stack. To Mrs. Murphy. Did you go up before the watchman? - Yes, I called the watch at the street door; Lydia Jones , and Granger ran down stairs and I called the watch, and then shut the door; they went up stairs. The prosecutor says that Granger was never down stairs? - Upon my oath he was. Was the watchman come when you found Collins in the closet? - No, he was not come, I went to the window and called watch again. Do you mean to say before that Granger came down stairs? - I did. ANN BEVINGTON sworn. I was along with Elizabeth Smith at Murphy's house, in bed, in the next room to Jones's; on Wednesday evening Mrs. Jones brought this man up stairs; they were a little while up stairs, and presently after she knocked for a quartern of gin, and went to the window and called for change for a shilling; soon after she had had the gin, she came to our room and asked for the bellows. The gin was brought up? - Yes, and change in about 10 minutes. Was Smith in your room? - Yes, Smith and Collins and Granger were sitting round the fire; I cannot say whether Jane Molloy was in the room, or gone down for a candle; Jones said to Smith, will you come into my room with me, and Smith went in the room with Jones; after she was gone into the room, I heard Jones say don't strike any body here, and then Collins and Granger ran into the room; presently after, I heard the gentleman cry out, I am robbed of 50 l.; Smith immediately ran to me and gave me these notes, and told me to hide them, and I did in the bolster, there was a hole tore before in the bolster; Smith told me to take them to her brother in the morning, which I did; the next morning when I got up, I found a note by the side of the bed, I cannot say whether I dropped it, or she in giving them to me; I gave that first to Jane Molloy , and then we gave it to Sarah Elliot ; she told Sarah Elliot she found it, and Sarah Elliot gave it to a baker to change that served her with bread, I dont't know his name. Did you go out of your room at all that night before the watchman came? - No, I had nothing to go out in. Did any body come into your room? - Yes, Collins, and ran into the cupboard. That was after the prosecutor said he had been robbed? - Yes. Who did you give the notes to the next morning? - To Frank Smith; and on Friday morning I went to Frank Smith , and he gave me half-a-guinea; I being in distress, took it, and paid Molloy half-a crown. You never saw the notes afterwards? -No; one I gave to Elliot, that I saw afterwards at the Justice's. SARAH ELLIOT sworn. Do you know any thing of this transaction? - Ann Bevington and Molloy came to me, and told me that they had found this note, and gave it me, I gave it to my baker, one White; I saw it afterwards at the Justice's. JACOB FREEMAN sworn. Hearing of this robbery in the morning, Meacham and I and another officer went and searched the room where the robbery was committed, and found two pieces of two different notes in the very room where he was robbed; I made all the enquiry I could to trace the notes; hearing of this note being offered, I went and took the baker into custody, and he took me to Elliot, of whom he said he had it; she said she found it in Drury-lane; at last she said she had it of Ann Bevington ; I went and took her into custody. What became of White? - When he took me to the house of Elliot, just as I put my hand on the door to come away, he ran off, I have never met with him since. Who did you get the note from? - White the Baker; it was shewed to Elliot in his presence, and she acknowledged giving it to him. (The note was produced in Court.) To Elliot. Look at that note? - That is the note I received from Bevington; I know it by its being torn at the corner. To Bevington. Look at that note? - I think that is the note I gave to my sister, I found it by the bedside. GEORGE MEACHAM sworn. I searched the lodgings; by the fireplace in the room where the prosecutor was robbed, I found pieces of two notes (producing them) one piece fits that note; about two o'clock or after, I was sent for by the prosecutor. To Whitehouse. What notes had you in your pocket that night? - Six Birmingham and one Woolverhampton, and one 5 l. note; I lost them all. Had you any account of the dates and numbers of these notes of your own making? - No, I afterwards got the best account I could. Who were they made payable to? - Them at the Old Bank were made payable to Story. To Meacham. About two or after you was sent for by the prosecutor? - Yes, he said he had another man in custody; I went to the watch-house, found Messenger and searched him; I found an old ragged handkerchief in his pocket, and in the corner of it were tied up three duplicates; one of which was an handkerchief pawned by Messenger that day for two shillings, at the corner of King-street, Drury-lane; by this duplicate I found the handkerchief at Mr. Woodin's; the old handkerchief I forgot, and left at home this afternoon. EDWARD HANSON sworn. I am servant to Mr. Woodin in Drury-lane. Is that your duplicate? - Yes; I cannot say whether it was Messenger that pledged the handkerchief; the person who received it is since dead; I saw Messenger in the shop that morning; here is the counterpart of the duplicate, which was fixed to the property. (The handkerchief was produced in Court, and deposed to by t