William Jones

343

Maureen Withey on 23rd June 2023

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/82/132. Date. 1830. Prisoner name: William Jones (alias Lunn). Prisoner age: 21. Prisoner occupation: Carpenter. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey December Sessions 1829. Crime: Breaking into a warehouse. Initial sentence: Transportation for seven years. Gaoler's report: Not known here. Petitioner(s): Ann Munn, mother of the prisoner. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): The petitioner's plea is that the prisoner should serve his sentence in a colony or foreign territory where, having no contact with his former companions, he would have an opportunity to pursue his employment as a carpenter and become once again a responsible citizen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 23 June 2023), December 1829, trial of WILLIAM JONES (t18291203-43). WILLIAM JONES, Theft > simple larceny, 3rd December 1829. 43. WILLIAM JONES was indicted for stealing, on the 24th of November , 47 hinges, value 26l. , the goods of Robert Johnston . WILLIAM RICH. I am a Police-constable. I was on duty in King-street, Seven-dials, about eight o'clock in the evening, on the 24th of November - I saw the prisoner coming through the street; I suspected, and followed him to Drury-lane - I there stopped him, and found on him twenty-three pairs of patent brass hinges; he said he was going to Field-lane, but he would not tell me where he got them from - I took him to the watch-house, and the next morning found the owner; the prisoner had three pairs in his hat, some in his right-hand pockets, and some in his left-hand pockets. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Do you mean to say he did not tell you where he got them as soon as you asked him? A.No; he said at the watch-house that he found them in a court in Crown-street; he told me he was going to Field-lane, and in going along the street he said if I liked to go with him, I should see where he was going to; he said at the watch-house he would go back to the place, but he did not tell me where it was - our inspector and two or three more were there at the time; there was a man with me when I took him - the prisoner said he got them in a court, and when I locked him up I went there, but there was no such thing, nor had any person seen any; he was coming from Crown-court, towards Field-lane, when I took him - I believe there is a shop in Field-lane where they buy such things. STEPHEN GAMMAN. I am in the employ of Mr. Robert Johnston , of Greek-street - he is the proprietor of a hinge warehouse . I can swear to these hinges as his; I have the inspection of every hinge that is brought into the warehouse. WILLIAM WICKS. I am shopman to Mr. Johnston. I missed a number of hinges from a tier of shelves near the door, and some from other shelves - on the evening of the 24th, at a quarter-past eight o'clock, I had double locked the shop door; on the morning of the 25th I found the key would not open the door, and then I missed the property. Prisoner's Defence. I can prove that I had been at a witnesses house till half-past nine o'clock that evening, and had not come out many minutes when I picked up these hinges. WILLIAM STROUD . I am a bricklayer, of Grafton-street, Soho. I have known the prisoner these ten or twelve years -I saw him last Tuesday week, which I believe was the 24th of November: I met him in the street at seven o'clock, and he stopped with me till half-past nine - I am quite certain it was more than a quarter-past nine. GUILTY . Aged 21. - Transported for Seven Years .