Joseph Hurst

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 6th March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 06 March 2020), June 1820, trial of JOSEPH HURST (t18200628-5). JOSEPH HURST, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 28th June 1820. 726. JOSEPH HURST was indicted for feloniously assaulting Edward Woodward , on the King's highway, on the 12th of June , at St. Luke, putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, one watch, value 50 s.; one chain, value 1 s.; two seals, value 30 s., and one key, value 1 s., his property . EDWARD WOODWARD . I am a Manchester warehouseman , and live in Wood-street, Cheapside. On the 12th of June, about twenty minutes past ten o'clock at night, I was going along Goswell-street - opposite the dead wall there is a court, and about ten yards from the court three men suddenly rushed upon me, one of them forced himself against me; he came very hard against me, pushed me aside, and almost stunned me - it was certainly done designedly - one of the others came on the other side of me; I was so confused that I do not know where the third man was, they were in different directions about me; one of them snatched my watch, I felt it going, and put my hand down to save it, but could not. I turned round, and struck a man's arm on my watch - the watch dropped, the chain broke, I snatched at the watch to get it off the ground - the prisoner and the others snatched at it also. I can swear he was one of them - he snatched it off the ground. I immediately caught hold of him, and called out for help - he was too strong for me, got off before any one came, and ran up a narrow street, down Sycamore-street, into Old-street, across Goswell-street, into Wilderness-row, where he was stopped. I never lost sight of him from the time he got from me till he was taken by Fisher. Next morning, about five o'clock, I went to the Charterhouse-gardens, with Hone and Fisher, and found the watch in the gardens, the Wilderness-row side. I had seen the prisoner opposite that place. I received the push at the time the watch was taken. Cross-examined by MR. ARABIN. Q. The prisoner was a stranger to you - A. Yes. I never lost sight of him. THOMAS FISHER . I was passing along Goswell-street, heard the cry of Stop thief! and saw the prisoner running as fast as he could, without his hat, from Old-street-road, down Wilderness-row; I pursued, and just as I was in the act of taking him I saw him throw the watch over the wall into the Charterhouse-gardens - I saw plainly it was a watch. I secured him. Next morning, between four and five o'clock, I went with the prosecutor and constable and found it there, within four yards of the wall. The prosecutor claimed it. Cross-examined. Q. Were you sober - A. I never tasted anything but water in my life. THOMAS HONE . I am a constable. I went with Fisher to the gardens, and found the watch. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. I understand Fisher has been convicted in this Court, and his brother-in-law is now in Newgate for trial. THOMAS FISHER re-examined. I never was here in my life, and have no brother-in-law in Newgate. GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 21. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Burrough. ------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Conduct Record https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-18$init=CON31-1-18p106 306. Joseph Hurst, Tried 25 June 1820, Life. Mother at Clerkenwell, Warren Street. Conditionally emancipated No 522, 21 Aug 1833. Free Pardon No 794 26th Oct 1841.