Robert King

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 27th June 2024

Burials in the Parish of Launceston in the County of Cornwall, V.D.L. No; 604 & 802 Burial; 1841. 5 July Abode; Launceston Hospital Age; 46 years. ** Age as per Register ** Ship; Baring Status; Free Pauper

342

Maureen Withey on 11th November 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 11 November 2021), October 1814, trial of WILLIAM KING ROBERT KING (t18141026-12). WILLIAM KING, ROBERT KING, Theft > burglary, 26th October 1814. 880. WILLIAM KING and ROBERT KING were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of James Bloomfield , about the hour of four in the night of the 12th of October , and burglariously stealing therein, twenty four bottles of wine, value 5 l. his property. JAMES BLOOMFIELD . I live in the Broadway Westminster ; I keep the public house there the Feathers . On the 13th of October, a little after four in the morning, I was alarmed by the patrol and watchman ringing of the bell; I went to the window they told me to come down stairs, as my cellar door was broken open. I came down stairs and found my cellar door broken open; the cellar door is underneath the house. I had seen it at eleven o'clock in the evening; the last time, it was perfectly fastened then; I am quite sure of that. I fastened it myself; there is a chain and bolt within side; I unlocked the door in the passage to go into the cellar; I went into the cellar; the patrol and watchman went into the cellar first and Robert King stood in the cellar; the patrols name is Leonard; he walked on first; I carried the light: I was behind him on the stairs; I drew back, and the prisoner, Robert King came up stairs. I bid not see the prisoner untill he came up the stairs. The patrol presented a pistol, and desired him to come forward, and come up stairs; the patrol presented his pistol and said he would shoot any body that bid not come forward; upon that, Robert King came forward I am sure it was him; he came up stairs immediately; we secured him, and took him to the watch-house. After that we went into the cellar, and examined it; there was no one there. He said, there had been two men, they were both gone; he said, he was coming by there about four o'clock in the morning. a man came out of the cellar with a basket in his hand. I asked him who he had with him; he said he did not know. The watchman told him he had better tell who they where; he said he knew nothing about them. We found seven bottles of wine standing by the cellar door, some on the butt head, and some on the floor. Q. Were these bottles there when you left the cellar at night - A. No; they were in the wine cellar, and I had the key in my pocket. The wine cellar door was forced open by some sharp instrument or other. Q. Did you observe any thing else besides - A. Some bottles on the floor that had been broken; they had been taken out of the wine cellar, and taken as far as the cellar door that goes out into the street. I missed nothing but the wine. Q. Was there any wine taken away - A. There were to the amount of two dozen taken away from the bin. I found seven bottles, there were four broken; I missed two dozen entirely; how many more were taken away, I cannot say. The watchman told him in his way to Queen-square, he had better tell who was with him; he said, he knew nothing about them, he was going by promiscuously; the man told him going by if he would help him up with the basket, and go in for two or three bottles that were handy, he would give him one for his trouble. That is all he would say. When he went down for the bottles, the watchman closed the door upon him that is the way he was detained. Q. Do you know any thing of William King - A. No; I only saw Robert King in the cellar. Q. Were there any marks upon your bottles - A. There was a C. on the white wine bottles. It was quite dark at that time. PARTRICK LEONARD. I am a patrol. I was going my round, on the morning of the 18th, my dog was with me, about three doors of Mr. Bloomfield's house, I saw William King pass by me, he came quite close to me; I looked very sharp at him: I was coming down Chapple street; when I came to Mr. Bloomfield's cellar, I saw the trap open; my dog had disturbed them; there was no soul coming either way but him; he was at the cellar door, he had a soldiers coat on; I could not see that he had any thing with him, but the big coat; he went on. When I came to Mr. Bloomfield's door, I found his trap door open; I waited a moment or so; I heard the noise of a foot among the broken bottles; I called to the watchman, and bid him pull the bell. I pulled out my pistol; I put the trap door too, and stood there untill we disturbed the Landlord. I told the Landlord to come down, there were robbers in the cellar; I went down with the pistol in my hand; I saw the prisoner, Robert King . between two butts in the corner of the cellar; I told him to come out, he came out directly; I took hold of him by the collar, and handed him to the watchman. Then I went down again; I searched all about, there were three bottles on the top of the butt full, and four down along side of it; I found part of three bottles that were broken, and the wine spilt, just by the side of the bottles; the wine cellar door was opened, the lock had been forced open; I went into the wine cellar; I saw the sawdust scattered about, and a bottle broken among the sawdust. Then I took the prisoner to the watch-house. I went to Mr. Bloomfields house again. After that I was going my round; I went to get a pint of beer at the wine vaults; the prisoner William King came in, this was five o'clock; we had done our duty then. When I was drinking my beer William King came into the house: I stepped forward to take him into custody; he ran off; I knew the prisoner again directly. I said that fellow is one that past me are at the time when I came to Mr. Bloomfield's to take his brother into custody in the cellar, I went after the prisoner, and seized him. Q. You said you saw the prisoner, William King , with a soldiers great coat on - A. Yes. WILLIAM PYEBY. I am the watchman. At half past four, just as the Abbey clock struck the half hour, the patrol called to me; I said all is well; he said, no, come this way. When I came up to him, I saw the cellar flap down, and one of the folding doors open; I said there is somebody in the cellar. I rung the bell for the landlord; the landlord lifted up his sash; I said, make haste down, your cellar is broken open, and I have a notion to think there is somebody in it. I afterwards went down into the cellar, and found Robert King concealed between two butts; I took Robert King into custody in the passage. JAMES GILMORE . I am an officer. In consequence of information. I went to the prisoner William King 's lodging on the 14th; about one o'clock in noon day, I found William King in bed; partly dressed, and partly undressed, and under the bed we found this soldiers great coat; in the cupboard I discovered two bottles broken, and the corks drawed; this one had white wine in it very recently, and the other red. The next day I searched his lodgings again. I found in the cupboard this empty pistol. Prosecutor. There is no marks to my bottles. I lost chiefly red wine; I think there might be a few bottles of white, but the red I perfectly know. JOHN VAUGHN . I am a constable. I was with Gilmore and Watson. I can only say his evidence is correct. JOHN WATSON . I am a constable. I was with the two last witnesses. I can say no more than Gillmore. WILLIAM DAVEY . I am a patrol. I stood at the cellar trap while they went down into the cellar. I only saw Robert King there. I cannot say any other, than what Leonard has said, is all the fact. William King 's Defence. The Pistol I have never used for many years; the other bottle was broken with no cork in it, and the great coat was thrown on the further side of the bed, not under the bed. Robert King 's Defence. I cannot say any thing more than what I have said. ROBERT KING, GUILTY DEATH , aged 19. WILLIAM KING , NOT GUILTY . [The prisoner Robert King was recommended to mercy by the jury, and the prosecutor, on account of his youth ] Second Middlesex jury, before Mr. Baron Richards , --------------------------------------------------- https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-3$init=CON13-1-3p5 List of Individuals resident in Van Diemens Land and their details, taken from the Indents of their respective ships. Date of document: 30 July 1829. Robert King, per Baring 1, (Lamb master), arrived 1815, tried at Middx G.D. 26 Oct 1814, Life. Native place London, trade, Coach wheeler, age 20, height, 5 ft 1, florid comp, fair hair, hazel eyes.