Lewis Lawrence

343

Maureen Withey on 9th September 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 09 September 2021), January 1817, trial of LEWIS LAWRENCE (t18170115-115). LEWIS LAWRENCE, Theft > pocketpicking, 15th January 1817. 263. LEWIS LAWRENCE was indicted for stealing, on the 7th of January , four veils, value 1l., the goods of Richard Yates , from the person of Celia Brown . ELIZA YATES. I am the wife of Richard Yates , we live in Lincoln's-inn-fields. On the 7th of January, towards the evening, the prisoner came into my shop, and asked for some veils, for his mother to shew to a lady; I knew his mother, but not knowing him, I refused to give them to him, and told him, that I would send Celia Brown with them; I packed up four lace veils, they were worth 4l. cost price; I delivered them to the prisoner, and he gave them back to Brown, desiring her to carry them, they both left the house; Brown went to bring back the money or the veils. CELIA BROWN . I am in Mrs. Yates's employ. On the 7th of January, between six and seven o'clock in the evening, she sent me with the prisoner, and some veils, I had them in my hands, when we went out of the shop; he first took me to Wild-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, and said that his sisters lived there, and I was to set there while he shewed the lady the veils, he went up and said, he would fetch a candle to light me up stairs, he returned and said they were not at home, and asked me to accompany him to the place where he was to sell them. I said I would, he took me to the corner of Long-Acre, and said he was going to take them into a house; I saw the house would not be a proper place for me to go into, and said I would wait outside, and he promised to return in a few minutes, I gave him the veils in Wild-street, I waited near an hour without seeing him, I went to the house in Wild-street, and found his sisters there, who told me where I was likely to find him, a person took me to Phoenix-alley, I waited there for him, but he did not come, and I went home. He had come out of that house and went in again, but I did not know him as he had changed his dress. I saw him at Bow-street the same evening, in the dress which he put on after he took the veils; I knew him again. WILLIAM BAKER . I found the prisoner at a Public-house in Bow-street. I asked him what he had done with the veils, and sent for an officer; he said, he knew nothing about the veils. The officer secured him. THOMAS JONES . I am an officer. I secured the prisoner, and found a duplicate of four veils, pledged in the name of Joseph Lawrence , at Macbeth's, I got it from him with difficulty. ALEXANDER MACBETH . I am a pawnbroker. The prisoner pledged the veils with me between seven and eight o'clock in the evening. I am sure he is the man. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. I had a bill to make up, and pledged the veils, and intended to take them out the next day. GUILTY . Aged 28. Transported for Life . Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant. ---------------------------------------------------- Most of the men who arrived on Almorah at Sydney, were then trans-shipped to Hobart Town. However, Lewis stayed in Sydney. Tasmanian Record. List of 175 male convicts arrived per Ship Almorah, Mckissock, Master, on the 4th September 1817, from England, and thence transhipped to the ship Pilot, pexton, Master, for Van Diemen’s Land to be landed at Hobart Town on the River Derwent. Sydney 11 Sep 1817, With their sentences extracted from their indents. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1P95 Lewis Lawrence. # Tried at London, 15 Jan 1817, Life, age 29, native of London, Trade: Pen & Quill man. 5 foot 4 ½ tall, brown hair and eyes, dark sallow comp. Very well behaved. Note at bottom of page: # Retained at Sydney. ---------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. LAWRENCE, Lewis. Per "Almorah", 1817; musician. 1818 Jun 30 On return of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6006; 4/3498 p.291)