Hannah Lownsley

343

Maureen Withey on 30th December 2019

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 30 December 2019), September 1831, trial of HANNAH LOWNSLEY (t18310908-245). HANNAH LOWNSLEY, Theft > theft from a specified place, 8th September 1831. Before Mr. Justice Alderson. 1772. HANNAH LOWNSLEY was indicted for stealing, on the 17th of July , 1 handkerchief, value 1s.; 1 watch, value 4l.; 2 seals, value 30s.; 1 key, value 6s.; 48 sovereigns, 2 guineas, 1l. 15s., seven 10l., and seven 5l. Bank notes, the property of William Hodson , in the dwelling-house of Thomas Parker . WILLIAM HODSON. I am a plasterer . On the 16th of July I met the prisoner near Hanover-square, standing against the iron rails; she is a woman of the town : a conversation took place and I went with her, to No. 53, Old Pye-street, Westminster ; I had the Bank notes and money stated in the indictment - the notes were wrapped in separate papers in my inside waistcoat pocket, and the sovereigns in my inside coat pocket, with some silver -I had a silver watch and gold seals, she unlocked the door, which was padlocked, got a light, and got into bed; but I did not - I pulled off my coat and waistcoat, and laid them on the table; I laid myself down by the side of the bed, and fell asleep, about one o'clock; I was quite sober; I awoke before four, it was nearly day-light - she was then gone - I directly got up, felt in my right-hand pocket, and the eleven sovereigns, which were loose in my trousers pocket, were safe - I went to my coat, and found a handkerchief, which was not mine, on the table; my money and handkerchief were gone - I had laid my watch on the table, and that was gone - nobody had been in the room except her, for I bolted the door myself, before I fell asleep; I found it open in the morning - I have never found my money; I am certain of her person; I had a good opportunity of seeing her, for I called at a house in Oxford-street, and saw her there, besides when she was in the room - we were in the room with a light for above half an hour before I fell asleep; she must have taken the money while I was asleep - the light was still burning when I went to sleep. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Do you really mean to say you were sober? A. I do; I had 236l. about me - it was my own, and the produce of my labour -I lodge in Oxford-market, and am now at work at Lambeth, for Mr. Armstrong, as a journeyman plasterer - I am forty-three years old; I was unfortunately led away - I had my trousers and boots on in the room - I had met her between eleven and twelve o'clock - I had come from the seat of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury that evening - I arrived in town about five; I had come from Croydon in a go-cart, which took me up outside the Swan - I did not go into a public-house - several persons were in the go-cart - I have had very excellent jobs, by which I got the money; I have not charged any body else with this - three persons were brought to the office on suspicion of having the property, but not by my desire; they were no doubt connected with the prisoner; I have not charged any body with it but her - this was all the property I had - I have been earning it since 1817 -I thought it safer about my person than to leave it in my box - I have jobs at great country seats - I took about 190l. with me down to the Archbishop's; I had not looked at my money that evening, but I knew by the weight of the gold that it was there - it was in my inside coat pocket, wrapped in a silk handkerchief, and in three separate brown papers. Q. How do you know you had the notes? A. I had been no where but in respectable company - I am accustomed to come from Croydon in a go-cart - the prisoner was taken on the 22nd of August; she had abaconded - I looked for her for three weeks - I do not often go to houses of ill-fame - I am single - I am not in the habit of carrying money about me. COURT. Q. What were the sovereigns in? A.In three separate pieces of brown paper, tied tight round with my handkerchief; I did not see the handkerchief in the morning, nor any of the paper. JOSEPH WILKINS . I apprehended the prisoner on the 27th of August - I searched the room this happened in on the Sunday morning, and found the handkerchief -Thomas Parker is landlord of the house, but does not live in it; it is let out in tenements to unfortunate girls. WILLIAM HODSON . This is the handkerchief my sovereigns were wrapped in; I have had it since 1825 - it was found in the prisoner's room. GUILTY of stealing, but not in the dwelling-house. Aged 20. - Transported for Seven Years . Hannah was sent to Moreton Bay penal settlement following a Colonial sentence. Moreton Bay convict Record. Hanh. Lownsley, Burrell 2, Middx G.D. 8 Sept 1831. Man robbery, 7 years. Plain cook. Colonial Sentence: Sup. Ct. Sydney, 7 Nov 1832, Stealing in a Dwelling house above £5, sentence, & years commuted from sentence of Death. Sydney ( no date given) Hanh. Lownsley, age 21, native of Yorkshire, 5ft 1 ½ in; sallow comp, dk brown hair, hazle eyes. Religion- E. CRIMINAL SIDE. MONDAY,—Before Judge Stephen and the usual commission. Hannah Lucely was indicted for stealing one £5 note, one £2 ditto, and twenty £1 notes, the property of Robert Cooper the younger, from the dwelling-house of the said Robert Cooper, and James Mitford was indicted for receiving one £5 note, well knowing the same to have been before feloniously stolen, at Sydney, on the 23rd of September. Lucely guilty, remanded. Mitford, not guilty—Discharged. Wednesday. Before Judge Stephen and the usual commission. Hannah Lousley, convicted of stealing in the dwelling house of Robert Cooper, the younger, above the value of £5.—Death recorded. Sydney Herald, 8 Nov 1832.