Sarah Mccormick

342

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 01 May 2020), September 1787, trial of SARAH M'CORMICK (t17870912-69). SARAH M'CORMICK, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 12th September 1787. 739. SARAH M'CORMICK was indicted for that she, on the king's highway, on the 18th day of August last, on one Thomas Mears , did make an assault, and him the said Thomas Mears did put in corporal fear and danger of his life, and feloniously did take from his person against his will, 6 s. 6 d. in money, his property . THOMAS MEARS sworn. I live in St. John's-lane, Smithfield; I work for Mr. Wick of Islington, who has undertaken to build the New Compter; on Saturday night, the 18th of August, I had received my money of my master; and about seven or eight o'clock, as I was coming through Cloth Fair , I met three women, the prisoner was one; they asked me to give them some gin; I said I would not; they swore they would have some gin; I had a spade upon my shoulder which I work with, and one of them laid hold of the spade; the prisoner went round and turned my pocket inside out. Are you sure it was her? - I am sure it was her; I spoke to her and told her to keep away; she turned out my breeches pocket, on the right hand side; as soon as she had turned out my pocket and got the money, she loosed me and ran into the Weaver's Arms just by; I followed her immediately, and never lost sight of her. Had she taken any thing? - She had taken six shillings and six pence out of my pocket, and she had got it with her. Are you sure that you had six shillings and six-pence in your pockets? - I am perfectly sure of it. You followed her into the public-house? - I did, and challenged her with taking my money; I wanted to take her up, and the man that belonged to the house pushed me out as I went to the door; a man came and struck me right on the breast and knocked me over in the street, and I stopped within sight of the door till the watchman came, and I called him and gave him charge of her. Was she there still? - Yes, she was there with a man drinking just by her; then she was taken into custody, and she was taken down to the watch-house; the constable never searched her. How came that? - I do not know. Did he refuse to search her? - I don't say he refused to search her; then a man passed his word for her appearance, and she was discharged. Whose word was taken for her appearance? - The publican's. Did she come again on the Monday? - I went on the Monday to the constable's house, and to the Weaver's Arms to enquire for her; I found he was gone to the Excise-Office, and the mistress of the house told me where she lived, and we went to take her in her own room. What public-house was this? - The Weaver's Arms in Cloth-fair. On the Monday you took her up, and carried her before the magistrate? - Yes. And she was fully committed? - Yes. You was quite sober? - Yes; I had drank share of one pot of beer, that is all I had drank that day. You lost nothing but the money? - No. JOHN CAMERON sworn. About ten o'clock, as I was coming my round, I saw this man standing crying at the door, he had got a shovel or a spade in his hand; and he was standing crying at the publick-house door, the Weaver's Arms; he said he had been robbed by some woman, who was gone into the Weaver's Arms; I asked him if he should know the person, he said he should; Iwent into the house with him, and the man of the house said, there was no person there that had robbed him, and desired him to go out; the prisoner at the bar was there, and he said he was sure that was the woman; we came out, and I asked him if he was sure that was the woman when he was in the house; I told him if it was, I would go in and take her out; I did so, and went and took her down to the watch-house, and she was bailed as before related. Who was the constable of the night? - One Mr. Vaughan. Where does he live? - At No. 7, in Cloth-fair. He took the publican's word? - Yes. For her appearance on Monday? - Yes. Is it usual to take bail for capital felonies? - That I do not know. Is Mr. Vaughan here? - No; he was sent for, but he sent word he was too busy to come. I don't wonder at his being shy; I believe he has done more than any magistrate can do. PRISONER's DEFENCE. I am innocent of what is laid to my charge; I was in at the Weaver's Arms, I had been there full an hour, when he came in; he said the landlady was the woman that had robbed him; me rob you! says she; yes, says he; says I, you may as well say that I robbed you, as to say that that woman robbed you; then, says he, it is you, and I will charge the watch with you; with that he charged the watch with me, and I was carried to the watch-house; the man of the house came down and was bail for me; I staid at home till the Monday, then he came for me; then I went to Guildhall, but I never saw the man till he came to say that he was robbed. Prosecutor. I never lost sight of her till she got into the house. ELIZABETH CARNEY sworn. I live in Cloth-fair; I keep the Weaver's Arms; my husband is not here; he is not at home; he had nothing to do in it; he was not within at the time the affair happened, and the man came in, he came in soon after; all I have to say is, this man came in crying, he seemed to be drunk; it was about a quarter after nine, and some people in the tap-room asked him what was the matter; he said his pocket was picked of four shillings; some of the people asked him by whom; I stood up, that is the woman, says he to me; by and bye I got into the bar to serve; so he said no more but walked out; I laughed at him when he said it was me; he saw me going into the bar, and he went out. He did not fix on any body else? - Not at that present time. Did he say whether he was robbed by one or more? - He mentioned me as the person taking the money. He did not mention any more at the time? - No, he went out when he saw me go into the bar, and sat crying. What till the watchman came up? - Yes. How long might that be? - About a quarter of an hour. What happened after the watchman came up? - He and the watchman came in, and the watchman asked him which was the woman; he looked round, he saw the prisoner and he challenged her, then the watchman took her away. Then after he had charged you, and you laughed at his mistake, he went out and sat crying at the door? - Yes. And then came in again with the watchman? - Yes. Then the watchman took her to the watch-house? - He did not go out without her, but took her to the watch-house directly. Was any body present that is here, when the prosecutor came in and said he was robbed? - Yes, Sir, there is another that was in the woman's company. Who is that? - His name is John Brown. Is he here? - Yes. Was he in your house when the prosecutor came in, the man that was robbed? - He was. Did he and the prisoner come in together? - He and the prisoner came in both together. How long had they been in before the man came in and said he had been robbed? - Better than a quarter of an hour. They came in together? - Yes. Did any body else join company with them after they came? - No, there was not. What had they to drink? - They had beer. Did you serve them? - No. Who did? - The man that lives with me served them. What is his name? - His name is Samuel Marks . Do you know what it was they had? - No, I do not. Did your husband come home while the man was standing crying at the door, or not? - No, he came in soon after he charged the woman with the watch; we went to the watch-house; we let the woman out. Did he come home before or after they were gone to the watch-house? - I cannot recollect that. Do you think he came home after they were gone to the watch-house? - I cannot recollect, whether he come home before she was taken from my house, or whether he followed her. That is not the question; we all know he followed to the watch-house: I want to know whether he came home before the prisoner was taken to the watch-house, or whether he came home after? - I cannot recollect. Did he take any notice of the man standing crying at the door? - No, Sir, I cannot recollect that; I cannot recollect whether he came home while the man was standing crying at the door; I do not know what he might say. Can you doubt whether he came home before or after? - I cannot recollect. Have you sworn truly; you have sworn when your husband came home; he was told that this woman was taken up? - I have said nothing but what is just. It is true that he was told it when he came home? - He was told so; he would not go the watch-house. Why then he did not see her taken up himself then? - No, Sir, I don't think he was within at the time she was taken up; he was not within when the man came in crying. Was he within when the woman was up, upon your oath or not; come answer; you have had time enough to consider; why do not you answer? - I think the woman was taken up before he came in. And then he went to the watch-house after her? - I do not know what passed at the watch-house; I know the woman by sight; I don't know whether she has any business, or what business; I believe she is single. Is she a house-keeper? - She is a room-keeper; a lodger at my house, the next door to the Weaver's Arms, at another house of my husband's. Has he many lodgers there? - Yes, he has. A common lodging-house? - Yes. You cannot tell whether this woman, tho' she lodged six months in your house, follows any business or not? - I do not know I am sure. Did Brown go to the watch-house? - I believe he did. Do you know whether he did or not? - Yes, I heard him say he did, he went out of my house the same time that she went; when the watchman took her, Brown went with her, they all went out together. I mean the watchman, and her and Brown, and the man that was robbed? - Brown went with the watchman and the prisoner. Then it was not Brown that told your husband that she was taken to the watch-house? - I cannot tell. Was Brown in the house before the rest came back from the watch-house; or did they come back together? - I cannot tell whether they all come back together, or not. Did Brown come back before your husband came back from the watch house? - No, he did not that I know. Upon your oath did you or not tell your husband that the prisoner at the bar was taken to the watch-house? - Yes, I believe I told him. Then it is not true that your husband turned this man out of the house when he first came in, and struck him? - No Sir, that is not true. What time did they come home? - Between ten and eleven. Did not they sup after that? - No. Had not they a little merry-making after the discharge? - No. What became of Brown and the prisoner afterwards? - They sat and had a pint; Brown went away first, I saw the prisoner there, I am sure Brown went away first. How long might the prisoner stay after Brown? - She staid about a quarter of an hour after he went away, talking with me and my husband. Do you know any thing more? - No, I do not. JOHN BROWN sworn. Do you know the prisoner? - Yes. How long have you known her? - That was the first time of her ever being in the house; I have known her six years. Does she follow any business? - I cannot tell; the first of my knowing her was thro' a young fellow that I work shopmate with, I cannot tell whether she follows any business. Where does she live? - In Cloth-Fair. Whereabouts? - I cannot tell the name of the street. Do you know the Weaver's arms? - Yes, she lives next door. How long has she lived there? - I cannot tell, I know her no further than seeing her about the street by sight. Where do you live yourself? - In White-cross-street, No. 10. What business are you? - I am a journeyman shoemaker. Were you at the Weaver's-Arms on the night of the 18th of August? - I cannot tell the day. Do you know the night this woman was taken up? - I was in there with her about a quarter after nine. Who did you go with there? - I went with the prisoner about a quarter after nine. Who else went in with you? - I knew none of the people that were in the house; only she and me went in together; that was about a quarter after nine. How long was it before any thing happened? - About half past nine, a man came in crying, and he said he had lost 4 s. 3 d. and he first charged the landlady of the house, who was sitting in the tap-room at the Weaver's Arms; he came in by himself, and said he had lost 4 s. 3 d. and that she had robbed him of it, and he would swear it; he said that without any body asking him any questions, I never heard any body asking him any questions about it; and then directly as soon as he came in, he said he had lost 4 s. 3 d. and that the landlady had taken it, he went out crying. Did any body tell him he was robbed? - No, I never heard any body tell him he was robbed; there were people in the house told him he had not been robbed by any body there. What said the landlord to him for charging his wife with this robbery? - He was was not at home at the time. You are sure of that? - Yes. Then it is not true that he asked him what he meant by charging his wife with such a thing? - No; before the landlord came home the girl was charged; he went out crying, and stood crying at the door till the watchman went past ten, he brought him in and he charged this girl. Was the landlord come home then? - I do not believe he was. What passed when the watchman and he came in? - He directly fixed on this woman, and said she robbed him; the watchman told the man, if he would swear to it he would take charge of her, he said he would; upon that he took charge of her directly. What did he do with her afterwards? - He took her to the watch-house in Smithfield. What became of you? - The landlord came and bailed her out, I went with her to the watch-house. The watchman had not been in before, had he? - Not to my knowledge. The landlord came and bailed her out? - Yes. How long after you was at the watch-house? - I believe it might have been for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, that was the first of my seeing the landlord that night. What became of her after she was bailed out? - After I came out of the watch-house, I went straight home, I did not stop, I did not go to the Weaver's Arms. Are you quite sure of that? - I am quite sure of that. Quite sure? - Yes, quite sure. You did not drink a pint of beer with her after you came from the watch-house. Mrs. Carney. Yes, you did, Brown. No, I did not go to the Weaver's Arms, but I well remember she treated me with a glass of gin, at a gin-shop in Long-Lane. Then she did not go to the Weaver's Arms? - Not to my knowledge. What became of the landlord? - I do not know; he came home I suppose; I did not see the landlord after she came out of the watch-house at all. Is Long-lane in the way from the watch-house to Cloth-Fair? - The Weaver's Arms is just joining to Long-lane. Then the prisoner treated you with a glass of gin in Long-lane, and you left her at that door? - Yes. Had you and she any supper before at the Weaver's Arms? - No. Had you nothing at all to eat? - No, not there, I had my supper in Long-lane before I met with her. Had the prisoner when you was there any thing to eat? - Not to my knowledge, I did not see her eat any thing to my knowledge. You did not see the landlady bring her any thing to eat? - I do not remember that. Had you gin or beer at the Weaver's Arms? - Beer, your worship, I had a pint of beer. Who served you? - A young woman, she might be a servant for what I know, it was a young woman served us. Do you know any thing more? - No. Court to Watchman. I think you told me that you know the man that keeps the Weaver's Arms personally? - I do. I think you told me that when the prosecutor first took you into the house, the landlord answered you, and said there was no person there that had robbed any body? - I say so now; I am sure it was him; it is true upon my oath; he desired me to go out and this man likewise. Court to Prosecutor. You know the landlord of the house? - Yes; it is the same man that bailed the woman out of the watch-house. Was that man in the house when you and the watchman went in the first time? - Yes, he was stripped in his shirt sleeves. Is it true that he said what the watchman has said? - Yes, it is true. He said there was no person there that had robbed you, and desired you to go out? - That is true. You are sure of that? - Yes, upon my oath it is so. Court to Watchman. How long have you known the master of the house? - Ever since he has kept the house, which I believe is six or seven months; I know his person perfectly well; I have no doubt but he is the person that spoke to me; his wife was there at the time, and she said this man challenged her before I came there with being the person that robbed him; that was when her husband was there, and when I first went in; the second time, when I brought him to the door, I said, are you sure that is the person, he said he was sure it was; I said, I will go and fetch her out; the husband was there both times, and followed us to the watch-house; I cannot say that Brown was there. (Here the learned Judge summed up the Evidence.) Jury to Watchman. Pray was the prosecutor any ways in liquor at the time you first met with him? - I do not know whether he might or no; he was crying and seemed very much troubled; I cannot swear he was not in liquor. GUILTY , Death . Court. Let Elizabeth Carney and John Brown be committed to Newgate for perjury; and the next thing is to write to the deputy of the ward to stop the licence of the house, and to have the constable discharged for a breach of his duty; as to the watchman, he will have a share of the reward. Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER. ------------------------------------------------- National Archives. HO 47/9/4 1789 Apr 17 Report of James Adair, Recorder of London. Also includes a list from the Recorder of London enclosing a list of capital convicts respited but who cannot be removed until their pardons are confirmed, they are to receive sentence of transportation as set against their names: London Sarah McCormic. Convicted in September 1787, recommended to 7 years transportation.