Joseph Mirfield

343

Maureen Withey on 12th August 2022

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 12 August 2022), April 1814, trial of JOSEPH MIRFIELD (t18140420-44). JOSEPH MIRFIELD, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 20th April 1814. 329. JOSEPH MIRFIELD was indicted for feloniously making an assault in the King's highway, upon Henry Radford , junior , on the 20th of February , putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, a watch, value 20 s. his property. HENRY RADFORD , JUNIOR. On the 20th of February, I was going down Church-street, Spitalfields , about eight o'clock in the evening; I was followed by the prisoner and another man; the prisoner pushed me violently upon the other man; it threw me forwards. I had a bundle in one hand, and my other hand was banging down. The other man laid hold of my arm; the man that I pushed against, he shoved me with his hand against the wall. The prisoner snatched my watch from my fob, and ran away, at the time I was so pushed, while the other man was holding me. Q. So that one held you while the other took the watch out of your pocket - A. Yes. The prisoner then run away; I followed him, and cried stop thief. He ran into Spitalfields-market; I lost sight of him. While I was standing still I heard some one say come on my lad, he is taken. I went up to him; he was in Crispin-street. It was the same man who had taken the watch out of my pocket; he was standing with his back against some iron railing. He asked me if he was the man; I said yes, I would swear to it. He then gave me my watch, and begged for God's sake to let him go; he said he had a wife and a large family; I said he should not go. He was taken to the watchhouse by Mr. Rackam, and Mr. Townsend let him go. Q. Who is Mr. Townsend - A. A butcher. He let him go before Mr. Rackam took him. Prisoner. Did not you say if I let you have the watch you would be satisfied - A. No, I do not remember saying so. Prisoner. Yes, you did, and then Mr. Townsend let me go. MR. RACKAM. I live in Wood-street, No. 11. I heard the cry of stop thief; I came out. Upon that I saw the prisoner in custody of a person I did not know; the prisoner was supplicating mercy of the gentleman that held him. The gentleman let him go, and seeing him at liberty I took hold of him, and advised the prosecutor to follow me to the watch-house; he did so. I delivered the prisoner to the officer at the watchhouse. THOMAS HART . I was at the watchhouse when the prisoner was brought in; I searched him. I did not find any thing upon him. The watch had been delivered up before to Radford; Radford delivered it to me. This is the watch. THOMAS TOWNSEND . I am a butcher. On the 20th of February last, about eight o'clock in the evening, I was in West-street, Spitalfields-market, I heard the cry of stop thief; the last voice I heard was a lad in a faint voice crying, he had lost his watch. I came out, and saw a man come in the market, and as he cleared the corner he set off running, and kept walking; it struck me he might be the party; they were giving the alarm. I hailed him; he gave me no answer; commenced running. I followed him, overtook him, and detained him two minutes. I said, gentlemen, I will thank you if you will go into the market and find out who gave the alarm; some persons went into the market, and brought the prosecutor to me. I asked him if he had any knowledge of the man I had in custody; he said that was the man that stole his watch. Upon so doing, the man said if you will forgive me I will give you the watch again. Accordingly I saw the motion of the two hands, but not the watch; as if the watch passed from one to the other, but the watch I did not see. Q. Is the prisoner the same man - A. Not to my knowledge. It was a dark night. I consider the man I detained to be a more powerful man than he appears to be. Q. to Rackam. Is that the man you saw supplicating for mercy, and which you conducted to the watchhouse - A. It is; I have no doubt at all about it. Prosecutor. The watch produced by Hart is the watch that was taken from me by the prisoner. Prisoner's Defence. I have been very ill since I have been confined; I hope you will shew mercy to me. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 22. First Middlesex jury, before Lord Ellenborough. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. MURFIELD, Joseph (Per "Indefatigable", 1815) see MERFIELD, Joseph MERFIELD, Joseph. Per "Indefatigable", 1815. 1815 Apr 29 On list of prisoners disembarked from the "Indefatigable" and forwarded to Windsor for distribution; listed as Murfield (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.66) 1819 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3198; 4/1859 pp.50-50a) 1822 Jun 18 Simeon Lord, of Sydney, permitted to employ for the procurement of a cargo of timber at Port Stephens; listed as Murfield (Reel 6009; 4/3505 p.402) 1823 Jun 18 Principal Overseer for Robert Campbell, Pelican Island. Re articles landed from the "Surry"; appears as Mirfield (Reel 6067; 4/1809 p.80) 1824 Jan 18 Re articled servants absconding from the employ of Robert Campbell Junior and Thomas Street; appears as Mirfield (Reel 6067; 4/1810 p.23) 1824 Jan 19-Feb 19 Benjamin Little tried by the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction for stealing from; appears as Mirfield (Reel 6023; X820 p.125) ---------------------------------------------------