Julia St. Clair Newman

218

Dianne Jones on 14th June 2022

TRIAL 3: 808. MARGARET NEWMAN and JULIA ST. CLAIR NEWMAN , were again indicted for stealing, on the 14th of February, 1 tea-spoon, value 2s.; 1 decanter, value 3s.; 3 glasses, value 1s. 6d.; and 1 table-cloth, value 2l.; the goods of Mary Dobbs. MR. BODKIN conducted the Prosecution. MARY DOBBS. I am a widow, and live at No. 38, East-street, Redlion Square. On the 3rd of January the two prisoners occupied a furnished lodging at my house—they left on the 14th of February, saying they were going to Liverpool, on business—they were going that night to the Bull and Mouth, as they were going off next morning early—about half an hour after they left I missed two spoons, some glasses, decanters, and other things—on the 16th, two days afterwards, the elder prisoner called at my house to see if there was a letter come—I told her I had missed some things—she said she dare say they were taken away by is take, and if I would come the next day, I should have them—she did not say where they were gone to, but I had learnt where they were gone to, and I had got a constable from Hatton-garden: he came by my house at the time she was talking to me, and he and I followed her to where she went, which was No. 25, Hyde-street, Bloomsbury—I went into the house to the second floor back room—the elder prisoner went in first, and the constable and I went in after her—I found the younger prisoner there, and a gentleman named Cousins, the witness—he told me I ought to be ashamed of myself to bring a constable there to respectable people—he did not tell me who he was, but he used to visit at my house when they lodged there, and Miss Newman said he was her uncle, but not in his presence—he never said he was related to them—I said, I had missed my things—Miss Newman said I was welcome to look, as she had nothing at all belonging to me, and they opened some boxes—they left the room several times to go into the little room adjoining, and the younger prisoner told me to come into that room, and look myself—when I got into that room she opened a box or two, and pulled her things out, and asked me to look—the elder prisoner was present—I found nothing of mine in those boxes—the elder prisoner went out into the big room, and went out at the door to go into the passage, the officer fetched her back, and she had got the rummer concealed down by the side of her—I identified it directly as being mine—the younger prisoner said her mother had only taken it out to drink—I after-wards found one of my tumblers in a small box wrapped up in paper—the box stood in the large room—after that the officer told me to go and look in the bed-room, and I turned the bed things up—the decanter was rolled up in something, and put under the bed—when the things were found, the younger prisoner said, "By G—d the things are mine, I bought them at Liverpool"—Mr. Cousins was there at the time—he laid a sovereign down on the table in their presence for me to say no more about it—he said, I ought to be ashamed to bring an officer there to respectable people, and he did not think any thing of the kind had happened, and told me to take it and say no more, and that would pay me for my loss of my glasses—he did not say then, "Say no more about it." Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Did you go with the officer to the lodging? A. Yes, close by the side of the prisoner—she did not say any thing going along—sometimes I was by her side, and sometimes she was on before—I must have heard her if she had said any thing—I said at the police office that the decanter was between the bed and clothes—I believe it was taken down and read over to me—I will swear these are my property—there is no mark on them, but they are the same as I had there—they could not have taken them away by mistake, for when I asked for them, I never could have them—the value of the articles produced is 8s., but I lost more. MR. BODKIN. Q. When the decanter was found in the bed, where was the younger prisoner? A. She was in the corner—I took the decanter from the foot of the bed, near where she stood—she did not do any thing, but stood there. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. You swore at the police-office that she tried to prevent your going to the foot of the bed? A. She stood at the foot of the bed, and told me I might look in the other part of the room, and said there was nothing there—that was read over to me at the police-office—I did not ask the elder prisoner on the road where she lived, because I knew before. COURT. Q. Did she go the direct way home? A. No, not at first she went the Lamb's-conduit-street way, which is not the nearest way. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. How near were you to her while she was going along? A. The policeman was with me—I was very near to her at times, and sometimes she was a little way from me—she did not speak—I was near enough to hear her if she had spoken. COURT. Q. If she spoke to the policeman you must have heard it? A. They were on before me a little time—if they spoke I might not exactly hear them. MARY SUSANAH SRQUE SMITH. I am Mrs. Dobbs's daughter, and live with her. This table-cloth is hers—it was in use in the house when the prisoners were there—I laid it on the drawers when they came to the lodging—it was missed before they left, but till they left we did not inquire about it—it has an iron-mould mark on it, which I did myself with ink. Cross-examined. Q. There are no initials on it? A. No—I was at hone on Thursday when the elder prisoner called—I beard her and my mother speaking, but did not hear what they said—I was in the garden, and they in the passage. EDWARD RAMSHIRE (police-constable E 58.) I was called in on Thursday, the 16th of February, by the prosecutrix, as I was going by, and she gave Mrs. Newman in charge—I told her Mrs. Dobbs had given her in charge—in going towards Lamb's-conduit-street she said, "I have been seised with a paralytic stroke; I have a bad memory"—I asked where she lodged—she said, "I shall know my lodging if I see it"—I said, "I can show you your lodging," (having heard from Mrs. Dobbs where she lodged)—Mrs. Dobbs was sometimes close to us, and sometimes at a distance—I took the prisoner to No. 25, Hyde-street—she took me at first in quite a contrary direction, but I told her I knew whore she lived, and we went together to Hyde-street—in going up stairs to the second-floor, just as she got up, she spoke in some foreign language—she had an answer—(I do not know what it was, it was not English,) and the door was opened—I went into the second-floor back-room, and found Mr. Cousins and Mist Newman—I stated that Mrs. Dobbs had given them in charge for stealing the things mentioned—the prisoners said they had not got the things, and they looked about in different places for three quarters of an hour—I then asked them to allow Mrs. Dobbs to look about for her property—they consented, and Mrs. Dobbs proceeded to search—Mrs. Newman went out of the room—I said, "Nobody leaves the room till Mrs. Dobbs has searched for her things"—I brought Mrs. Newman back—I thought she had something under her cloak—I pulled it on one side, and she had this goblet—she put it behind her buck rather to hide it, but I took it from her hand—she said it was her own—I told Mrs. Dobbs to look at it, and she said it was hers—on the 18th I went to the apartment again and found this table-cloth there. Cross-examined. Q. You said at the police-office, "No doubt that she, put the goblet behind her back to hide it?" A. Yes—that was taken down and read over to me. EDWARD BELL. I am a police-inspector. I was at the station-house when the prisoners were brought there on this charge—they both denied the charge, and said they bought the articles at Liverpool—after the charge was entered I sent for a female to search them, and when the elder prisoner was taken out of the room, the younger one said, "Tell that man (Ramshire) to go out of the room, I want to speak to you in private"—when he was gone, she said, "Before we left that old woman's lodging we had some refreshment, and by mistake these things got mixed with our own, "pointing to a mustard-pot, and at the same time producing a silver spoon from her bosom—she said, "I would not give them to her while she was here as she was so very insolent, but I intended to have brought them to you, and to have got you to return them, without making it known from whom you received them"—I did not know her before—the things were produced when the charge was taken—Mrs. Dobbs said she had other glasses like these, but had broken them—spoons had been stated to be among other articles lost by the prosecutrix in their hearing before it was produced it was after I had sent for the woman to search them that the younger prisoner produced the spoon—it was wet with mustard at the time, and the mustard-pot has liquid mustard in it. Cross-examined. Q. Was Mrs. Dobbs a little violent about the property? A. Not at all—she was rather excited, rather cross at it, and said she insisted on prosecuting them. MRS. DOBBS re-examined. This spoon is mine, and is one of the two I lost—the prisoners left me between six and seven o'clock in the evening on the 14th, and the elder prisoner called about twelve o'clock on the Thursday—I did not ask why she had not gone to Liverpool—the letter "L" is on the spoon—I bought it of a friend who lives opposite me. MARIA LYNE. The prisoners took my lodging on the Monday, and came to it on Tuesday night, the 14th—they said they might stop a short time or they might stop a long time—they took it by the week—they said nothing to me about going to Liverpool—they said they had lodged at No. 38, East-street—I made no inquiry about them. Cross-examined. Q. Did they bring a box with them? A. They did—they had a number of things—after they left there were four tumblers with their own name left behind. M. NEWMAN— GUILTY. J. NEWMAN— GUILTY. Transported for Seven Years longer. (There were two other indictments against the prisoners.) Fourth Jury, before Mr. Sergeant Arabin. --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 14th June 2022

TRIAL 2: 807. MARGARET NEWMAN and JULIA ST. CLAIR NEWMAN were again indicted for stealing, on the 20th of January, 1 diamond ring, value 30s., the goods of Amelia Jane Hoseason, but now the wife of George Orby Hunter. AMELIA JANE HUNTER. I have been married to Mr. Hunter since this transaction—my name at the time in question was Hoseason—I live at No. 23, Grosvenor-street West, Pimlico. In the early part of last year, a gentleman named White, an acquaintance of mine, was in the King's Beach prison—I have not the slightest recollection of what month it was—I went there, and was shown into his room—I found the two prisoners there—I cannot recollect whether there was any other person—I had a reticule in my hand, which contained a diamond ring—I had put it in that morning—my attention was drawn to the ring some time before I entered the prison, when I was in the Strand—it was then safe in the bag—I had not taken it out between the Strand and the King's Bench—when I got into the room in the prison, I left the bag on the table, while I went out to speak to Mr. White—I was not with him long—about five or ten minutes—I do not recollect any one going into the room after I came out—I believe I found the bag on the table when I returned, but I do not remember at all—I staid there three four hours, I think—I do not think I took my bag up till I was going home—I did not miss the ring until some hours after I got home—I have since seen a ring very like it—I suppose it to be mine—this is very like mine—(looking at it)—I cannot swear to it, but I think it is mine—I was not in the habit of wearing it—I believe it to be mine. COURT. Q. This is not an ordinary ring—it is very old fashioned, and very peculiar—how long had you possession of the ring you lost? A. It was my mother's—she gave it to me—I had seen it very frequently for years—I think this is mine—I have not the smallest doubt of it. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Did you carry a pocket handkerchief in your reticule? A. Yes; and it was my impression that I drew the ring out with the handkerchief—when I got home I supposed I had done so—I think it may have come out with my handkerchief—the ring was in a purse—I am not at all certain what month it was that I went to the King's Bench. MR. BODKIN. Q. Did you find your purse safe when you got home? A. Yes. GEORGE WHITE . In the early part of last year I was in the King's Bench prison. The prisoners were inmates of the prison at the time, and I permitted them to use my room for a few days till they got one for themselves—I was not in the room when Mrs. Hunter came to see me—I was going up, and I rather think Mrs. Hunter heard me—on my going up near to my door, she came out of my room in my sight, and met me, and I talked to her outside the door, I should think for five or ten minutes—I then went into the room, and found Mrs. Newman and her daughter, but nobody else to my recollection—Mrs. Hunter went in with me—at the time we were talking, we were standing close to the door—it is a double door—we were close to the outside door—nobody came in or went out at the door during our conversation—I did not observe any thing on the table when I went into the room—I did not hear any thing said about the bag or ring; (and I should say that the statement I made previously, I find from subsequent conversation I have had,) to be wrong; that the conversation respecting the loss of the ring was when Mrs. Hunter and her neice came to me the second time; and I should also say I was not aware of the precise time—I know it was early after Christmas—I thought it was the first day of term after Christmas, but I find it must have been March when Mrs. Hunter came—I stated in my deposition that a complaint was made of the loss at the time, but I now find I am in error. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. Your impression at first was that this was soon after Christmas? A. I said I thought it was either the first or last day of term—I can undertake to say there was nobody else in the room—I never went there myself during the time these ladies had the room, nor would I suffer any of my friends to come into it—I cannot say whether they might let anybody in themselves, but from the time Mrs. Hunter came out of the room, and I was talking to her, nobody came out or went in. MR. BODKIN. Q. When you went in after speaking to Mrs. Hunter was there anybody else there or not? A. Certainly not—I am quite certain of that. COURT. Q. When was your attention first drawn to the loss of the ring? A. I think three or four days after—the prisoners were still in the occupation of the room when it was discovered—I think it was then the conversation took place which I supposed at first to have taken place when the ring was lost, namely, that when Mrs. Hunter was with me last she lost a ring, and I made the observation to her, "It is just like your carelessness," and one of the prisoners said, "I hope it is not of much value"—I did not suggest to the prisoners that it had been lost in my room, nor did anybody else. GEORGE COLLIER. I am a policeman. I took possession of the desk which I produced in the last case, and I found thirty-three duplicates in it—one of them refers to the ring in question—it was pawned with some of the articles belonging to the last case, with Mr. Russell, Fore-street, for 25s., on the 21st of September, 1836—this is the duplicate—I found the desk in Hyde-street, in the second-floor back room—the name of "Mrs. M. T. Newman" is on the desk. MARIA LYNE. In February last the prisoners took a room in my house, and brought this desk with them—the officers took the desk from their room on the Sunday following. THOMAS WILLIAM ROBINS. I am shopman to Mr. Russell, pawnbroker, Fore-street. I have the corresponding duplicate to the one produced—it is for three rings pawned on the 21st of September—I was present at the pawning, but did not take them in—it was a smart young person that pawned them—what calls the circumstance to my recollection was a doubt respecting the ring now produced being a diamond one—I had some conversation with the person who took them in, but he has now left our service—that brings the circumstance to my mind, and my impression is that it was the younger prisoner brought them; that is my belief—they were pawned in the name of Julia Newman, No. 8, Fitzroy-place—I have not seen her since. Cross-examined. Q. I suppose the proper date is on your duplicate? A. It is. MR. PHILLIPS called. LUCY ELIZABETH HALLETT. Q. What time was it you said on the last trial you went to see the prisoners in Whitecross-street? A. I did not say what time it was, because I do not know—it was about two or three months ago, the first time I saw them. MR. BODKIN. Q. Did you see them there frequently? A. I never went in but twice—I did not pawn any thing for them while they were it prison—I never saw this ring before. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. How soon after you saw them in prison did you go into their service? A. About a month, I think; and I lived with them I think a couple of months in King-street, Goswell-street—I left then about six or seven weeks ago. CORNWALL BARRY WILSON. I am a solicitor, and have chambers at Furnival's Inn. I know the two prisoners—they were arrested on a bill in which I was concerned, and were sent to Whitecross-street in the early part of August, last year—they were discharged the latter end of the following term, about the latter end of November—I saw them in prison in August, but never saw them again—the discharge was handed to me by the attorney in November. COURT. Q. Are we to understand you that they were not out of custody from August to the beginning of November? A. They were in custody the. whole time—I can undertake to say they were in custody it November—they were both in custody on the same matter—one was the drawer of the bill, and the other the acceptor—they were both arrested the same day, I believe—I saw them both in prison about the 12th of August—I did not see them in September. MR. BODKIN. Q. Were you concerned in the action? A. No—I was employed to negociate with the plaintiff for them, but I could not—there were no papers—the writ was not sent to me—they had no attorney—I ultimately arranged for their discharge with the plaintiffs attorney, Mr. Melton, who lives in Surrey-street, Strand, I think—I never saw the writ, nor any of the papers—the discharge was given to me. THOMAS WILLIAM ROBINS re-examined. I am sure this duplicate applies to this diamond ring—duplicates are sometimes printed three months before they are wanted, but we never use them out of time—I am confident the date is correct, for I have referred to the entry in the book. JOHN WILLIAM IDE COUSINS. I know the two prisoners—I saw them in Whitecross-street prison in September—I know they were there the whole of September—I saw them ten or twelve times in prison—they were both confined there for debt. MR. BODKIN. Q. Are you the gentleman who visited them as their uncle? A. Certainly not—I am no relation to them—I never represented that I was—I do not think I was ever represented as their uncle in my presence—I never heard it—I never represented myself as their Uncle, and never allowed myself to be called so—I have been acquainted with the prisoners nearly twelve months—I have seen them very frequently—I knew them when they lived with Mr. Elderton, and when Mrs. Rawlinson was charged with robbing them of jewellery—I took no part in that, further than recommending them to have a respectable solicitor in the City, who was my solicitor—that was all I did—I did not pay the officers to my recollection—I know a gentleman named Ellis, a solicitor—I paid him two guineas for attending—I visited the prisoners in Hyde-street, and was there when they were charged with felony there. Q. You need not answer the question unless you like, but did you on that occasion offer the prosecutrix money not to come forward? Witness. I will not answer it. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Had the governor of Whitecross-street prison an opportunity of seeing you when you went in and out to see the prisoners? A. The man at the door did—I had been a friend of theirs—I saw they had no other friend, and I was their friend—I should have been anxious to render them any assistance in my power. COURT. Q. What are you? A. I am no particular profession, I have private property of my own—I do not follow any business—I live at Stratford in Essex—I have farmed a great deal of land, but I found it did not answer, and retired from it—the prisoners are not related to me—I was recommended to them by a highly respectable person, and I did what I could for them—I never saw such a thing as a duplicate in their possession. MR. BARRETT. I am governor of Whitecross-street prison. Julia and Margaret Newman were committed there on the 17th of August, and discharged on the 17th of November—they were not there on the 12th of August—they were on the 21st of September. COURT. Q. Were they out in the intermediate time? A. They were not. MRS. HUNTER re-examined. The snap was partly off my purse, it was a bead purse, and I thought it possible it might have fallen out—I staid three or four hours in Mr. White's room at the King's-bench—after talking at the door I returned into the room, and I think we bad lunch there—I saw the ring safe last when I was in the Strand—I took a coach from there to the Bench—I had the ring safe when I got into the coach—I might have lost it at the time of paying the coachman when I got out—there were a few shillings in my purse—I opened my purse to pay him, and that gave me the idea that I lost it at that time. M. NEWMAN— GUILTY. Aged 40. J. S. NEWMAN— GUILTY. Aged 19. Transported for Seven Years. --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 14th June 2022

THREE TRIALS IN ONE DAY: TRIAL #1: 27 February, 1837 806. MARGARET NEWMAN and JULIA ST. CLAIR NEWMAN were indicted for stealing, on the 15th of November, 1 dressing-case, value 1l.; 2 rings, value 2l.; 3 pairs of earrings, value 2l. 10s.; 2 brooches, value 3l.; 1 emerald stone, value 1l.; 6 sovereigns; and 1 £10 bank post bill, the goods and monies of the Rev. Thomas Heathcote, in the dwelling-house of William Codd. MR. BODKIN conducted the Prosecution. MRS. ELIZABETH HEATHCOTE. I am the wife of the Rev. Thomas Heathcote. In November, 1835, I was lodging in the house of Mr. Codd, No. 12, Alsop-terrace, New-road—I occupied the first and second floors, and the prisoners occupied the ground-floor—on Sunday afternoon, the 15th of November, I went out, about four o'clock—but it is so long ago I may be mistaken in the hour—I had a dressing-case in my bed room, which was the front room on the first floor—it contained the articles stated in the indictment—I left it locked and took the key with me—I returned about half-past eleven o'clock, but I did not miss it till the following morning at half-past eight o'clock—search was then made every where about the house—the ground-floor which the prisoners occupied was searched—they objected to it—they did not like it, and said it was a most extraordinary thing that a policeman should enter their room; and I felt for them exceedingly, because I did not at all suspect them—no part of the property was discovered at that time—I have since seen a pair of gold earrings and a pair of jet earrings at Hatton-garden. WILLIAM CODD. I keep the house No. 42, Alsop-terrace, New-road. The prisoners came to lodge there on the 29th of October, 1835, and occupied the back and front parlours on the ground floor—I knew them by the names of Mrs. and Miss Newman—the elder one stated that she was an officer's widow—she did not give any reference—on Sunday, November the 15th, I remember Mrs. Heathcote going out, about one o'clock—the people were coming from church at the time—I went into the front room on the first floor after she was gone, about two o'clock, to draw the windows down, and on the dressing-table I saw what I took to be a box—there were no female servants in my house—we keep none—I and my wife attend to the lodgers—my wife was at home at the time—after going into the bed-room I went down stairs into the kitchen where my wife was—she was busy at the time—about three o'clock the younger prisoner came down and brought down two glasses of wine on a slate—she said we were so very quiet, she did not know what part of the house we were in—she remained in the kitchen, I suppose, from three to five minutes—my wife and I drank the wine—she had never brought us wine down before—they had dined—I believe their dinner was about clearing away about two o'clock—as I was sitting by the side of the fire about five o'clock, I thought I heard the street door open—it was neither light nor dark then—it was getting dark—I did not get off my chair—I merely looked up at the window and saw Miss Newman going down the steps of the front door—I could see that by turning ray head—there is a garden in front of my house—she had a dark cloth cloak on—I had seen the mother wear that cloak before—I did not see the younger prisoner again that evening—on the following morning the loss of the dressing-case was dis-covered—I went to the police-office at Marylebone—a policeman came, and the house was searched, but nothing found—the prisoners' rooms were searched—I did not hear them say any thing—the prisoners remained till the next Wednesday—the younger prisoner said she could not remain any longer under such very disagreeable circumstances. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Did you, at Hatton-garden, state a tenth part of what you have stated to-day? A. Yes, exactly the same; it was taken down in writing—this is my handwriting (looking at his deposition)—there is not much difference in the height of the prisoners—I did not speak to the person going out—I am quite sure it was not at four o'clock that Mrs. Heathcote went out—my wife is not here—we never kept a maid, nor any char-woman, except once a month—no char-woman washed for us while the prisoners were with us. COURT. Q. How are you able to fix on the 15th of November as the day? A. I know Sunday was the 15th—I am confident it was the younger prisoner went out—I did not see her face—she went straight down the fore-court—straight away from the door—I did not see either her front or side face—only her back—she had on the bonnet she usually wore—I do not know when she returned—my wife was in the room with me at the time she went out, and I called her attention to it—there was a young man, a relation of mine, in the kitchen with me, taking tea, and he looked when I mentioned it, and saw her—he is not here—he came about four o'clock, and left about six—his name is John Cooper, he works for Mr. Riley, a harness-maker—neither he nor my wife were before the Magistrate. GEORGE COLLIER (police-constable E 38.) On the 19th of February I went to No. 25, Hyde-street, Bloomsbury, to search some apartments—I did not find the prisoners there, nor see them in the room at any time. MARIA LYNE . I keep the house, No. 25, Hyde-street, Bloomsbury. The prisoners came to lodge there on the 14th of February, in the second floor back room—among other things they brought this desk, which Collier afterwards took possession of—there is "Mrs. M. T. Newman" on it—when Miss Newman took the apartments, she said her name was Miss De Silva, that her mother had been married twice, and she herself was going to sing at a concert by the name of De Silva, and she had letters from Mrs. Panarmo. GEORGE COLLIER re-examined. I took possession of that desk—I found it in the second floor back room—I found it contained a secret drawer, which opens by a spring—after breaking the drawer open I found thirtythree duplicates in the drawer—the desk was not locked; but not knowing the manner of the secret drawer, I was obliged to take out a piece of wood. Cross-examined. Q. Neither of the prisoners were present when you opened it? A. No—Mr. Lyne was present when I found it—he was examined at the police-office, but not in this case. JOHN MILTON . I am in the employ of Mr. Cordwell, a pawnbroker, in Compton-street, Brunswick-square. Four pairs of earrings, and four brooches, were pawned with me on the 18th of July, for 5l.—I have only brought the articles which were identified by the prosecutrix, and named in this duplicate—a pair of earrings and two brooches—I believe them to have been pawned by the younger prisoner on the 18th of July, 1836—I produce the two pairs of earrings named in this ticket of the 1st of December, 1836, and pawned by the younger prisoner—I can undertake to say that they were both pawned in the name of Mrs. Gordon—these duplicates refer to the articles. Cross-examined. Q. Can you tell how she was dressed on either occasion? A. No, I cannot—several of my fellow-shopmen were in the shop at the time—neither of them are here—they had the opportunity of seeing who pawned the articles—none of them were at the police-office—Mr. Laing, the Magistrate, pointed the prisoner out to me at the office—he asked whether I knew that was the person who pawned the articles—she was at the bar as a prisoner at the time. COURT. Q. You said you "believed" the prisoner to be the person pawning the first time—but on the 1st of December you say she "was" the person—have you a better recollection of one transaction than the other? A. Yes, I have seen her several times since—the duplicates are in my handwriting. MR. BODKIN. Q. Do you remember to have seen the younger prisoner at my other times, besides those you have mentioned? A. Yes, at our shop in November 1836—I do not remember having seen her before July—but between July and December I have—I cannot say how many times, but she has redeemed articles at our shop—I may have seen her three times. MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Do you know a woman named Bowden as pawning at your shop? A. No—nor Marsh. THOMAS WILLIAM ROBINS. I am shopman to Jacob Russell pawnbroker, Fore-street, City. I have three rings, and the corresponding duplicate to this one dated the 21st of September 1836—but only one ring has been identified—that was pawned by a young person in the evening—I was in the shop when the pledge was taken—and I have a recollection of the person, from the business that was done, and the circumstances Attending it—I cannot say the younger prisoner is the person—it was pawned in the name of Julia Newman, No. 8, Fitzroy-place—when I saw the prisoner at the office, the impression on my mind was that she was the person—it was a smart young woman, about the site of the prisoner—and the conversation which occurred at the time, as to whether it Was a diamond ring or not, brought it to my recollection. RICHAID CHARLES . I am shopman to Mr. Sharwood, of St. John-street road. This is the duplicate of a diamond ring belonging to our shop—the ring was pawned on the 27th of December 1836, in the name of Mary Hallett, for Mrs. Newman, by the witness Hallett. LUCY ELIZABETH HALLETT. I live with my mother in Charlotte-street, Battle-bridge. I was in the prisoners' service—when I first saw them, they were in White Cross-street prison—but the first time I went to see them, they lived at No. 31, King-square, Goswell-street—I was not in their service in the prison—my sister knew them before, and the sent me to them—I have pawned things for them—I remember going to Mr. Sharwood, in St. John-street road, with a diamond ring, by Miss Newman's directions—her mother was with her at the time—I was to get 2l. on it—I went to other pawnbrokers before I went to Mr. Sharwood's—they offered 12s., I think, and I would not take it—I went back to Miss Newman and told her, and the told me I must take it somewhere else—I then went to Mr. Sharwood, and they advanced, I think, 1l. on it—I gave the money to Miss Newman—they were then living in Elizabeth-terrace, Liverpool-road, on the first floor. Cross-examined Q. Did you mention the mother's name at the police office? A. I cannot remember—I do not know whether the mother was present when I came back with the money. WILLIAM PENNY. I am a police inspector of the G division. I was in a coach coming from Hatton-garden, when the prisoners were in custody—I received this paper from the younger prisoner—she desired me to give it to her mother, and let no one see it—her mother was not in the coach—I gave it to the magistrate—(read)—"Answer no questions, don't be terrified into answering any"—"Fais semblant ou bete le boire." MRS. HEATHCOTE re-examined. These articles are my property—some of them I can swear to, and others to the best of my belief—these earrings are exactly like mine—I believe them to be mine—other articles are mine, and were in my dressing-case on the day in question—the garnet earnings I can safely swear to, and I had jet ones exactly like these—I can "swear to the rings—they are old family rings—I value the dressing-case money, and jewels at about 60l.—I include the 10l. Bank post bill and six sovereigns—I have never seen the dressing-case since—Mr. Codd may possibly be right as to the time I went out—it is so long ago I have no recollection of it—I recollect I came home about half-past eleven o'clock that evening—the bank post bill was endorsed, and would be paid without further writing on it—I made inquiry about it at the Bank of England, and it was stopped the next morning. NOT GUILTY. --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 14th June 2022

ABOUT JULIA ST CLAIR NEWMAN: Julia gave her occupation as a governess (an option that’s not listed on this site, so school teacher was selected instead). She was also one of only 29 female convicts sent to VDL who said they were schoolmistresses or governesses. Ten of those women are the subject of a study by Don Bradmore whose paper, “Convict schoolmistresses in Van Diemen’s Land”, was presented in November 2015 in Hobart at the Female Convicts Research Centre seminar, “What the convicts brought with them – and what they left behind” (see https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/seminars/DonBradmore-Nov2015.pdf). About Julia St Clair Newman (2015, p3) he writes: "Another remarkable and intriguing woman, she was born in Trinidad about 1818 and convicted of theft in London in 1840. In VDL, she was a strong-willed, unruly prisoner, often in trouble with the authorities for her unorthodox behavior. However, after her marriage to John JEPSON, the station overseer at Ross, in 1844, and the birth of her four children between 1845 and 1850, she seems to have settled down and lived happily. She died in Hobart, aged 51, in 1864. It is possible that she taught in schools in VDL but no evidence of that has been found. Her story has been well told by Colette McAlpine and Margaret Lindley, “Unruly women: Julia St Clair Newman and Annette Meyers”, a chapter in Frost and McAlpine (eds.) From the Edges of Empire: Convict Women from Beyond the British Isles (Hobart: Convict Women’s Press, 2015.)" --00--