George Phillips

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C H on 27th March 2024

Old Bailey Online THOMAS WHITTON. GEORGE PHILLIPS. Theft; shoplifting. 13th June 1836 Text type Trial account Defendants THOMAS WHITTON, GEORGE PHILLIPS Offences Theft > Shoplifting Session Date 13th June 1836 Reference Number t18360613-1604 Verdicts Guilty, Guilty Punishments Transportation 1604. THOMAS WHITTON and GEORGE PHILLIPS were indicted for stealing, on the 12th of May, 5 yards of printed cotton, value 3s. 9d., the goods of William Feary. RACHEL FEARY . I am the wife of William Feary; we keep a shop at West Ham, in Essex. On the 12th of May, between one and two o'clock, I had put this print in my window—I went up-stairs, and had not been gone above three minutes when my daughter called me down—I came down, and the print was gone—I went out of the shop—I did not see any one—a boy showed me where they were gone to—I went to the Marsh-gate—I saw the two prisoners in the act of doubling up my print in a handkerchief—I took it from them, and said, "You villains, you have stolen this from me"—they then threw two more parcels down—I took up my own, and called "Stop thief" and two witnesses, now here, caught them and took them to the station-house—I am sure they are the same—they were not out of my sight till they were taken—this is my print—this handkerchief belongs to the prisoners—here are five yards and a half of cotton of mine—I had not seen the prisoners near my shop—they were a hundred yards from the shop when I first saw them. RICHARD WARD . I was having a pint of beer, and heard the lady sing out "Stop thief"—I stopped Whitton. JOHN MERRY . I heard the cry of "Stop thief," and pursued Phillips, and took him to the station-house. PHINEAS BUTLER (police-constable K 222). I was at the station-house, and the prisoners were brought there with this property, of the prosecutor's, and these other two parcels. Whitton. We saw the bundles on the ground in Marsh-gate-lane, and picked them up, but did not go away with them. (John Green, a shoemaker, of Parliament-court, Artillery-lane; and Richard Cas, deposed to Phillip's good character; and W. Holmes, a shoe-manufacturer, to that of Whitton's) WHITTON— GUILTY . Aged 13. PHILLIPS— GUILTY . Aged 13. Transported for Seven Years.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 11th April 2022

Burial Date; 1838 - 17 December 1838. Age; 16 years

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 11th April 2022

1836 - Description List. Indent No; 1320. Age; 16 years [born about 1820] 1836 - Burials in the Wesleyan Church Port Arthur No; 114. Date ; 17 December 1838. Age; 16 years

George Phillips and Thomas Whitton were transported for stealing on the 12/5/1836, 5 yards of printed cotton the goods of William Freary's shop in West Ham, Essex, valued at 3s 9d. The records said they were both 13 when sentenced, but the indent record from VDL states that George is 16. He is described as: 4'8" tall, fresh complexion, small head, brown hair, dark brown eyebrows, hazel eyes, small face, nose and chin, medium wide mouth. Tattoos:pistols, 2 wreaths, P S on right arm, arrow, love and sanity, anchor, P S on left arm. His full name was George Edmund Phillips. He was sent to Port Arthur. 2/9/1837: Endeavouring to pilfer - 3 days solitary on bread and water. 2/10/1837: Misconduct on the muster ground - 12 stripes on the breech. 4/10/1837: Destroying his Gov. bed tick - 48 hours solitary on bread and water. Other numerous offences: Talkint at muster, refusing to get up, awol, cruelty, fighting, secretingrations in his bed, misconduct during divine service and threating his overseer all resulting in receiving lashes or solitary on bread and water right up until his death. He was around 18-21 when he died.