Charles Povah

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

COMMITTAL: 25 April, 1856: CHARLES POVAH, aka Henry Simpson, aka Peter Williams was committed at Salford to stand trial for housebreaking. --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

REWARD & ARREST: 1 May, 1856: “The Government has offered a reward of £5O for the apprehension of Peter Williams, alias Henry Simpson, who escaped from the Pentonville prison, whilst undergoing transportation for fourteen years, for burglary…” (Brighton Gazette, p7). —0— 5 May, 1856: “Henry Simpson, alias Peter Williams, [who] was apprehended one day last week at Manchester, on a charge of housebreaking…” had escaped detection until his description was sent to London (Morning Advertiser, p5). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

NEWSPAPER reports of the escape: From the ‘Weekly Dispatch’, April 13, 1856, p2: “CLERKENWELL Apprehension of an Escaped Convict On Tuesday, Henry Mitchell, aged 23, a thick, short-set, powerful looking fellow, described on the police-sheet as a bricklayer, of No.4 Brill-row, Somerstown, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Corrie, charged with being an escaped convict, and illegally at large before the expiration of his term of imprisonment. It will be remembered that the prisoner made his escape in the company of another convict, a shoemaker, named Henry Simpson from the New Model prison, about three or four weeks since. The prisoner’s escape caused a great deal of excitement, it being almost unparalleled and beyond all previous prison-breaking. It appears that the two prisoner’s had been for some time in the jail; Simpson, who is described as a labourer, 21 years of age, 5 feet 5 inches high, fresh complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes and stoutly made, having been convicted on 26 November 1855 at the Central Criminal Court, of burglary and sentenced to 14 years transportation, having been convicted of felony in Surrey and sentenced to 10 years transportation, while the prisoner Mitchell, who was convicted at the same sessions for a like offence, was sentenced to four years penal servitude. They were two daring characters, and one, it was stated at the time, was a relative of the notorious Hackett, who escaped from the same place, several years since. When the prisoners were in Horsemonger-lane Jail, a woman was apprehended and convicted for conveying to them a file and other articles necessary for the picking of locks inside a half quartern of bread and the prison authorities were told to keep a sharp lookout on them. On the night of 19th of March they were safely locked up, in their cell, and to get out they had to pick one of the patent locks that fastened the cell door. On the following morning an alarm was raised, and on subsequent search being made it seems that the prisoners walked along the passage, where they found an iron trap-door, weighing 3 cwt. which they must have forced up and got upon the roof of a low building, having picked several locks in their way. Thence they scaled a lofty wall by the aid of a ladder, made of waxends, which brought them to the roof of the prison, for they descended and ascended at least six times before they could have reached the outside of the jail. The matter was placed in the hands of Sergeant Whicher, of the detective force, and he, after watching for some time succeeded after great difficulty, in apprehending the prisoner. Mitchell stated that after he and his companion escaped, they walked in their prison dress, as far as Camberwell, passing several of the metropolitan police before they entered any house, thus showing the necessity of the police being made aware of the different styles of dress worn by the different prisoners. He also stated that in making their escape, they once or twice ran great risk of losing their lives. The prisoner who had nothing to say in defence was remanded for a week.” (http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/w4640.htm --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

ESCAPE FROM JAIL: 19 March, 1856: Henry Simpson and Henry Mitchell escaped from Pentonville prison. --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

4 January, 1856: As Henry Simpson, admitted to Millbank prison, Westminster, London. --00-- 17 January, 1856: As Henry Simpson, admitted to Pentonville prison, Goal Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, along with Henry Mitchell. Listed as inmate #6336; details as above; next of kin Mrs Williams, 7 Kings Row, Walworth (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Henry Simpson; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1854-1856). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

JAILS: November, 1855: As Henry Simpson, held at Newgate while awaiting trial and following his conviction. Listed as 5'5" tall, fresh complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, stoutish build; from Walworth, a labourer, aged 21 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Henry Simpson; Newgate Prison; Registers of Prisoners; labelled as 1862). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

2. As HENRY SIMPSON... 26 November, 1855: Convicted in the Old Bailey, as per transcript below: "Case 81. HENRY SIMPSON and HENRY MITCHELL, burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Roberts, and stealing therein, l,236 yards of silk, value 187l., and other goods, value 137l., and 3l. 3s. in money, his property. MR. LILLEY conducted the Prosecution. JAMES PAY (police sergeant, P 8). On the night of 30th, and morning of 31st Oct., I was on duty in the Old Kent-road, and about a quarter to 2 o'clock, I was passing the house of Mr. Roberts, a linen draper, in Brunswick-place—I heard a noise, and went up to the shop door, looked through a crevice by the side of the door, and saw the two prisoners—Simpson was holding a candle, and Mitchell was packing up goods in bundles—I waited five minutes looking at them, and then sent for another constable—I heard Neville coming, and sent Rowbotham to him that he should not speak to me—I sent Neville to the back of the house—I heard the front door unbolted, and then heard something snap, as if it was a lucifer; a light then reappeared and was put out again almost directly—I then heard them unfastening the bar that was across the door, and in about a minute after that the door was opened slightly, and I rushed in and took Simpson into custody—while I was in the act of doing so, he made a desperate blow at me with a jemmy, but I caught his arm, and caught him by the throat with my right hand, and he did not strike me—I threw him on his back directly, and grasped his throat and arm—he said, "All right, all right, I will do nothing"—Rowbotham was close to me at that time—I saw Mitchell in the room directly I went in, but he escaped through the back of the shop—I did not know him before, only by seeing him through the crevice—I left Simpson in custody of other constables who had come up, went into the shop, and found eight large bundles tied up with shawls very loosely, with knots across—I saw Mitchell again, between five and ten minutes afterwards, he was brought by Neville round to the front of the shop—I examined the premises, and found a desk broken open at the back of the shop—I then proceeded to the first floor window, and saw that a pane of glass had been broken, by which an arm could be put in, and the window unfastened—the broken pane was close to the fastening—the shop projects in front, and the first floor window opens on to leads—I took this small crow bar (produced), from Simpson's hand, and in the shop leading to the back premises, I found this life preserver (produced)—Mitchell must have gone that way—I took the prisoners to the station, searched them, and found on Simpson, six silver spoons, one electro plated spoon, one fork, a silver knife rest, 3 skeleton keys, 3l. odd in silver, and copper, and a quantity of receipt and postage stamps—I found on Mitchell, a silver fruit knife, a pocket book, a pair of spectacles, a street door key, and 41/2 d. in copper—I called up the prosecutor, and he came down stairs. Cross-examined by MR. SLEIGH. Q. What kind of a crevice was this that you were looking through; was it between the door and the frame work, or was it a hole made by the people inside? A. It was a hole broken by the side of the door and the shutters—it was nearly as large as my finger—it was not recently made, but a chink between the shutter and the frame work—I had never seen the prisoners before to my knowledge. DANIEL ROWBOTHAM (policeman, A 489). On 31st Oct. I was with the last witness, and observed what he has described passing in Mr. Roberta's shop—I went for assistance, and Neville came up—after watching still longer, the door opened, and sergeant Pay went in and took Simpson into custody; I followed him, and Mitchell stepped out at the back of the shop—I passed through the shop in search of him, I could not find him, and returned through the shop—Neville then brought Mitchell round to the front. Simpson Q. Did not you say that I struck you on the arm in striking at the sergeant? A. No—I did not take the crow bar out of your hand—there was no light, and I could not see what you did. THOMAS NEVILLE (policeman, P 363). On the morning of 31st Oct., I was in the Kent-road—Rowbotham came to me, and in consequence of something he said, I went to Mr. Roberta's shop—I received directions from sergeant Pay, went to the back of the premises, got over the gardens to within two gardens of Mr. Roberta's, and as I stood on a wall I saw Mitchell coming from the back of Mr. Roberts's house, getting over the fence from the yard into somebody else's garden—I was about thirty yards from Mr. Roberts's garden—there were two gardens between—I followed him over several gardens, and took him without losing sight of him—he said nothing, but tried to escape, and was tustling for a few minutes—I sprang my rattle, and the parties got up, and let me into the street—it was about two o'clock. Cross-examined. Q. Did you say anything to him when you took him? A. No, I laid hold of him, and conveyed him to Mr. Roberts's house, but said nothing to him about the robbery—he was quite sober—he was near upon fifty yards from Mr. Roberta's when I laid hands on him—he had got over several gardens—I do not know how many yards there are in a mile—I suppose I am twenty yards from the other end of the Court—I did not search him till I got to the station, I then took from him a small knife, a door key, and some halfpence—the knife was in his waistcoat pocket, he gave me no account of it—the charge of robbery was made against him in my hearing, he said nothing. THOMAS ROBERTS. I am a linen draper, of No. 2, Brunswick-place, Old Kent-road, in the parish of St. George, Southwark. I was aroused about 2 o'clock in the morning by a policeman's rattle, and a knocking—I got out of bed, went to the back bed room window, threw open the sash, and saw a policeman on the wall of the adjoining premises—he called out, "There are thieves in your house, for God's sake come down!"—I came down stairs, and in the shop found several bundles of goods, near the door; they were mine, and had been on shelves and boxes, and some in the window—I had gone to bed about 11 o'clock, the window fastenings were then secure—I believe I was the last person up, but not the last in the shop; my appren-tike has to turn the gas out, and he brought me the key of the shop—I found the counting house door broken open, and almost all my papers in the counting house disturbed, and my desk also, which had not been locked— —there had been no money in that, but there had been about 3l. 3s. In silver and copper in the desk in the shop which had been locked, and was broken open, and the money gone—there were marks on the desks—this is my wife's fruit knife, it was in the front sitting room the night before—that does not communicate with the shop, there is rather a long staircase between, and a passage as well—the sitting room is up stairs, it is the room where the pane of glass was found broken—this life preserver was found on the door mat in the kitchen, leading to the yard—the kitchen is below the shop—these silver spoons are my property, and bear my initials, "T. R." and here is my knife rest as well—the value of the property removed is about 330l. Cross-examined. Q. You have not lost any of it? A. No—there is nothing on this knife by which I can identify it, but my wife had one exactly like it—these spectacles are like mine, they suit my sight exceedingly well, and I believe them to be mine. MR. LILLEY. Q. When did you see the fruit knife last? A. I am not positive, but it has not been seen since—it was my wife's before she was married, two years ago—the pane of glass was not broken when I went to bed—I saw to the fastenings in that room myself. THOMAS MARTIN . I am apprenticed to the prosecutor. On the night of 30th Oct. when I went to bed the house was safe—it was then about 11 o'clock—the shop was secure when I took in the key. SIMPSON— GUILTY .** Aged 21. MITCHELL— GUILTY .** Aged 23.— Four Years Penal Servitude. (Simpson was further charged with having been before convicted.) GEORGE QUINNEAR (police-sergeant, P 1). I produce a certificate (Read: "St. Mary, Newington, Peter Williams, Convicted, May, 1852, of stealing 30 lbs. weight of veal; having then been before convicted: Transported for ten years")—Simpson is the man—I was present at his trial. GUILTY.— Transported for Fourteen Years." (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/) --0--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

16 May, 1855: Obtained a Licence for Parole / Ticket of Leave, as per details below: "PCOM 3/30/3053 Description: Licence number 3053: Peter Williams. Convicted of Stealing 30lbs of veal after previous conviction at the Quarter Sessions at Newington, Surrey, 24 May 1852. Then aged 21 years and by trade a Butcher. Sentence: 10 years' Transportation. Licence granted: 16 May 1855, for early release from Dartmoor prison. Date: 1855 May 16." (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10168976) --00--

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Dianne Jones on 20th March 2022

SOME BACKGROUND -- HIS TWO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS: 1. As PETER WILLIAMS... 24 May, 1852: Sentenced at Surrey to 10 years' transportation for burglary [this is the description from jail records]. --0--