John Price

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 20th September 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Name; John Price Ship; Albermarle - 1791 Date of Conviction; Justice Hall. Old Bailey. - 28 October 1789 - Life Noted against name; DIED; 12 June? . Lat ? Long; 21.23 [At Sea]

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 20th September 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online Born; 1772 Tried; 9 Sept 1789 - Age; 17 Sentence Respited; 28 October 1789 - Age; 17 Transported; 10 Dec 1790 September 1789, trial of JOHN PRICE WILLIAM POYNTON (t17890909-95). JOHN PRICE, WILLIAM POYNTON, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 9th September 1789. 678. JOHN PRICE and WILLIAM POYNTON were indicted for feloniously assaulting Mary Naylor , on the king's highway on the 22d of July last, and putting her in fear, and feloniously taking from her person, and against her will, half a guinea, and 1 s. 6 d. her monies . MARY NAYLOR sworn. I lost half a guinea, a shilling, and a sixpence; on the 22d of July last, betwixt eight and nine in the evening, on the road betwixt London and Kentish-town; I was walking, I was returning from London; between eight and nine; and I saw the two prisoners standing in the road between Pancras and Kentish-town ; they appeared to be talking; I never saw them before; when I came almost to them, they met me, and passed me; when I had walked a few steps forwards, one of them overtook me, and went a few steps forwards; and the other, Poynton came up to me, and stopped me; it was Price that passed me; as he passed me, he pulled his hat a little over his forehead, the other stopped me; and I asked him what he wanted, and he said make haste! make haste! I put my hand into my pocket, and gave him my money. Court. He did not demand your money? - He did not, all that he said, was, make haste; I gave him half a guinea, a new shilling and a six-pence; he took it; it was quite day light; I saw no arms of any sort. How did he stop you? - He came and pushed his arm against me. Did you see the other man while this was doing? - Yes, he was a little way before me holding Miss Atkinson; taking her money at the same time. Was she in company with you? - She was; I saw no other person near; it was about three or four minutes from the time I first saw them that I gave the money to Poynton. What happened then? - They went away, I observed nothing further. Did Poynton cover his face? - I did not observe that he did; I saw them the same evening, about a quarter of an hour after, in Kentish-town, where they were taken; a gentleman came up the road, in a one horse chaise; and Miss Atkinson said, them men have robbed us; I was so frightened I could not speak; the gentleman called out, stop thief; I went on to Kentish-town. Have you or have you not, upon youroath, my doubt whether these were the two men? - Oh! I was sure it was them; I believe they were searched, but I know nothing about it. Mr. Garrow, Prisoner's Counsel. You said, (I dare say, very fairly and very truly) that you was so alarmed, that you could not speak? - Yes. And the time they were with you, did not exceed three minutes? - No. SARAH ATKINSON sworn. I was with Mary Naylor on the 22d of July, between eight and nine; we observed the two men standing on the road, between Kentish-town, and Pancras; they turned down the road, and passed us; when we got a few paces further, I heard that man bid Miss Naylor make haste; I saw nothing done to her; she seemed to be close behind me; it seemed from the time we first saw them, till they left us, to be not more than a minute; it did not seem longer; they very soon returned. Did you take such notice of them, as that you could know either of them again? - I know them perfectly well by sight; I never saw them before; these are the two men; I am quite sure I saw them the next morning at Bow-street; I saw them that night in Kentish-town; they were brought in, in about ten minutes; a gentleman came up in a single horse chaise; I told him we were robbed, and he called out; and somebody in the fields took them; they were then behind me; I did not see them. FRANCIS UNDERWOOD sworn. On the 22d of July, about eight o'clock, in my return from Highgate; in leaving Kentish-town, are two roads, one to mother Red-cap's, and the other to Gray's-inn-lane; I saw two young men and women together; being day-light, I had no thought of a robbery; when I came up to the ladies, one of them was rather fainting; that was Miss Naylor; the other said, Sir, we are robbed; robbed! says I? yes, says she, indeed we are; I said, a horse and chaise is an odd thing to pursue thieves in, but I will do the best I can. Did you see the men leave the women? - I saw them get over the rails, I suppose, as soon as they saw me; and they ran all across the fields, when I hallooed thieves; I stood in my chaise, and looked after them; I saw them make a stop in the field, before they took the road; I turned my mare about, and drove round the corner of the houses as hard as I could drive; a witness you will see presently, had got Poynton, holding him by the collar; they were one on one side of the gate, and the other on the other; I could not see them while I was driving back, on account of the houses; I said, hold him fast, for there has been two ladies robbed; I said, where is the other; that man said, he is gone across the road; up comes the other witness, and Waters had taken Poynton; when this was done, I said, secure them fast, I will turn back and meet the ladies, that they may see them; immediately, I got into the chaise, and drove back, and met the young women; I took them to the public-house, and gave the prisoners in charge to the constable; there we searched them, at the publick-house; and I found upon Poynton, the cock of a pistol, and some gun-powder, and some monies; I cannot say particularly; but I took particular notice of that: Price was searched; and, upon him there was found a silver four-pence, a silver two-pence, and a silver penny, and about a couple of shillings; there was a crown-piece which they said was dropped in the road, which I did not see picked up. You did not know that they were the same people? - If they had not been pursued, and taken as they were; I did not know that they were the people that committed the robbery; I was not near enough to see their faces. WILLIAM WATERS sworn. I was going across the fields the 22d of July; I heard an alarm of stop thief! stopthief! I turned myself round, and I saw the two prisoners running; I pursued them; I came up to William Poynton ; I laid hold of his collar, and told him he must stop; he asked me what was the matter? I told him I did not know, but he must stop till I did know; he told me he could not stop, he was going to town; I took him to the gate very nigh the road; and Mr. Underwood came up in a chaise; he asked me where the other was; he said he was going on the road; I delivered him to two men that were in the road, and went after Price; when I came up to Price, he was along with two or three gentlewomen; I cannot say which; he had got hold of one of the ladies hands; and had a crown piece in the other hand; and was going to give it to the lady, which she refused; I laid hold of his collar, and told him he must go with me; he asked me what was the matter? I told him I did not know; he must go with me till I did know; I took him across the field; and about the middle of the field, he hung back; I pulled him along, and threw him on the grass; the crown piece then dropped out of his hand; and I picked it up, and put it into my pocket; then we took him to the Castle, where they were searched; and the things the ladies say they lost, were found on them; a half-guinea, a four-penny piece, a two-penny piece, a penny-piece; I saw the half-guinea pulled out of one of their pockets; I cannot say which; Harrison, the officer, searched them; they made no other resistance, than Price hanging back in the field; I have had the crown piece ever since. JOSEPH REDFEARNE sworn. On the 22d of July, between eight and nine in the evening, returning from Finchley, two ladies came up to a chaise, and said they were robbed by two men; they were on foot; I immediately got over a bank; and at the distance of a field's length, I saw several people running, crying stop thief! I ran; and when I came up to the gate, the shortest of the prisoners was standing with two other persons; I said, gentlemen, which is the thief; they pointed out Poynton; I immediately laid hold of his collar; says I, my friend, you have robbed two ladies? he said he had not; says I, go with me; and if the ladies say you have not, I shall not keep you any longer; I took him to Kentish-town; and Miss Naylor said, that was one of the men that robbed us; then Harrison came up, and I delivered the prisoner to him; nobody had hold of him when I came up; I heard he had been laid hold of. THOMAS HARRISON sworn. I am a constable; the two prisoners were delivered to me the 22d of July, at Kentish-town, a little after eight in the evening; I took them at the Castle, and searched them; I found on John Price , two shillings, a four-penny piece, a twopenny piece, and one penny-piece, and one half-penny; on the other prisoner I found six-pence farthing in copper, two half-guineas, and one shilling and sixpence; it was a new shilling; I found also the cock of a pistol, and some powder tied up in a rag; I took them to the round-house; and before Justice Addington, who committed them. Court to Waters. I understand you pursued these people immediately? - Yes. Were there a good number of people in the fields at that time? - None; I saw nobody but these two persons where I went. Prisoners. We leave it to our counsel. The prisoner Price called twelve witnesses who gave him a very good character. The prisoner Poynton called four witnesses to his character. JOHN PRICE - WILLIAM POYNTON GUILTY , Death . They were both humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury and Prosecutrix. Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice WILSON.