Owen Pritchard

218

Dianne Jones on 29th January 2023

Trial contd: Elinor Williams—I was a servant with the prosecutor last year. My fellow-servant was Elizabeth Limit. We went to bed together on the 30th October last, and, we were the last, all the others having gone before us. The doors and windows were locked and bolted before we went to bed. The cheese-room window was also fastened and safe. We got up the following morning at about half-past five, and when we went out to the yard we saw the lattice of the cheese-room window broken, and some of the things that were in the cheese-room out in the yard. Cross-examined—On going to bed at night, we are in the habit of leaving our shoes at the foot of the stairs. When we came down in the morning we came down without our shoes as usual. We did not see what had taken place in the house, because we first of all went out to the yard, saw what had been done there, and then returned to the house, and saw what had been done there. Re-examined—We put our shoes on before going out to the yard. Elizabeth Lewis corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and added that she found a bottle about fifty yards from the house. She did not know the bottle, never having seen it before, but it contained wine. —Prosecutor recalled said the bottle was his, said that the cupboard in which it was kept had been broken. —Mr. W. Price, landlord of the Black Ox, Llandovery, said that the prisoners came to his house on Saturday, the 28th October last, and remained there until Monday, when they left, saying they were going by train. —Cross-examined, he said that the prisoners did not tell him where they were going. If they had gone by train the first station would be in Llanwrtyd. —Mrs. Price, wife of the last witness, said that the prisoner Charles Williams gave his name as Charles Oxley. They gave her orders to get dinner early as they wished to leave by train. She didn’t know that they had lost the train that day; she provided dinner early enough for them to catch the train that day. Did not notice that whistle sounded soon after they left the house. —Mary Williams said that on the 30th October she saw the prisoners on the road, two miles from Llandovery, and between the station and Llanwrtyd. —Mr. W. Morgan, King’s Head, Caio, said—On the 31st October last, about ... in the morning, I saw the prisoners and they asked me ‘How are you to-day?’ ... Thomas Lewis was with me. This was from fifteen to twenty yards from the road leading from Llandovey to Lampeter. L am sure that Charles Williams was one of the men we met. —Thomas Lewis said that he was with last witness when he met the men on the road, and he was quite sure that the prisoners were they. Ann Roderic said—I keep the Cross Hands on Lampeter mountain. On the 31st October last the prisoners came to my house about 7 o’clock in the morning and stayed there about 20 minutes ... They had a quart of beer, some bread and cheese, and one of them said my cheese was not good and had butter instead. They said they would call at 9 o’clock the next morning and have breakfast in my house. My husband asked them if they were going to Llanybydder fair, and they said they did not know. They went towards Lampeter. P.C. John Davies said — On the 31st October I went to Clynglaes [Cynwyl Gaeo] from Gilfach, and saw footmarks in the direction of Caio [or Caeo]. I followed the tracks as far as Pumsaint [half way between Llanwrda and Lampeter], and from Pumsaint on to the Cross Hands, on Lampeter Mountain. There were two sets of footmarks—large sprigs in the heels of one and no nails, and the other pressed on the inside of the heel. From the Cross Hands I went on to Aberystwyth, and there I saw the prisoners walking side by side in the street, and apprehended them. I searched them, and on Charles Williams I found what I now produce—two £5 notes of the Llandovery bank, two £5 Bank of England notes… gold, silver and copper [coins], a bunch of skeleton keys, two pocket-knives, a razor, a pair of galoshes, a piece of soap, and matches. On William Davies I found three £5 notes of the Llandovery Bank, two Bank of England notes… gold, silver and three farthings in copper, a jemmy (a burglar’s tool, made of iron, about a foot in length, bent and flattened like a chisel at both ends), a bottle of lamp oil, a pair of galoshes, a pocket knife, a comb, and matches. I brought the prisoners to Llandovery. Went after that to Gilfach and examined the window where the marks corresponded with the jemmy. (Here the witness produced two pieces of the window-frame with the marks of the jemmy upon them, and the jemmy awl. The marks were compared by the learned Judge, the counsel, and the jury). I examined the cupboard, and found that one of the skeleton keys would open that. I also saw the marks of a sharp instrument on the lock of the desk. I took off the boots of the prisoners, now produced, and to the best of my judgment they correspond with the footprints which I traced to the Cross Hands. Cross-examined by Mr. Allen—I saw the footmarks of two persons on the road. I apprehended the prisoners on the 31st October… There were no nails in the boots, and I have since examined those marks with the prisoners’ boots and they corresponded. Thomas Jones, labourer on Were farm, saw the prisoners on Saturday at the Black Ox, Llandovery, and on the following Monday saw them again on the road from Llandovery to Llanwrda, at 12 to a quarter past 12 o’clock. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. Allen made an elaborate defence for the prisoners, in which he suggested that the policeman had confused the marks of the stockings of the servants, who had come downstairs without shoes on, with the marks of galoshes. Although the prisoners had upon when apprehended such tools as were used by burglars, it was not to be inferred even from that suspicious circumstance that they must be the men who had committed the burglary for which they were now tried. His Lordship summed up the evidence at great length, and the jury after a short retirement brought in a verdict of guilty against both prisoners. Charles Williams was further convicted on the evidence of Mr. George Stephens, Governor of the Gaol, of a larceny committed in 1852 in the same Parish of Llanwrda, and for which he was committed to his custody for six months. Williams Davies pleaded guilty to a burglary, committed in 1861 at Denbigh. His Lordship in passing sentence said that the commission of three successive and successful crimes within a few hours, and the fact that the prisoners were armed with tools such as are used by burglars, was a proof that they were burglars on a professional tour through the country. The sentence of the court was that they be committed to penal servitude for fifteen years. It should be mentioned that the grand inquest, through their foreman, Mr. Jones, highly commended the conduct of the policeman who tracked and captured the burglars, and recommended him to the favourable consideration of the learned Judge as one deserving of reward. His Lordship said that, after hearing the case, he would attend to their recommendation. After the case had been heard, his Lordship ordered that a reward of 30s. be given to P.C. John Davies.” (Saturday 10 March 1866, Carmarthen Weekly Reporter, p3, available at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/) —00—

218

Dianne Jones on 29th January 2023

NEWSPAPER REPORT of Trial: “THE PAIR OF BURGLARS. True bills having been found by the grand inquest, Charles Williams, alias Owen Pritchard 29, and William Davies, alias Daniel Ryan, 33, who described themselves as bellhangers, were arraigned on an indictment charging them with having burglariously broken and entered the dwelling house of Joseph Williams, Gilfach, in the parish of Llanelli [Llanelly], stealing therefrom £27, his property, on the 30th October last. True bills were also found against the prisoners for having committed the like offence at Clydach, in the same parish, stealing therefrom £... 17s. 6d, the property of Evan Jones on the 30th October, and also at Aberbran Fawr, Llanspyddid, in the county of Brecon, stealing therefrom [money]..., the property of Evan Powell, on the 27th October last. The prisoner Charles Williams was also detained for breaking out of the county gaol at Carmarthen, and a true bill was also found against him for this offence. Neither of the prisoners, however, was tried for either of these crimes. Being found guilty on the first indictment, the learned Judge directed the prosecution to abandon the other charges. Mr. Bowen and Mr. De Rotten prosecuted, instructed by Mr. Jones, Llandovery; the prisoners were defended by Mr. T. Allen, instructed by Mr. George Thomas. The prisoner William Davies has a rather cloudy expression of countenance with thick wavy hair and beard; while Charles presented a more lively and respectable look and smiled as unconcernedly as if he were witnessing a play. Joseph Williams said—I am the prosecutor in this case, and live at Gilfach… On the night of the 30th October last I put in my desk two £5 notes and two sovereigns. I had three £5 notes in the desk before, I saw them all safe there about half-past 8 o’clock on the night in question. I went to bed before 9 o’clock, leaving the servants downstairs. ...[O]n the following morning, I saw the parlour door open, the desk open, and the parlour window lifted up, and the front door partly open. I then went to Llandovery for a policeman, the notes and the sovereigns having been stolen. The notes were those of the Llandovery Bank and had a black ox on the corner. One of the notes had two small holes in it near the ox and was partially obliterated at the top on the right side and appeared whiter than the other part. There was no particular mark on the others by which I could identify them except a blue mark on one of them. The notes now produced I believe are mine, and will swear to the one partly obliterated, but cannot swear that the one with the blue mark is mine, but I believe it to be. Cross-examined by Mr. Allen—I described the notes to the policeman before they were shewn to me, but I did not mention about the holes in one of them near the ox. I knew the notes by the marks when they were shewn to me. The servants are up first in the morning. The man-servant does not sleep in the house. Contd…/2

21

John Myddleton on 7th June 2022

Owen Pritchard was born in Llanfair DC, North Wales. He was transported for 5 years in 1862 but returned on Ticket of Leave by 1865. They found themselves in Carmarthen, where Pritchard had connections. They committed a crime and were gaoled in Carmarthen. When arrested, Pritchard gave the false name of Charles Williams in the hope of avoiding a greater sentence. His partner was probably Daniel Ryan. This article will help clear up the confusion https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001427/18660108/082/0007

221

D Wong on 11th December 2019

http://www.welshlegalhistory.org/felons-register-search.php?func=showrecord&srch_id=11047 Welsh Legal History Society Felon's Register: Displaying full record for Williams, Charles alias Pritchard, Owen & Davies William: (Reg. no. 1108) See also: 411 Date committed: 03 Nov 1865 Age at committal: 29 Offence: burglary & stealing money: 3 charges; also prison breach Male Year of birth (approx): 1836 Height: 5ft 6in Complexion: fresh Marital status: Married No.of children: 2 Instruction: Read imperfectly Where born: Denb, near Wrexham: 'says Swansea' Last residence: Glam, 'says Swansea' Profession: bell hanger General remarks: committed for trial at Llandovery 1865-11-09 with no. 1109; escaped 1866-01-04 by breaking out of cell; recaptured next day; twice before escaped from Ruthin gaol; tried only on 1 charge of burglary Committal and trial details Date committed: 03 Nov 1865 Committed by (1): Jones, D E; (2): Jones, John; Further examination: y, 1865-11-09 Date tried: 05 Mar 1866 Tried by: Blackburn at: assizes Type of labour: Hard labour Other sentence: penal servitude 15 years Custody before: y: 1852 here as Pritchard 6m; 1852 Cardigan 2m; 1858 Ruthin 12m; 1850 Stafford 6m as Davies, W; 1851 Ruthin acquitted & 5y When discharged: 21; removed to Pentonville Prison 1866 Jun 1866 Listed as Charles Williams on WA Convict Records, and the Fremantle Prison database. Convict No. 9911 Charles Williams was 34 years old, single, literate, 5'5½" tall, brown hair, grey eyes, oval face, fresh complexion, stout build, injured nail 3rd finger left hand, small scar over right eyebrow. 27/5/1874: TOL 17/5/1880: CP Bunbury. Comments: General Servant, ploughman, labourer, self-employed, 1875-1778, hewer, splitter. Cannot pinpoint his death as there were so many Charles Wlilliams...

21

John Myddleton on 28th February 2017

Charles Williams was an alias used by Owen Pritchard, the Welsh Jack Sheppard. Pritchard was a serial criminal and a determined absconder from gaols. In 1862, he was transported aboard the Ironside. In 1866, he was arrested in Carmarthen, Wales, and gaoled in Carmarthen Gaol pending trial. At the time he was on a ticket of leave after his first transportation. He had given the name Charles Williams but newspapers reported he was really Owen Pritchard. He and another prisoner made an amazing escape from Carmarthen Gaol before their trial. Williams (Pritchard) was transported for 15 years in 1867.

21

John Myddleton on 17th January 2017

This was his second period of transportation. He had been transported for 5 years in 1862, under his real name of Owen Pritchard. While on a ticket of leave, he returned to Wales and was convicted to a further 15 years after committing a crime and absconding, spectacularly, from the gaol.