Robert Rhodes

343

Maureen Withey on 17th August 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 August 2021), May 1819, trial of PATRICK M'COURT JOHN BREEZE ROBERT RHODES MICHAEL EAGAN (t18190526-1). PATRICK M'COURT, JOHN BREEZE, ROBERT RHODES, MICHAEL EAGAN, Theft > theft from a specified place, 26th May 1819. 769. PATRICK M'COURT , JOHN BREEZE , ROBERT RHODES , and MICHAEL EAGAN were indicted for stealing, on the 22d of April , at Heston, in the dwelling-house of our Lord the King, one trunk, value 5 s.; one box, value 6 d.; one watch, value 4 l.; two seals, value 40 s.; one ring, value 5 s.; one key, value 6 d.; one pair of gloves, value 1 s.; one handkerchief, value 1 s.; the sum of 15 s. in monies numbered, one 10 l., two 5 l., and sixteen 1 l. bank notes, and two promissory notes for the payment of and value 1 l. each , the property of Thomas Endfield . MARY ENDFIELD . I am the wife of Thomas Endfield , who is a corporal in the Lancers . He was quartered at Hounslow barracks . On the 21st of April, about ten o'clock at night, I went to bed, my husband's box was then safe under the bed, and locked - it contained wearing apparel, and the articles stated in the indictment. The notes were in a small box inside the large box - they were all bank notes, except two 1 l. notes. There were six half-crowns tied up in the corner of a handkerchief. In the course of the next morning, in consequence of an alarm, I went and found my trunk in the passage, broken open, and all these things gone, except two 1 l. notes - the wearing apparel was left. I saw the watch a week or nine days after. There were one 10 l., two 5 l., and sixteen 1 l. bank notes. DAVID ANDERSON . I was in the Army, and am now a prisoner, on suspicion of being a deserter. On the 30th of April, between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, I was confined in the guard-house, at Hounslow, the prisoners, M'Court and Rhodes, came into the black-hole where I was, they were on duty, and did not know I was there - there was no light there. I heard M'Court say to Rhodes, that he took the box out of the room - he did not say whose box, or what room; he said he took 48 l. out of the box, and he was afraid if there were any more in the mess they would be found out. Q. Had he said any thing before that - A. Not that I heard. He said he took the money, and told Rhodes to meet him at the Travellers' Friend, and then they would divide. After that he was going out, I rose up, they heard me - M'Court came, and said, "Who is that?" I said it was me. He said he supposed I heard what had passed between him and Rhodes, and I should not want for any thing while I was there. I then went into the guard-room. Next day I went out with the sergeant, and mentioned this to him. Cross-examined by MR. ANDREWS. Q. How long were you in the black-hole - A. Forty days. I was never in confinement before. The guard is informed if there are any prisoners, but they did not know that I was in the black-hole, as I sometimes slept in the guard-room, which is separate; you go out of doors into a passage to go to the guard-room. The prisoners were on guard, but not on sentry - they were relieved next day; I told what I heard the next time they came on guard, which, I believe, was next day. I told them I had not heard what had passed, as I was afraid they would ill-use me. He said he would knock me on the head if told what I had heard. I told the sergeant when he came. COURT. Q. You generally sleep in the guard-room - A. Yes; if they had been in the guard-room, and had seen I was not there, they would have known I was in the black-hole, but not otherwise. THOMAS LLOYD . I am sergeant major of the regiment. Mrs. Endfield reported the robbery to me - their room is in the barracks. On that night the prisoners' duty was to be in the barracks. I searched the whole regiment - nothing was discovered. The prisoner, M'Court, belonged to Enfield's troop. Anderson had been in the black-hole about thirty-two days - he reported to me what had passed. Q. When was that - A. I cannot speak to the day, it was some few days after the robbery. In consequence of his information on the morning of the 5th of May, I was ordered to take Rhodes into custody, and found two 5 l. and two 1 l. bank notes in his pocket, concealed in an old glove. He pulled it out, I asked him what it was? he said it was nothing. I seized his hand, and found the money in the glove, which I gave to Glanville. On the same morning I searched M'Court, and found a 1 l. bank note, and two half-crowns concealed in the turn-up leather of his dress cap. Next morning I went to him, when he was in custody, and told him if he would confess this, it would be the means of saving his life. He told me there was some property in Captain Mortray 's stable, under the corn-bin. I went, and found a 10 l. and two 1 l. bank notes there that morning, and a silver hunting watch, two gold scals, a gold key, a pair of womens' gloves, an old doe-skin glove, and a silk handkerchief. As I returnedout of the stable I met Sergeant Gannon coming with Breeze to the stable. Q. Before that, what passed between you and Eagan - A. On the 6th of May I told him it would be better to tell the truth; he said his wife had got 12 l. I got it from her, and gave all the property to Glanville. They have been seven years in the regiment. WILLIAM GANNON . I am a sergeant in the Lancers. On the 6th of May I had some conversation with Breeze; he told me the money was in Captain Mortray 's stable. I took him there to show me where it was, and met Glanville near the stable; I understood the money was found, and did not take Breeze in. He did not say what part of the stable it was in. WILLIAM GLANVILLE . I am adjutant in the regiment. On the 21st of April M'Court was on guard, the others were in the barracks; Breeze was groom to Captain Mortray . Endfield was on duty at Reigate, his wife was in the barracks - the prisoners could all have access to her room. Anderson was in confinement. On the morning of the 5th of May Lloyd gave me two 5 l. and one 1 l. bank notes, and one 1 l. Staines note, found on Rhodes - the same morning he gave me a 1 l. bank note found on M'Court. Next morning he gave me 11 l. in notes, and 1 l. in silver, which he got from Eagan's wife; and in the afternoon he gave me 12 l., a watch, a pair of gloves, and a handkerchief. I was present when these were found in Captain Mortray 's stable, under the corn-bin. One or two other officers have their horses in the stables. They are not kept locked in general. Cross-examined. Endfield's room is under the common roof of the barracks. The barrack-master does not live under the same roof. THOMAS ENDFIELD . I am the prosecutor. I had seen the property safe about three days before it was taken; there was 50 l. in the box - 48 l. was taken out. The property is all mine. I knew one of the 10 l. notes by the name of Sergeant Major Glynn being on it. (Property produced and sworn to.) MR. JAMES HARMER . I know Hounslow barracks, they are in the parish of Heston. M'COURT - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 22. RHODES - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 28. Recommended to Mercy . BREEZE - NOT GUILTY , EAGAN - NOT GUILTY . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Bayley.