John Roach

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 14th June 2020

Born: 1813 Imprisoned: 1829 Tried; 10 September 1829. Transported; 12 October 1829. Date of Death: 29 October 1840. Accidentally drowned at Goulburn ------------------------------------------------------- New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 Name: John Roach Vessel: Lady Feversham Arrival year: 1830. Date of conviction: 10 Sep 1829 Old Bailey online JOHN ROACH, Theft > housebreaking, 10th September 1829. OLD COURT. SECOND DAY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. Third Middlesex Jury - before Mr. Sergeant Arabin. 1581. JOHN ROACH was indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Thomas Plant , on the 17th of June , at St. Marylebone, and stealing 5 coats, value 10l.; 2 pairs of breeches, value 2l.; 3 waistcoats, value 1l.; 1 jacket, value 3s.; 5 shirts, value 1l.; 2 shirts, value 6s.; 6 pairs of stockings, value 6s.; 1 shawl, value 1l.; 7 handkerchiefs, value 10s.; 3 pairs of sheets, value 1l.; 2 petticoats, value 5s.; 1 gown, value 5s.; 10 sovereigns, and 15 shillings, the property of Patrick Lee . ELLEN LEE . I am the wife of Patrick Lee , who is a labouring man - we lodge at No. 26, James-street, Manchester-square , in the front kitchen. On the 17th of June my husband went out at half-past five o'clock in the morning to work; I got up at half-past six and saw all my property secure that morning, I am certain; I have known the prisoner about the neighbourhood for six years, and cannot mistake his person; after nine o'clock, as I was going out, I saw him come down the stairs of my house - he came against me; he had no business there; I did not suspect him, and went out leaving him in the house; I believe him to be the person - he had the clothes on which are now in Court - an old round blue jacket; when I went out I locked the kitchen door and the window was down - I took away the key; I returned at twelve o'clock, put the key into the door, and could not open it - I went up to my landlady, came down, went to the area, and saw the window was up a little - it had been shut when I went out; I opened it quite, got in, and missed all the property stated in the indictment: the clothes were worth about 20l., and there were ten sovereigns - they were in two boxes, which were broken open and rifled - every thing was safe when I went out in the morning; my husband's black stock has been found - it was in the room inside my husband's handkerchief; I had bolted the window down - how they got it up I cannot tell. MARIA PLANT . I am the wife of Thomas Plant , who rents this house and lives in it - it is in the parish of St. Marylebone. The prosecutrix came and spoke to me; as she could not get in at the door she got in at the window - we found the staple of the door drawn out and the lock forced out; I found a blue jacket, a black waistcoat, and black stock in my cellar; they do not belong to any body in my house; the prisoner was a stranger - I had not seen him that morning. Cross-examined by MR. BARRY. Q. How many lodgers have you? A. About seven families; we have eight rooms - Lee has the front kitchen. TIMOTHY LEARY . I am pot-boy at a house in Edward-street. I knew the prisoner before this robbery, and knew his person well; I heard of the robbery - I saw him in Edward-street that morning about half-past eight o'clock,I think; he had a blue jacket on; I had seen him wearing it before; I knew it before, it had a piece let in behind; the jacket produced is the one I am certain - I had seen him wearing it before often; I saw him again about four o'clock that afternoon in a dark brown olive coat, drab trousers, and a black handkerchief - he was much better dressed than in the morning - it was on a Wednesday; I went to the office on Saturday, and went to where he was locked up - he could not see me but hear me; I said, " Jack Roach ;" he said, "Yes, who are you? are you young Leary?" I said No; he said, "Is he outside?" I said Yes; he said,"Does he say he knows my clothes;" I said, "Yes he does;" he then said he was hard up. Cross-examined. Q. You were in the street about half-past eight o'clock on what morning? A. On the 17th of June, Wednesday; nobody told me it was the 17th; I know the witness Stockman - I had not been with him within four days before the robbery; I have had no quarrel with Stockman, and never told him I would do any thing to the prisoner - only one day after the robbery I said something; I was in trouble myself about eight months ago, it was only once; I have been in Newgate, but in no other prison; I was a little time there; I had been talking to the prosecutor before I went to where the prisoner was locked up -I had not quarrelled with Roach; I said I was not Leary, because he was put there in another name, and all the boys said he would kill me when he came out; he has worn a blue jacket constantly for about six months; I did not hear any body at the office swear the blue jacket had been worn by any body else. JOHN STOCKMAN . I work with my father as a plasterer. I have seen the prisoner about Oxford-street; I saw him on the Monday before the Wednesday of the robbery - he was dressed in this blue jacket, an old waistcoat, and a pair of blue trousers; I have seen him in that old jacket ever since; I have known him about - I saw him after the robbery with all new clothes on. Cross-examined. Q. Where were you on the 17th of June? A. At work, but not all day, in Brown-street, Grosvenor-square; I was at work all the week at the same house I live in; I went to work at near four o'clock in the afternoon that day - I was not at work in the morning; I knew Leary by his mother's selling fruit at the next stand to my mother in Oxford-street; I was not acquainted with him - I used to go about walking with him - I am as positive of the waistcoat and trousers as the jacket; the waistcoat was a kind of drab colour; I was taken myself on suspicion of this, and locked up three days and nights; I was taken on the day of the robbery, about four o'clock, as I was going to work; I was carrying a hod of stuff into Oxford-buildings - I was never in trouble, nor ever in prison before; I was never charged with an offence, nor ever flogged. Q. Not in any public prison? A. I was flogged once over the other side. DANIEL DUTCH . I am an officer. I produce the clothes which were left in the cellar; I have had them ever since; the black stock was given to me by Mrs. Plant: I apprehended the prisoner on the 22nd of August in Tothill-fields prison. ELLEN LEE . This is my husband's stock, it was found with the clothes - I believe this to be the same jacket, waistcoat, and trousers as the person I saw wore - I noticed this bit on the jacket. Cross-examined. Q. You were going out about nine o'clock and met a person on the stairs; I suppose he had been up the stairs leading to other person's rooms? A. No; he came down stairs against me as I came up from my own room; my place was secure then - I secured the door; I had no suspicion, as I thought he was going to the privy, which is down there; I remained in my room till I went out that morning; whether he had been up to any of the lodgers I cannot tell - I know the witnesses by their living in the neighborhood; I cannot say whether I saw them in the street the day before. Prisoner's Defence. I am innocent. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 16.