Robert Turpin

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 14th August 2020

Charles Turner and Robert Turpin, were indicted for stealing on the 10th of October, from the person of James Hearn, on the turnpike road, near Little Torrington, at the hour of ten o'clock at night, the sum of ten shillings and sixpence, one watch, chain, and seals. It appeared that the prosecutor was walking along the road at the time in question when he was accosted by four or five men, one of whom asked him if he had any money. They left him and again came up, when he was very soon tripped up and his watch, &c. taken from him, but without any violence being offered. The prisoner Turner, was shortly afterwards seen in Torrington the prosecutor, of whom he inquired the reason why there were so so many persons travelling, answering himself by supposing that there had been a fair, and intimating that he had come from a very different direction to that of the fair, and that in which the robbery had been committed; the prosecutor however, identified him as one of the persons who actually committed the robbery, and the prisoner Turpin was shortly after discovered and on being searched the watch, See. were found on him. Turpin acknowledged that the watch belonged to the prosecutor, but denied that he had taken it. His Lordship summed up, and the jury immediately returned a verdict of guilty. Mr. Cole stated that the prisoners had never been in prison before; and the Court in consideration of their not having used any violence, said that their lives should be spared but they must not expect to remain in this country. North Devon Journal 25 March 1830. --------------------------------------------------- The following prisoners were removed from the Devon County Gaol, on Friday last, to the Captivity Hulk, at Devonport: Chas. Turner and Robert Turpin, for highway robbery; ... Sherborne Mercury, 24 May 1830.