John Robinson

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

TRIAL: 1860, 18 December: Winter Assizes at Liverpool, Crown Court, before Mr Justice Keating – he was convicted and sentenced to life for assaulting two police officers, being at large before the expiration of a sentence***, and previous convictions. *** This option is not available in the "Crime" window above, so escaping from transportation was selected. --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN ROBINSON: From the Northern Daily Times, Friday 14 December, 1860, p2: “ANOTHER JACK SHEPPARD. DARING ADVENTURE OF A GAOL BREAKER. CLEVER CAPTURE OF A PRISONER, WHO NOW AWAITS HIS TRIAL AT THE ASSIZES. John Robinson, the prison-breaker, who is now confined at Kirkdale Gaol, awaiting his trial on a number of indictments, escaping from Dartmoor Gaol amongst the rest, is about thirty years of age. He is a tall [see below], muscular creature of the bull dog rather than the human type, with the physiognomy of Tom Sayers in the arena, or of the most disfigured of the heroes of the English ring, and with a countenance which strongly reminds the observer of the most brutal and determined of the banditti and murderers hung and unhung. He is celebrated in the annals of crime, and a little of his history may be interesting. He is about five feet nine inches high [UK & WA jail records say 5'4¾in], stoutly made, with dark brown hair, irregular features, a low, slanting, irregular forehead, broad cheek bones, and puffy round cheeks. He has broad shoulders, an expansive chest; and muscular legs, and arms. Add to this a cast in the left eye, and his likeness is complete. He was born something over a quarter of a century ago, in the city of York. In his early infancy he was associated with thieves; and in an inconceivably short space of time he was known to his inveterate enemies, the police, as one of the wildest, most troublesome, and incorrigible of the city Arabs. Nothing definite is known of his parents. It is surmised, however, and not without reason, that the hearthstone was the school in which he was trained in the mysteries of his profession. He maintains a prominent position on the police records of York, and he was frequently an unwilling guest at the gaol. The governor and assistants remember his precocity, dexterity, and perversity pretty well. At length, York became too hot for him. He was now an adult, and dexterous in all the departments of his profession, from picking a pocket to garotting a lord. He had known hard times, and moments of prosperity; but it was evident that if he wished to maintain his reputation without the uninvited assistance of detectives and newspapers, he must change his name for an alias, and remove from the scenes of his boyhood and the companions of his youth, to some distant, secure, and more profitable sphere. Accordingly he left York, and was metamorphosed into the unambitious landlord of the ‘Lord Raglan’, at Newton Heath, near Manchester. Here for years he enjoyed the society of his friends, sheltered and assisted the unfortunate and the ‘hunted’, and traded on his own account in perfect security, and without attracting attention or giving rise to the slightest suspicion on the part of his old enemies. However, it is a long lane that has no turning; and the retreat of Robinson was discovered. His house became known as the rallying home of the thieves and burglars of the northern towns. From York, from Sheffield, from Birmingham, from Manchester, and occasionally from the towns of the south and west of England he was visited by his friends, former associates, and brothers by profession, from whom he received the title of my ‘Lord Raglan’, of Raglan Hall, Newton Heath, by which he is best known to the class amongst whom he has moved,—in short, his house became famed as a rendezvous for the worst and most desperate characters. But circumstances and the police obliged the shelterer to seek shelter in his turn. About six years ago he visited his native city, and ‘got into a little trouble’ for a burglarious offence. He was sentenced to fourteen years’ penal servitude [official records say 10 years in 1850]. Somehow or other—it is not very clear how—he speedily obtained his freedom [he was granted a ticket-of-leave]. However, he was again convicted five years since [in December, 1856], and sentenced to twenty years’ penal servitude in Dartmoor gaol. That gaol is notorious for the intricacy of its locks, the numeral and real strength of its bolts, and the height of its walls; and those in attendance on prisoners there are generally the strongest and sturdiest of Yorkshire turnkeys. Robinson was always a desperate individual, especially when his liberty was at stake; and he had a few compatriots in the gaol of the same character as himself. In consort they watched and obtained a favourable opportunity to pick the locks, withdraw the bolts, scale the walls, and embrace the freedom of the fields. On a dark winter’s night the turnkey was violently, almost fatally assaulted, and the prisoners made good their escape. This occurred in April last. A hue-and-cry was raised. Robinson, for he was the worst of the escaped convicts, was advertised in the police records, but no trace of his whereabouts was discovered for months. In May, however, P.S. Mooney, of the Lancashire country constabulary, was on duty in the neighbourhood of Fairfield. One evening he met an individual under rather suspicious circumstances. He had never seen him previously. He scrutinised him as a detective can, made up his mind without the slightest proof that the stranger was ‘no good’, and finally handcuffed him, and took him into custody on the charge of ‘being about to commit a felony’. Next morning the ‘stranger’ made his appearance at Basnett-street Police Court. The presiding magistrate was Mr. Preston. The detective told his story; and the prisoner made such a plausible defence, combining the pathetic with the indignant, that the kind magistrate immediately voted him his freedom unconditionally. Robinson, however, could not keep his hands at rest. He appeared to imagine that he was the light-fingered child of misfortune, and the pet of adversity—today enjoying the spoils of a robbery, tomorrow suffering on its account. In a few days after the date of his discharge by Mr. Preston, P.S. Moss met him on the high road, driving along two fine, fat pigs. Moss did not relish his appearance, and after a bit of circumlocution he concluded that the pigs were stolen. Robinson found himself again in the clutches of the law; and previous to his examination before the county magistrates he was recognised as the escaped convict. In due course he was transferred to Kirkdale. Knowing the determination of this desperate character to be free made the officials more wary of him, and he found it next to impossible to escape. However, invention is the child of circumstances. He hit upon one of the most original plans ever heard of in order to recover his freedom, and carried it into execution cleverly. He conceived no other idea than that of turning maniac. He talked incoherently, looked wildly around, took no notice of the officials in his presence; screamed, laughed the wild laugh of a madman, and occasionally muttered such nonsense as is heard only in the asylum. He was examined by the surgeon, who concluded that he was really delirious, if not irrecoverably mad, and he was forthwith sent to Rainhill Asylum. He remained there some time, and hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery! One night, however, he escaped from his custodians and successfully made his way to his old retreat at Newton-heath. This was his second or third escape from custody. An officer, however, recognised him, and attempted to take him into custody; but with the assistance of his brother, James Robinson [it’s George Robinson], who also awaits trial, he daringly assaulted and eluded the officer. The assault was very dangerous. Strenuous efforts were put forward to recapture him by the police authorities, but their efforts proved for a time fruitless. Stratagems were invented, but it was of no use. The police were baffled in every direction. His portraits were freely distributed amongst the officers of the forces of the kingdom, but all was of no avail. At length, however a detective in the county constabulary, resident in this district, became acquainted with one of the prisoner’s ‘talleywomen’, residing in Peter-street, Liverpool. Her house was known to all the criminal train; and she appears to be a little notorious for the assistance she has more than once rendered to escaped convicts. It was thought possible that she might know Robinson’s whereabouts—but what if she did? Would she give any clue to his enemies? Not very likely, the reader will think. We should have thought so too, and so we believe would everybody else but detectives. This detective determined to turn the lady to ‘some good’ once in her lifetime, even against her own consent, and with the assistance of a Manchester ‘Bobby’, he concocted and carried out the following stratagem, which our readers we are certain will coincide with us in thinking is one of the cleverest ever conceived. We have read the ‘Experiences of London Detectives’, but, in our opinion, it has never been equalled. However, we will proceed. It was, as the novelists say, on a dark, foggy, gloomy, and cheerless night that the detectives, attired in the most ragged, dirtiest, shabbiest clothing obtainable, met in Basnett-street, Liverpool. They disfigured their faces and rendered their clothing, if possible, more miserable in its appearance, and finally linked their wrists together by means of a handcuff, and proceeded stealthily to the abode of the ‘lady’ in Peter-street. The door was immediately opened, and the strangers claimed assistance. ‘We have just escaped from gaol, and you must shelter us.’ The patriotic woman scrutinised them closely, and seeing their manacles and wretched appearance, welcomed them heartily to her home and board. ‘Where did you escape from?’ ‘Kirkdale.’ ‘When?’ ‘Why, just now.’ ‘What were you in for?’ ‘Oh, a little bit of affair in ___ street.’ And then they told how they ‘sold’ the turnkey at Kirkdale, scaled the walls, and safely arrived, through the coming and going throng, at her door. At length they claimed the acquaintance and friendship of Robinson, adding that if they could but get to him they would feel satisfied and all right. The landlady in her glee immediately produced a letter from Robinson, containing his address at Sheffield. ‘Can we take it?’ ‘Yes.’ And the detectives secured the letter. An attempt was then made to break the handcuffs; but their efforts proving unavailing, it was determined that they should go to a certain blacksmith, residing in a certain street not far away, and as he did little jobs of the sort for suffering humanity, get him to do the business. They left, unlocked the handcuffs, and by the next train proceeded to Sheffield, where they had the gratification of securing Robinson in his retreat. He was brought back to Kirkdale, where he again managed to make the surgeon believe that he was a maniac. He was, therefore, sent to Bedlam, near London. He returned [to Kirkdale] about a fortnight ago, in order to be tried at the assizes. Since his return he appears a little better, but he has stated over and over again that he will carry on his little game in court, and get himself removed permanently to an asylum. How he will carry out his intention remains to be seen. The gaol surgeon now pronounces him perfectly sane.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002085/18601214/052/0002) --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

RECAPTURED: 1860, 26 August: Police recaptured him in Sheffield. From the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday 27 August, 1860, p3: "Apprehension of an Escaped Convict in Sheffield.— At an early hour yesterday morning, Detective-officers Winn and Leonard apprehended, in a house in Trinity-street, an escaped convict named John Robinson, a butcher. On the 1st of April last, Robinson, along with two other convicts named Joseph Hampshire and George Ball, made their escape from the Dartmoor prison. On Wednesday last, Robinson was seen at Newton Heath, near Manchester, by a sergeant in the Manchester police force, and an attempt was made to apprehend him. The sergeant succeeded in getting possession of Robinson, but he became exceedingly violent, injured the officer, and again made his escape. The convict appears to have made his way from Newton Heath to Sheffield, where fortunately he has been secured. On the occasion of his last and complete capture Robinson offered no resistance, and he will be safely taken care of for the future.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18600827/036/0003) --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

ESCAPE: 1860, 1 April: John Robinson and two other prisoners escaped from Dartmoor Prison. From the Launceston Weekly News, & Cornwall & Devon Advertiser, 7 April, p4: “Escaped convicts – William Morrish, Esq., Governor of the Prisons, at Dartmoor, sent a special message on Sunday, April 1st, to Tavistock, announcing the escape of three prisoners. The intelligence was telegraphed immediately to Plymouth, and thence to every station east and west. Their names are George Ball, 5ft 8¾in high; John Robinson, 5ft 4¾in; and Joseph Hampshire, 5ft 3¾in high.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001695/18600407/039/0004) --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

JAILS: 1856: John Robinson served time in separate confinement at York Gaol (6 months 3 days), where he was said to have “been insane since conviction, therefore is not responsible for his conduct”. 1857, 29 October: From York, sent to Millbank Prison, London; inmate #5807, served 9 months 28 days in separate confinement. 1858, 26 August: To Dartmoor; inmate #4846, served 9 months 14 days in s.c.; listed as an “invalid” by the jail’s surgeon (England, Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1876; Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Hulks and Convict Prisons; 1858; December [Dartmoor] image 135). 1859, 11 June: Sent back to Millbank Prison for “medical observation”. Listed as inmate #8983; married to Bridget with one child, at Newton Heath, Manchester; semiliterate; Church of England. 1859, 27 December: Classified as “weak minded”; returned to Dartmoor Prison (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for John Robinson; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1859-1860; image 82). --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

TRIAL: 1856, 6 December: York Winter Assizes – John Robinson, 29, butcher, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ transportation for cattle stealing and larceny, and previous conviction felony (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for John Robinson; England; Yorkshire - North Riding; 1856; image 20). The Leeds Intelligencer of 6 December reported that John Robinson was accused of stealing a cow at Halton East, also of stealing five pigs at Draughton, and a watch (Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000193/18561206/098/0005). On 13 December, the paper reported in full on his trial: “CATTLE STEALING NEAR SKIPTON. JOHN ROBINSON, 29, was indicted for stealing a cow, of the value £12, the property of Henry Waddington... The prosecutor is a farmer, residing at Halton East, near Skipton, and, during the night of the 20th of October last, the cow in question was stolen from his field. The case against the prisoner was that he was seen driving the cow towards Keighley immediately after the robbery, and he left her at a public house at Walsden, a village, near Keighley, where the prosecutor subsequently found her. The prisoner sent an Irishman to remove the cow to Manchester, which proceeding led to his apprehension. The prisoner was found GUILTY, and a previous conviction having been proved, he was sentenced to be transported for 20 years, the Judge observing that he (the prisoner) was a sort man from whom society ought to be and must be protected. He had commenced his career with sheep stealing, for which he was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment; at the expiration of that term of punishment he took to cattle stealing, of which he was convicted, and for which he was sentenced to ten years’ transportation; afterwards he received a ticket-of-leave, and, as soon as might be, after he had obtained his liberty, he returned to his old courses, stealing the cow in question, and also, on the same day and in the same neighbourhood, five pigs, on his way with which he committed another robbery—a robbery of a watch. It was clear, therefore, that he was perfectly incorrigible, and must be once more banished from the country, and that, too, for a longer period. The prisoner made a rambling statement to show, as he said, that he had not had a fair chance; but his remarks only went to prove that when men are once imprisoned or transported there is forever a brand upon them, which attracts continually, as a magnet, the vigilant eye of the police.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000193/18561213/132/0006) --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

TICKET-OF-LEAVE: 1854, July 27: John Robinson was granted a ticket-of-leave – Licence #1253. The National Archives, Kew, record says he was given early release from the Defence Prison hulk, at Woolwich, Kent. Reference: PCOM 3/13/1253 Description: Convicted of stealing joiners’ tools at the Quarter Sessions at Wakefield, Yorkshire, 6 March, 1850. Then aged 22 years and by trade a Labourer. Sentence: 10 years’ transportation (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10137552). --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th December 2023

TRIALS: 1848, 9 December: York, Special Winter Assizes – John Robinson, 21, semiliterate, convicted sheep stealing; 12 months’ imprisonment (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for John Robinson; England; Yorkshire - North Riding; 1848; image 28). --0-- 1850, 6 February: Wakefield Intermediate Sessions, Court House – John Robinson (labourer, late of Wakefield) and John Smith, alias Hoyle, charged with stealing a quantity of tools belonging to William Butler, a joiner of Warmfield, on the night of 8 February. The pair was allegedly found dealing with the tools at Leeds on the following day. They were remanded for one week. Found guilty of larceny and previous convictions for felony; sentenced to 10 years’ transportation (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for John Robinson; England; Yorkshire - West Riding; 1850; image 8; and Leeds Intelligencer, 2 March, 1850, p2 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000193/18500302/024/0005). --0--