William Royston

342

Maureen Withey on 13th November 2019

William was tried at the Old Bailey. (online) WILLIAM ROYSTON, JOSEPH FLOWERS, Theft - burglary, 19th May 1825. Before Mr. Baron Hullock. Euryalus hulk record. HO-9-2-4 page 1: Twelve from Newgate, 19 June 1825 William Royston, No 277 age 15, Crime, C.R. Stg from a house, Middlesex, 25 June May 1825, sentence - Life, How disposed of – to Justicia, 16 June 1826, for NSW. The prison hulk, the Euryalus, an ex-frigate of the Trafalgar fleet, was moored at Chatham. Over the twenty years that this hulk serviced juveniles, about 2,500 boys of fourteen and under passed through. There were also considerable numbers of older boys both in the juvenile hulk and distributed among the other hulks. From the Euryalus, boys were transported both to New South Wales and to Van Diemen’s Land. 915. WILLIAM ROYSTON and JOSEPH FLOWERS were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Harlow , widow , about ten o'clock in the night of the 16th of May , at St. John the Evangelist, Westminster , with intent to steal, and stealing therein thirty-six penny pieces, and twelve half-pence, her property . ELIZABETH HARLOW. I live at No. 8, Duck-lane, Westminster , which, I think, is in the parish of St. John; I am a widow - the house is let out in tenements: I rent one room of Mr. Watson, who does not live in the house. On Monday night, the 17th of May, at half-past ten o'clock I went home, after selling cakes in the street ; I took out 3 s. 6 d. or 3 s. 8 d. in halfpence and penny pieces, and put them altogether on the table; I went out to get a roll: I padlocked the door, leaving the money on the table, and took the key with me; my room door opens into the passage. I returned in ten minutes, and found the door open - the padlock hung on the hasp; it had been forced; the halfpence were all gone. I ran to the door, and gave an alarm - Hunt gave me information. I knew the prisoners by seeing them about Duck-lane, but I had not seen them that night. RICHARD HUNT . I am a baker, and live at No. 43, Duck-lane, opposite to the prosecutrix. On Monday night Harlow told me what had happened; I had seen the prisoners come out of her passage door, about a minute and a half before; I knew their persons before, but not their names; I did not see them go in, only come out; Royston held his coat, as if he had something heavy in it: I went after them in consequence of what Harlow said; I lost sight of them. I shut up my shop, and went after them again, and found them sitting on the pavement in Orchard-street; the watchman took them: I went to the watch-house, and saw 2 s. 4 d. is halfpence and pence found on Royston, some in his breeches, and some in his coat pocket; he said he got the money in St. James's, by holding gentlemen's horses - nothing was found on Flowers. Harlow's house is in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster. CHARLES WATERS . I am a watchman, and knew both the prisoners before this. On the night in question I was calling eleven o'clock, and just by Cat's-head-court I saw them sitting on the curb stone, eating sheep's head and bread; I crossed over, and asked what they were doing there; they said they would get up and go directly: I told them to go instantly. One got up, and threw the bread and sheep's head into the other's lap; in about half a minute Hunt called out, "Stop those two boys;" I stopped Royston first, and the other ran away; I left Royston with Hunt, then followed, and took Flowers - I searched them at the watch-house, and found 2 s. 4 d. in Royston's trowsers and coat pockets; the constable of the night asked how he came by the halfpence - he said he got them in St. James's-street, by holding horses. WILLIAM BISHOP . I was constable of the night. The prisoners were brought to the watch-house. Twelve penny pieces and twenty-eight halfpence were found on Royston - he said he got it by holding horses in St. James's-street. ROYSTON'S Defence. I went to her house to buy a 1 d. pie - nobody was there; the door was open, and I walked out. FLOWERS'S Defence. I never saw this lad till he was eating sheep's head on the ground. ROYSTON - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 15. FLOWERS - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 19.

William Royston was 15 years old when indicted for stealing from Elizabeth Harlow of No.8 Duck-lane, westminster, 35 six penny pieces and 12 half pennies, her property. He was in the company of Joseph Flowers (marquis of Hastings) and they were both sentenced to death. 1836: TOL Yass district. 1/2/1843: Recommended CP.