Joseph Skipps

21

Gail Stevens on 23rd March 2016

842. JOSEPH SKIPPS and HENRY STREAMER were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 23rd of July , one sheep, value 2 l. the property of William Mellish , esq . THOMAS FIELD . I am a shepherd to William Mellish , esq. who is member of parliament for this County, and resides at Enfield . I counted my sheep three or four times over between the hours of five and six in the evening of Saturday the 22nd of July, they were all right then; I saw them on the Sunday, but did not count them. On the Monday I counted them and missed one ewe sheep. Afterwards upon an examination before the Magistrate, I saw a sheep's skin, which I knew was the skin of one of Mr. Mellish's sheep. The skin produced. Mr. Gurney. Is this the skin produced before the magistrate, and is it the skin of one of your master's sheep - A. It is. I know the marks, I and the bailiff marked them. DANIEL SHORT . I live at Endeid. I know the two prisoners, they and a man named Corbey, who has run away, all lived in the same house, which is Corby's father's house. We went to the Two Brewers public house, at Ponders End; we there had a pot of beer outside of the door. After that we went to Mr. Mellish's field above the brick ground, and drove the sheep up against the hedge and the gate, and there Thomas Corbey caught one by the leg, dragged it into the ditch, tied its legs together, and put it into a sack. We took it down to Corby's See original house, Streamer carried it part of the way, and we all assisted for that purpose. When we had got to Corbey's house, Streamer stuck it. We then went into the brick ground for some wood; we then went back to Corbey's, and Corbey skinned it, and I purchased it. We took the skin into a bean field, and we buried it in the field. I afterwards told Mr. Reynard, the patrole, where it was buried, and it was dug up there. The carcase was cut up into quarters, and put into a box, and the box was taken into a field of Mr. Allen's, two fields off of Corbey's house. I was afterwards taken up for an assault, and confessed to the patrole. JAMES KENT . I am a constable. I had a warrant to take Short, Corbey, and Streamer, for an assault, and in consequence of some information which Short gave, I assisted in taking Skipps. JOHN KNIGHT . I am a constable also. Skipps was delivered to my charge. I told him it would be better to confess; Streamer was not present at that time. I was afterwards present at the examination of Skipps and Streamer: before the Justice; I don't know whether what Streamer said there was taken in writing or not. MR. SAWYER. I acted as clerk to the magistrates on this occasion. But what Streamer said in reference to Short's evidence, was not taken in writing. John Knight . After Short had given his account of the transaction, I heard Streamer say that he stuck the sheep, and Short took the knife out of his hand, and finished it, saying, he (Streamer) did not know how to do it. Mr. Sawyer. During the examination of Short, before the magistrate, when he was giving his testimony against the two prisoners, Streamer made several remarks, without any promise, or threat, or inducement whatever; he was told to be quiet. He said, that what Short had said with respect to his (Streamer's) sticking the sheep, was not true, for that he (Streamer) only stuck the sheep once, and Short took the knife out of his hand, and finished it, saying, he (Streamer) did not know how to do it. JOHN REYNARD . I am a horse-patrole of Bow-street. After Short was in custody, he told me where to find the skin of a sheep, which had been stolen from Mr. Mellish's grounds; he told me that it was buried in a bean field, opposite to Corbey's house; I went there, and dug out the skin as near as possible to the place he described to me. This bean field belonged to Mr. Mellish. JOHN HEWITSON . I am bailiff to Mr. Mellish, and was with the last witness when this skin was dog out. DAVID ORME . I keep the Two Brewers, at Ponders End, which is very near where the sheep was stolen from. I heard that a sheep had been stolen that night. Short came into my house that night, and took a pot of beer outside the door, to Corbey and the two men, one of whom I knew to be Skipps, and the other might have been Streamer, but I don't know. Thomas Field . On examining the field on the Monday morning, when I missed the sheep, I could perceive by the tracks, that they had been all driven up against the gate and the edge in one corner. Streamer's Defence. I am innocent of the crime laid to my charge. Skipps's Defence. I am innocent. SKIPPS, GUILTY - DEATH . STREAMER, GUILTY - DEATH . Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Bailey.

221

D Wong on 17th February 2014

Joseph was convicted along with Henry Streamer (also onboard Mariner) for "Animal Theft". They stole 1 sheep, value £2, the property of William Mellish esq. Both were sentenced to death. March/June 1825: Servant of Mrs Catherine Cruise of Lane Cove; testimony as to his character for a TOL 1827: TOL 27/4/1837: CP Indications are that Joseph died in England.

21

Gail Stevens on 17th February 2014

Joseph had one son, John, to Martha nee Buckland, just before he was sentenced. John was transported to Australia for life in 1833.