John Slater

342

Maureen Withey on 20th July 2025

Tried at the Old Bailey, 4 July 1833. Second London Jury, Before Mr. Justice Gaselee. 1025. JOHN SLATER, alias JOHN WALKER , RICHARD ARTHUR, alias SIMMONS , were indicted, that they, on the 28th of June , at St. Faith, under St. Pauls , about eleven o'clock at night of the same day, the dwelling-house of John Williams , feloniously and burglariously did break and enter, with intent to steal the goods in the same dwelling-house . WILLIAM WILLIAMS . I live at No. 44, Paternoster-row - I am porter to Sanderson and Co. The house is Mr. John Williams's, he is a bookseller and publisher - he is my uncle; he does not live in the house himself, he lets it in offices - I went there at ten minutes or a quarter past eight o'clock in the evening, on the 28th of June; I let myself in with a key - I did not find any body there then; I went up stairs, and got my bed ready; I staid ten minutes, then went out again, and returned at a quarter-past eleven o'clock - I double locked the door when I went out, and when I got back I found it was only single locked; I considered for a moment how it came on the single lock, and I heard the noise of one or more persons coming down stairs - I called to know who was there, but received no answer till the third or fourth time, when one of the men inside answered, "It is only me, old fellow, I found the door open" - I immediately shut the door and locked it, and called the watchman; he came and went away for assistance and a light - he returned, I opened the door, and we all went in - we followed the prisoners up to the top of the house; the watchman there took them - after they were taken to the watch-house, there were some tools found on the first floor of the house, and under the stairs a wax candle - there were twelve holes bored in the first floor, and the top of one of the stairs had been taken off to hide the candle in; there were goods of Mr. Williams's in the house - the second floor was let out, and the shop down below; I did not go over the house, when I first went in, only to the rooms up stairs - there was no person there then to my knowledge. JOHN SMITH . I am Inspector of the watch. On the night in question I went to No. 44, Paternoster-row, about half-past eleven o'clock - I saw the last witness at the door; he let me in - I heard somebody in the house; I went up to the top landing, and found the two prisoners standing there; they said, "Don't alarm yourselves, don't use any bludgeons, we are here" - we took the prisoners to the watch-house, and came back immediately and found these things - here is a dark lantern, a crow-bar, generally termed a jemmy, one chisel, one skrew-driver, one centre-bit, - and a wax candle was in the fifth step from the door, which was broken and part of it wrenched up - in the first floor we found from twelve to fourteen holes bored in the floor; the centre-bit exactly answers the holes - we then went back to the watch-house and searched the prisoners; we found a cord on one of them, I cannot tell which, and a knife - the next day I went to search the house further, and I found two pieces of wax candle that had been lighted; the one I found the night before had not - I looked about to see if any wax had been dropt about, and there was none - they had not got into any place to disturb any goods - I found a center bit in the watch house next day. JOHN KITSON . I am a watchman. I went with the last witness to the house, I believe the house is in St. Faith's parish, I don't know any other name for it - we found the two prisoners on the top landing. COURT to JOHN SMITH. Q. What are you? A. Inspector of the watch of the ward of Farringdon Within - I know the house, it is in the parish of St. Faith under St. Paul's. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, re-examined. Mr. John Williams is not here; he was informed that the Court did not sit till five o'clock - he was five miles out of town when it happened. Slater's Defence. I own it is true I was in the house a little after eleven o'clock - we were in great distress, and are so now - we walked by the house, and saw the door open; we went in with no good intent, but the things now produced never did belong to us, and never were in our possession - we had hardly shut the door before it was opened, and we flew up stairs - I must leave myself to the mercy of the Court, it was done through want. Arthur's Defence. What I have done has been through distress with a view of getting a few shillings to support two fatherless children, which is well known. James Griffiths, a hackney-coachmaster, of Mitcham-street, St. Marylebone, deposed to the previous good character of Slater. Slater. I beg to say one thing, I am aliased in the name of Slater or Walker, my right name is John Slater Walker. WILLIAM WILLIAMS re-examined. Q. Did you look round to see if there was any way in which they could have got in but by opening the door? A. Yes, we did - no one could have got in but by opening the door. SLATER - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 23. ARTHUR - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 45.

16

Emma on 21st September 2018

Assigned to D. Wilson at St. Vincents. Assigned to M. M. Howell at Campbelltown. Gaoled in North Parramatta from 13 January 1845. Given Ticket of Leave Passport 16th July 1849. Given Conditional Pardon 19th January 1850.