James Walker

342

Maureen Withey on 2nd February 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 02 February 2023), January 1824, trial of JAMES WALKER (t18240114-15). JAMES WALKER, Theft > burglary, 14th January 1824. 223. JAMES WALKER was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Richard Till , about the hour of ten in the night of the 6th of January , at St. Matthew, Bethnal-green , with intent to steal, and burglariously stealing therein, eight silver spoons, value 45 s., and a pair of sugar tongs, value 1 s. , his property. RICHARD TILL . I am a green-grocer , and live in Globe street , in the parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal-green. On the 6th of January, I left home between seven and eight o'clock, and left nobody at home; my wife went out before me - it was quite dark. I fastened all the doors and windows. Between nine and ten o'clock, in consequence of an alarm, I returned home, and found people outside the door. Turner, went to the back of the house, and I to the front door, which I found fastened as usual - I opened it with the key. I had seen a light up on the first floor before I got to the house; I had left a light on the ground floor myself. On opening the door, I held it in my hand - two men came rustling down stairs; I said, "You are not coming out this way," holding the door fast; they then ran to the back part of the house - one escaped, and Turner took the other, who was the prisoner; we brought him into the house, searched him, and found a picklock key, matches, a piece of wax candle, a phosphorus bottle, and 13 s., but nothing of mine. I went up stairs, found the drawers all pulled out, and all the best of my wife's wearing apparel sorted out, tied up, and taken into the shop below. My clothes were taken out of the back room, and carried into the shop. Seven spoons were taken out of the cupboard down stairs, and one from up stairs, and taken away entirely - they have not been found. Those clothes which were not so good as the rest were thrown on the floor and trampled upon. Cross-examined by MR. ALLEY. Q. The persons who got into the house must have entered at the back - A. No, they must have got in in front, with a picklock key. I did not find my back door open - they opened it when they ran to the back of the house. Several persons followed after me into the house. COURT. Q. Could any of those persons remove the property down stairs - A. No, my Lord. Twelve or thirteen picklock keys were found on the premises. I tried one to the street door; it unlocked it. They opened the back door as they went out. JAMES TURNER . I joined the prosecutor opposite his own door. I went round to the back premises, and when I got to the door, I heard a great bustle, and before I got up to the door two men came out; the first had a dark lantern, nearly shut, but sufficiently open to shew a small light. I attempted to seize him, but did not succeed. I took the second, which was the prisoner. The lantern was found in the back ground afterwards. I pushed the prisoner into the back parlour, searched him, and found a picklock key on him, also some matches, a phosphorus bottle, and 13 s. I assisted in taking him to the watch-house, and when I returned I got a light, searched further, and close to the back parlour door, I found six morepicklock keys, laying in the wash-house, inside the house - the back door comes from the wash-house. I found a crow-bar and hat in the garden. Till and I applied the picklock keys to the front door; one of them opened it. I went up stairs, and found the drawers broken open, and things in disorder - there were marks on the drawers and boxes, which matched with the crow-bar. ELIAS EVERETT BACON . I am headborough of Bethnal-green. I was at the door, and entered immediately after Till. Turner called out that he had caught one, and brought the prisoner forward; we searched him, and found these things upon him. He gave his name as Jones at the watch-house; somebody came in and said, "That is young Walker;" he then owned that to be his name. WILLIAM HATHORN . I am a watchman of Bethnal-green. I was going my rounds between nine and ten o'clock, and saw a glimmering light in Till's first floor room; it was moving about. Knowing that Till was out, I fetched him, accompanied him to the house, and Turner brought the prisoner forward. ELIZABETH JANE TILL . I went out before my husband, and came home a few minutes after him, and found the prisoner in charge. A bundle was in the shop, containing two shawls, two tablecloths, and other things, which I had left locked up in the drawers; the boxes in the back room were broken open and robbed. I had locked up a desert spoon in the drawer up stairs; the tea spoons and sugar tongs were down in the parlour cupboard, which was not locked. I had used them all at tea. Prisoner's Defence. I was in my way home from Mile-end, and passing the back of this house, which is a public thoroughfare, I heard a cry of thieves - the gate at the back of his premises was open. I immediately ran towards the back of the house, when a man ran against me, and almost pushed me down. I went towards the other two men; they laid hold of me, and said, "You are one." Seven or eight men ran through the house, into the garden, took me into the shop, and took 13 s. out of my pocket; but the key, phosphorus bottle, and matches I never had about me, as God is my Judge. JAMES TURNER . The back door was closed when I went up to it, and he came out. Three witnesses gave the prisoner a good Character. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 22. Before Mr. Justice Burrough. -------------------------------------------------- National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/30/751824 Prisoner name(s): James Walker. Prisoner occupation: Dyer. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey January Sessions 1824. Crime: Burglary of Richard Till, greengrocer of Bethnal Green. Initial sentence: Death. Annotated (Outcome): Considered at the Council 19 March 1824. Petitioner(s): 2 petitions from Thomas Elizabeth Walker of Collet Place, Commercial Road, parents and 47 others. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Parents are getting old and have raised 14 children, only one got into bad company and was tried and convicted; convict's first offence, previously sober and hard working; is very penitent. Other papers: Two letters to Mr Peel and N Knowlys from Mr J C Harriott who has known the family for 16 years, transferring and supporting the petition.