William West

Level 221

D Wong on 5th December 2020

Old Bailey: ROBERT WEST, WILLIAM WEST. Theft: burglary. 3rd December 1817 Reference Number t18171203-5 Verdict Guilty > with recommendation; Guilty Sentence Death; Death ROBERT WEST and WILLIAM WEST were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of George Messenger, the elder, about six o'clock in the night of the 25th of November, at the parish of St. Luke, with intent to steal, and burglariously stealing therein one pair of shoes, value 7s. 6d., his property. GEORGE MESSENGER. I am a shoemaker , and rent a house in Featherstone-street, in the parish of St. Luke . On the 25th of November, about five o'clock, I went out, the window was whole then and the shoes safe. GEORGE MESSENGER, JUN. I am the son of the last witness. On the 25th of November I was in the shop, minding it, the candles were burning in the shop; I saw the prisoner, William West, break a window with his hand, it was whole before. The prisoner, Robert West, came and took a pair of shoes out, I immediately opened the door, ran out and called stop thief! they were taken directly and brought into the shop - I knew the shoes to be my father's. I took William West myself, he was walking, I collared him-Evans came up and secured him. I am sure I saw him break the window, it was a quarter before six o'clock. I went to see the time directly as they were brought back, it wanted ten minutes to six. Prisoner WILLIAM WEST. Q. Will you swear I broke the window - A. Yes; I knew his face - I had never seen him before. I stopped him about twenty-yards from the house; I was close to the window when he broke it. There were three candles in the shop, one was near that part of the window that he broke. I am sure Robert West put his hand in, and took the shoes out. JOSEPH EVANS. I am servant to Mr. Messenger; I was in the kitchen, which is under the shop, I heard the window break, and the cry of stop thief! I ran up, followed George Messenger and found him about twenty yards off, with the prisoner, William West , and brought him back. He charged him with breaking the window-the prisoner denied it. JOHN WEATHERFIELD. I am a backmaker, and live in Peartree-street. I was coming by and heard the cry of"stop thief," and saw the prisoner, Robert West , going along Banner-street, I stopped him, and asked him, what he had been doing; he said, he had done nothing; I said he must have done something; he then said, he had slipped down and broke a window. I asked him what he had got in his lap - He refused to shew me; I collared him, he then produced a pair of shoes, and offered them to me to let him go. I took him to Messenger's. THOMAS VANN. I am an officer. I took the prisoners into custody. William West begged of Mrs. Messenger to let him pay for the window; he said he did not break it, but his brother did ( Robert West had his right hand cut, and his wrist and thumb were grazed, the other had no blood about him), the window is about two feet from the ground. George Messenger could see them very well. (Property produced and sworn to.) WILLIAM WEST'S Defence. I neither broke the window nor took the shoes. W. WEST - GUILTY. - DEATH . Aged 20. Recommended to Mercy. R. WEST - GUILTY. - DEATH. Aged 21. Robert West arrived NSW per 'Glory 1818'. ____________________________________________________________________________ William West was listed as 21 years old on arrival. Native Place: London. William was 5'4¼" tall, fair sallow complexion, light brown hair, hazel eyes. Colonial Secretary Index: WEST, William. Per "Hadlow", 1818; shoemaker 1822 Mar 4: Servant to James Smith, builder. Petition for ticket of leave (Fiche 3229; 4/1868 p.42) 1824 c.Apr, Oct 8: Assigned convict mechanic whose master was a defaulter in payment for (Reel 6061, 4/1778 p.265c; Fiche 3293, 5/3821.1 p.2) 1824 Apr 28: On return of bonded mechanics (Fiche 3293; 5/3821.1 p.8) 1824 May 11: On list of mechanics recalled to Government employ who have not been forthcoming (Reel 6060; 4/1776 p.35) 11/11/1839: TOL - Allowed to remain in the district of Invarary - Bungonia Bench. 5/8/1843: TOL Bungonia 28/2/1847: Convict Death Register - William West died in the District of Bungonia, NSW.