Henry Greenacre Whall

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd July 2024

This was the previous case: NEW COURT.— Friday. Henry Greenacre Whall was indicted for stealing, on the 15th August, 24 bundles of worsted, the property Barlow. The Jury found the prisoner Guilty. Four other indictments were preferred against the prisoner. In the first he was charged with stealing, the July, 19 knives and forks, the property of Mr. Barlow. When the evidence had been gone through, and the case left to the Jury, they consulted a considerable time, long indeed that Mr. Alley, for the prosecution, consented an acquittal as the Jury appeared to have doubts, having it, he said, in his power to prove the other cases completely. The prisoner was acquitted. He was then indicted for stealing, on the 21 June, razors, value 30s., 120 knives, value 30s., and 120 forks, value 50s., the property of Mr. Barlow. The prosecutor stated, that on searching the prisoner’s he found a number of duplicates of property pawned by the prisoner, and which property he felt confident was his. He accordingly examined the things at the pawnbroker’s, when his suspicions were fully borne out. The articles named in the indictment were then produced in the pawnbrokers, and the prisoner identified them as the person who had pawned them. The various articles were sworn to by the prosecutor his property. The prisoner was immediately found Guilty. The Common Sergeant sentenced the prisoner to transportation for fourteen years. Morning Advertiser, 24 Sept 1825.

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd July 2024

On Wednesday, the 10th instant, an intention of escaping from the county gaol was happily discovered and frustrated. The notorious Henry Greenacre Whall and two other felon prisoners were implicated in this design. To effect their purpose, they had constructed, with great ingenuity, a rope ladder, which they had formed chiefly from their blankets cut into shreds, and stitched with much firmness, so as to render it strong enough to bear the weight of any man. Loops made of old stockings, handkerchiefs, &c., were inserted at convenient distances, to enable them to climb with ready facility: and a bag filled with small stones, and a small grappling-iron made of brag-nails, were attached to one end, which it which it was intended should be thrown over the will of the prison yar d. The time fixed upon for this bold attempt was between twelve and one o'clock—the usual dinner-hour of the prisoners; and they calculated with considerable confidence on the success of their enterprise, from their belief that the Governor would be engaged at that time at the County Hall, where the Quarter Sessions were then held. Their proceedings, however, were narrowly watched, and they were observed in their attempt to throw the rope over the wall. Their first effort failed, as did also a second; they were then immediately seized; two of them were placed in solitary confinement, by order of the Magistrates, for destroying their blankets; and the third was immediately invested with irons, which will render another attempt at escape more difficult. English Chronicle, 23 January 1827. Derby Assizes. —Among the prisoners arraigned was Henry Greenacre Whall, aged 23, charged with being at large before the expiration of fourteen years, for which period he had been sentenced  for transportation. Pleaded guilty.— By the Judge, This affects your life prisoner. Have you well considered your plea?”—Prisoner, My Lord, cannot plead otherwise; it would adding to my iniquity—l cannot conscientiously return any any other plea.”—Sentence death recorded. Staffordshire Advertiser, 31 March 1827.