Catherine Wickhart

116

Tony Beale on 28th January 2021

Old Bailey Online 3405. CATHERINE WICKHART was indicted for stealing, on the 17th of October, 2 yards of floor-cloth, value 2s., the goods of Thomas Holmes, and that she had been before convicted of felony. James Minns (police-constable G 4.) I apprehended the prisoner near the prosecutor's door, in Gray's Inn-lane—the prosecutor's daughter had taken the property from her then. CAROLINE HOLMES . I am the daughter of Thomas Holmes—he keeps a broker's shop I was standing at the door while my father was gone with a bedstead—he came home, and told me this woman had got a piece of floor-cloth, and I went and took it from her—this is it. THOMAS HOLMES . On the 17th I was gone to Brook-street, Holborn, with a bedstead, and while I was looking round for the number, I saw the prisoner with my piece of floor-cloth folded up in her arms—I pitched the bedstead down, and ran home to find the truth of it—I told my daughter the prisoner had taken it. Prisoner. Q. Did I not deliver the floor-cloth into your hands to sell it? A. No, you did not. Prisoner. It was intrusted to my care, and I went to the shop to offer it for sale—I was in a public-house, and a woman came in with it in her hand—it was lost two hours before I had it. JOHN GRAY (police-constable C 164) I produce the certificate of the prisoner's former conviction, which I got from Mr. Clark's office—(read)—she is the person. GUILTY . Aged 40.— Transported for Seven Years. New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 Annotated Printed Indentures 1837 from London Married protestant who can read and write. Convicted of stealing oil cloth 1 previous conviction of 1 month. 4' 8 1/2" Ruddy complexion brown hair and grey eyes New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 18/9/1844 cert no 44/1380 at Windsor New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851 Refused 2/2/1844 Catherine Wickhart 47 ToL (7yrs) per ship Sarah and Elizabeth refused to marry James Smith 51 ToL (life) per ship Greyhound Rev G Stiles Windsor. On arrival stated she was married The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) View title info Sat 24 Nov 1849 Page 2 PARRAMATTA QUARTER SESSIONS. Catherine Wickhart, of Windsor, was charged with stealing, on the 14th instant, one packet containing half a pound of tea, the property of the firm of Horton and Turner, of Windsor. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, whereupon Mr. Horton being sworn, said, that the prisoner came to their store on the day named in the indictment, and after parleying about for some time, she put her hands behind her, and took the stolen article from off a cask. An intelligent lad of the name of Cross confirmed the foregoing statement, with the addition of his having seen his master take the tea from the arm of the prisoner. The prisoner, who was an old woman, cross-examined the witness at considerable length, but to no effect. She very emphatically informed the Court, that there certainly was a great flaw in the indictment ; for instance, the deposition stated the property to be of the value of one shilling, whereas she could get it for sixpence. It appeared from the answers to the old woman's questions, that the prosecutor had exercised much forbearance on occasions of previous thefts by her. The Jury found the prisoner guilty, whereupon the Chief Constable of Windsor, being called upon for the prisoner's character, stated he could not say anything in her favour. The Chairman, in passing sentence, expressed a hope that the prisoner would, whilst undergoing the sentence of the Court, reflect on her age, repent and amend. Sentenced to be confined six months in the Parramatta Gaol. Prisoner again insisted upon it that there must be a flaw in the indictment for the Court to sentence her to six months for sixpence.