Sarah Wicks

341

Maureen Withey on 16th February 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 16 February 2020), January 1820, trial of SARAH WICKS ANN PITCHER (t18200112-50). SARAH WICKS, ANN PITCHER, Royal Offences > coining offences, 12th January 1820. 258. SARAH WICKS and ANN PITCHER were indicted for that they, on the 21st of December , at St. James, Clerkenwell , feloniously did dispose of and put away a certain forged and counterfeit Bank note, for the payment of 1 l - (setting it forth No. 60546, dated Nov. 26, 1819. Signed J. Vantiv) - with intent to defraud the Governor and Company of the Bank of England , they well knowing it to be forged and counterfeit . SECOND COUNT, for offering to one Thomas Scaife , a like forged note, with the like intent, knowing it to be forged. THIRD AND FOURTH COUNTS, the same, only calling it a promissory note for the payment of money, instead of a Bank note. FOUR OTHER COUNTS, the same, only stating their intent to be to defraud Samuel Hoskins . Counsel as before. THOMAS SCAIFE . I live with Mr. Hoskins, in High-street, Shadwell. On the 21st of December, about three o'clock, or a little after, the prisoners came to the shop, and asked to look at some Irish linen? They both looked at it and spoke about it; they bought three yards of that, and three yards of print, which came to 6 s. 6 d. together. Wicks laid down a 1 l. note to pay for them. I asked her name and address? and she gave me, "Powell, 2, Church-street, St. George's, Shadwell," which I immediately wrote on the note with a pencil, and gave it to William Curtis , our boy, to get change. He went out, returned, and went into the parlour to Mr. Hoskins - he brought no change - (looks at the note) - this is it. It has the pencil writing on the face. I afterwards wrote it in ink at the office on the examination. It is the note Wicks paid me that day. Prisoner PITCHER. Q. Did I stand close to her when she gave her address? Did I not stand close to the door - She stood close by her and both spoke and acted together - they both acted in the purchase. When the note was put on the counter she was gone to the door, but she returned directly, before I had finished taking the address. Q. How far was she from Wicks - A. About three or four yards - the note laid on the counter, and I was writing on it. I do not think she was present when Wicks paid me the note, but when she gave me the address she was, She was not a moment at the door - the note was paid while she went to the door. She must have seen it when I was writing on it, as she stood where she did before, and saw me give it to the boy to get change. When the boy returned Mr. Hoskins came out of the parlour, asked her whether she could pay for the things? and asked them where they got the note? - it was said that it was suspected to be a bad one; I did not hear what else passed. Wicks asked for the goods when they came into the shop. WILLIAM CURTIS . I am apprentice to the prosecutor, and remember the prisoners coming to the shop - they made a purchase. Scaife gave me a 1 l. note to get change. I took it out to a person, named Butler, but did not get it changed there. I took it to two other places, and at last to Mr. Dorvell's young man - they did not change it because it was forged. I took it to Mr. Dorvell, himself, who gave his opinion that it was forged, and accompanied me to my master's. I went into the parlour to Mr. Hoskins, and gave him the note; he went into the shop to Mr. Dorvell, where the prisoners were. I did not lose sight of the note until I brought it back. SAMUEL HOSKINS . I live at No. 222, High-street, Shadwell. William Curtis brought a note into the parlour to me, I immediately went into the shop, and asked the prisoners where they got it? Wicks said she got it last night from a gentleman. I asked her the gentleman's name? She said she did not know. I then asked them both where they came from? They both said they lived in Black Lion-court, Tooley-street, or No. 29, Morgan's-lane, which I wrote on the note - this is it - (looking at it) - Pitcher said the place was called by both names. I wrote it on the note, and said it was a pity Wicks had given a false address, as I saw my young man's writing on the back, "Powell, Church-street, St. George's." Pitcher then said it was a pity she had given a false address. I asked them if they had any more of these notes about them? and if they were willing to be searched? Pitcher said, "I don't care who searches me," and turned out her pockets - there was nothing in them but a key, that I saw. I said I would detain the note, and if it proved to be a good one in the morning, I would give them the change, but if it was bad they would hear further from me. Pitcher went away and never returned. Wicks remained a little, then sidled out of the shop, and went away, leaving the note with me. Prisoner PITCHER. Q. You asked me if I could send for some one to pay for the goods. I went out to pledge for them - A. I cannot say I recollect it - it might be. GEORGE DORVELL . I live at No. 215, High-street, Shadwell, and am a linen-draper. Curtis brought me a note. In consequence of suspicions I had of it I went to the prosecutor's, and found the prisoners in the shop; the prosecutor came from the parlour, and I told him, in their presence and hearing, that the note was forged. He said it was a pitty she had given a wrong address, and wished them to leave the note. I said I had no doubt but they were common utterers. The prosecutor took the address from Pitcher, and detained the note. Pitcher said she would go out and pledge her ring, and pay for the goods; she went out, and in a little while after Wicks followed her; I followed Wicks out. When she got to the door she did not not know which way to turn, but looked one way and then the other, as if for the other prisoner. I directed her towards my own house, being determined to apprehend her. As we were going along Pitcher came out of a pawnbroker's within one door of my own, and they joined company together immediately. I asked them to step into my shop, as I wished to have some conversation with them. I then sent for an officer, and had them apprehended. Q. Did you have any conversation with them - A. I had - Wicks said she got it from a man with whom she had been in the habit of cohabiting - they did not know I had sent for an officer. I wrote on a piece of paper, "Go for Hewitt," gave it to my boy, and said, "Go for Jackson, and see if my hat is done. Prisoner PITCHER. Q. Did you know me before - A. I have seen her at the shop about two years ago - I cannot say I have had dealings with her. SARAH SIMONS . My husband lives in Ratcliff-highway, and is a haberdasher; our shop is about ten minutes walk from the prosecutor's. On the 21st of December, before three o'clock, the prisoners came to my shop - it was nearer three than two. Wicks asked for womens' stockings; Pitcher stood by her. They both looked at them, and bought two pair at 18 d. each. Q. Who purchased - A. Both looked at them, and talked about them, respecting whether they were large enough. Wicks produced a 1 l. bank note - Pitcher stood by her at the time. I asked Wicks for the address? and she gave me "Mrs. Smart, No. 2, Fort-place, Bermondsey" I should imagine it was in Pitcher's hearing. Q. On Wicks giving you the address did Pitcher make any remark - A. No. I wrote on the note before them - this is it - (looking at it) - Pitcher was persuading Wicks to buy a stuff dress, but she said she could not afford it that day, and she would call again. I gave 17 s. in change - I believe Wicks took it; one of them took the stockings away. Prisoner PITCHER. Q. Did I not stand at the door the while - A. Not the whole of the time. They came in together, and talked about the stockings; Pitcher afterwards went to the door, and returned; the door is a very few yards from where Wicks stood. She was scarcely a moment at the door, she only looked at some stuffs, came back before the address was given, and was present when it was given. THOMAS HOWARD . I live with William Sharman , who is a linen-draper, and lives at Ratcliff-highway. On the 21st of December, between two and three o'clock, the prisoners came and looked at some stuffs at the door. I went to the door, and asked them to come in? which they did; one of them bought four yards and a half, or four yards and a quarter, of stuff. Both looked at it and both agreed to purchase; to the best of my recollection I delivered the stuff to Pitcher - the person to whom I gave the stuff, paid me for it with a 1 l. note; it came to 6 s., and I gave the change to the same person - I believe it was Pitcher; I did not ask for a name or address, as I had not the least suspicion of its being forged. I gave it to William Sharman and saw no more of it; our house is about twenty doors from Simons's; we deal in Irish and stockings. They could have bought both at our house if they chose. I do not know whether the note was bad or not. Prisoner PITCHER. Q. Will you swear I gave you the note - A. Yes, and I asked you to buy a cloth shawl? but you said you could not - Did I think you had been on the highway? I said, "You are on the highway now." WILLIAM HEWITT . I am am an officer of Shadwell. I was sent for to the prosecutor's, and found the prisoners there. I searched them, and found two half-crowns, 1 s., and 6 d. in copper on Pitcher; also a duplicate for 6 s. I saw Morris search Wicks, but nothing was found on her - there was no silver, stockings, black stuff, linen, or any thing. There is no such street as Church-street, St. George's - I have known the parish twenty years. MICHAEL MORRIS . I am an officer. I went with the last witness to the prosecutor's, and searched Wicks; I found nothing on her but a knife and the ring of an umbrella, no silver or goods. CHARLES STANLEY . I am collector of St. George's district, and have been so ten years. There is no Church-street, but there is a Church-road. I do not know the prisoners, and never knew them to live there - there are sixty or seventy houses. I collected from them all formerly. I live within a quarter of a mile from the place, and never knew them. JOHN HENFREY . I live at No. 2, Fort-place, Bermondsey. On the 21st of December, no Mrs. Smart lived there, or either of the prisoners. RICHARD WALKER . I live at another No. 2, Fort-place, Bermondsey, no Mrs. Smart lived there, nor either of the prisoners. ELIZA TERRY . I live at No. 2, George-road, near Fort-place - it is in a line with it. In December last neither of the prisoners, nor any Mrs. Smart lived there. THOMAS GLOVER . I am an inspector of Bank notes. The note is forged in all its parts, paper, plate, and signature, and is not Vantiv's signature, which it purports to be. The water-mark is put in after the paper is made. The other note is forged in every respect; both are impressed from the same plate, and both dated the same. JAMES VANTIV . I am a signing-clerk at the Bank, of 1 l. and 2 l. notes. There is no other of my name. This is not my signature. (The note was then put in and read.) PITCHER'S Defence. Wicks lodged with me. On the morning it rained, she asked me to purchase some things. I said I was going to Blackwall, she said that road would do. We bought the stockings, and afterwards some blackstuff. She met a person she knew, and I left them together; she gave her the bundle, and paid her some money, as she said. When I saw her pay another note, I said, "Sarah, where did you get all these notes?" She said, "I got them last night from a gentleman." WICKS - GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 21. PITCHER - NOT GUILTY . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Burrough. ------------------------------------------------- https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-2$init=CON13-1-2p56 and following pages. List of female convicts from Morely (3), Master, Brown, in 1820, who landed at Hobart, not Sydney. Sarah Wicks, Convicted at Middlesex G.D., 12 Jan 1820, Life.