William Widdison

135

C H on 10th March 2024

Old Bailey Online WILLIAM CROSON. WILLIAM WIDDISON. SAMUEL CROSON. JOHN CROSON. Theft; burglary. 15th April 1801 Text type Trial account Defendants WILLIAM CROSON, WILLIAM WIDDISON, SAMUEL CROSON, JOHN CROSON Offences Theft > Burglary Session Date 15th April 1801 Reference Number t18010415-62 Verdicts Guilty > Lesser offence, Not guilty, Not guilty Punishments Transportation 355. WILLIAM CROSON , WILLIAM WIDDISON , SAMUEL CROSON , and JOHN CROSON , were indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Robert Swaine , John Swaine , Edward Swaine , and Hannah Swaine , about the hour of seven in the night of the 6th of March , and stealing twenty yards of woollen cloth, value 39s. the property of the said persons . (The case was opened by Mr. Jones). JAMES PRIOR sworn. - Examined by Mr. Jones. I am a constable of the Ward of Bassishaw: On Friday, the 6th of March, at 6th o'clock in the evening, I was coming up Basinghall-street , past the warehouse of the prosecutors, I saw William Widdison , William Croson , and Samuel Croson ; there was another man with them, but I cannot say whether it was the other prisoner or not; Widdison was looking in at the sash door of the warehouse; I then passed on, and Widdison joined the other three; I then went to William Mead, to request him to go with me; we went down the street, and saw William Croson and Samuel Croson Standing in the street, in conversation together; at that time I did not see any thing of the other two; I then returned again up the street towards Cateaton-street; on my return back again, William and Samuel Croson were still in the same situation; I then went to a house opposite Mr. Swaine's, from which I had a complete command of Mr. Swaine's warehouse; soon after I was in the house, John Fletcher came to the house; we staid there some short time, and three of the prisoners, Widdison, and William and Samuel Croson, passed the warehouse of Mr. Swaine several times; there was another person with them whom I do not know, he was a tall man, he opened Mr. Swaine's door; it appeared to me as though he lifted the latch, but I am not certain; I saw him go in and come out again; upon that I opened the door of the house where I was, and looked for them, they were then all gone; I went over to Mr. Swaine's, and remained in the warehouse about a quarter of an hour; there were several persons then passed door very swift, two of them were Widdison and William Croson; one of the two shoved the door open a little way, it was then repeated by another, and then another, till it was about half way open, and then William Croson came into the warehouse, Widdison was behind him, in company with him; William Croson took this piece of cloth from off the table that stood in the warehouse, where there was some other cloth; I then put my arm over William Croson's shoulder, and laid hold of Widdison; then Croson dropped the cloth, and Widdison escaped; I then secured Croson, and never quitted my hold of him; William Croson gave me several violent blows on the side of my head, which was the reason Widdison's escaping; I had seen William Croson Samuel Croson on Thursday evening, the 5th, and on Saturday morning, between nine and ten o'clock, I saw Samuel and John Croson at a public-house, in Grub-street, and apprehended them. Cross-examined by Mr. Knowlys, (Counsel for Samuel and John Croson ). - Q. From the time you entered Mr. Swaine's house, did you see any thing of Samuel Croson ? - A. I cannot say that I did; I saw Widdison, William Croson, and Samuel Croson pass by; and after that I saw no more of Samuel Croson till the next day. Q. Samuel Croson went away in a direction from the house? - A. Yes. Q. At the time this happened, was it light enough to discern the features of a man's face? - A. It was certainly day-light. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp, (Counsel for Widdison). Q. When Croson was in the house, and took the cloth, you laid hold of Widdison? - A. Yes. Q. You laid hold of Widdison, who had not touched the cloth? - A. He had not. Q. Widdison did not strike you, as Croson had done? - A. No, he behaved extremely civil. Cross-examined by Mr. Alley, (Counsel of William Croson ). Q. You had made a blow at him first. had you not? - A. No. I had received near a dozen blows on my head before I struck him at all, and then I struck him with my cutlass; I begged of him to desist repeatedly. Q. Do you mean to swear who the man was that had the cloth? - A. Yes. Q. Did you before the Magistrate? - A. I did. Court. Q. How far was the cloth removed? - A. From the table to the door. JOHN FLETCHER sworn. - Examined by Mr. Jones. I am a porter, at Blackwell-hall. On the 6th of March I was with Mr. Prior at the house opposite Mr. Swaine's; I had before that seen the four prisoners at the bar in conversation in Basinghall-street; I am certain of all of them, I am well acquainted with their faces; I stood the space of a minute looking at them; they then separated: two of them came up on one side of the street, and two on the other; I passed them a second time, within about twenty yards of the prosecutor's house; John Crosen at this time pretended to make water against a corner; I stood looking at him for the space of another minute, or a minute and a half, or thereabout; Widdison went up Blackhall's-yard, returned down again immediately, and passed the prosecutor's house; they took particular notice of the house; I then went to a house opposite the prosecutor's. Q. What was the reason of your going into that house? - A. Knowing them to be suspected characters, I went in to watch; after I was got into the house, I observed John Croson opened the prosecu tor's door, and return from it immediately, and I saw no more of either of them for a quarter of an hour, or it might be twenty minutes after, I saw the four prisoners again; one of them opened the door, I believe Widdison, I am not certain; a person next to him pushed if further, and it was repeated by a third person; just after that I saw Widdison and William Croson go into the house; before that I saw one of them lift young Widdison up to look over the blinds, but which of them it was I do not know; I saw no more of them till I heard the cry of stop thief; then I ran after Widdison, but Mr. Swaine's porter, Joseph Ritchings , had taken him before I got up; I was with Mr. Prior the next morning when he took Samuel and John Croson at a public-house, in Grub-street; I identified them both as soon as I got into the house. Cross-exained by Mr. Knowlys. Q. When you went to Grub-street, did you take a person of the name of Rigby with you? - A. There was a person, but I did not know his name. Q. Upon your oath, was not that person taken because he knew the persons of Samuel and John Croson , and you did not? - A. I don't know. Q. Upon your oath, did not Prior desire him to go with you, to identify their persons? - A. I know nothing of what Prior said to him; he was in company with Prior before I was. Q. Did you know John Croson before that night? - A. No. Q. Then how dare you tell that Jury that you knew them to be suspected characters? - A. I did not say so; I said, from the information I received. Q. Attend, Sir, and recollect there is such a thing as a prosecution for perjury; upon your oath, did you not swear that Jury, that knowing them to be suspected characters, you watched them? - A. I said, from the information I had of them. Q. Attend to the question, and recollect you are in a very serious situation; do you mean now to swear, that you did not before swear, that because they were suspicious characters, you watched them? - A. I don't remember saying so. Q. Do you mean to say, that you did not swear that knowing them to be suspicious characters, you watched them? - A. If that was taken down in my examination, it was taken down wrong; if I did mention such a thing, it was inadvertently. Q. There is a great difference between John Croson and Samuel Croson ? - A. Certainly. Q. Do you mean to swear it was John Croson that opened the door? - A. yes. Q. It was not Samuel, but John? - A. It was John. Q. Then Samuel never opened the door? - A. I did not see him open it, and I think I must have seen it if he had. Q. You know, perhaps, that these four persons were indicted for burglary? - A. I don't know what the indictment says. Q. Upon your oath, don't you know that these four people are indicted for burglary? - A. I cannot say what is in the indictment, I never saw the brief. Q. I ask you, don't you know that these four people are indicted for burglary, for breaking open the house? - A. I know that they broke the house after dark, and they entered it after dark. Q. Don't you know that they are indicted for breaking open that house in the night, which we call burglary? - A. Is burglary and larceny the same thing? Q. I see you are a little bit of a lawyer - Upon your oath, don't you know that these people are indicted for a burglary, for breaking open this house in the night? - A. I don't know what the indictment expressed. Q. Upon your oath, don't your know that they were indicted, and charged with breaking open this house in the night time? - A. I should suppose it is. Q. Upon your oath, were you not bound over to prosecute for burglary? - A. I know I was bound over. Q. Don't you know there is a reward of 40l. for each of these persons, if they are convicted? - A. I have heard as much, but I don't know it. Q. You believe it, don't you? - A. I have no reason to believe it. Q. Do you disbelieve it? - A. I have no reason to disbelieve it, I have heard people say so. Q. Upon your oath, do you not believe it? - A. I have always understood it. Q. Do you believe it? - A. I never had the money, nor was ever in a situation to receive it. Q. I do not now ask you whether you know there is a reward ot 40l. but I ask you, do you believe there is a reward of 40l. on the conviction of each of these prisoners? - A. How am I to believe it? Q. I will tell you how you are to believe it; you may be informed of a thing, and believe that information - Now, I ask you, do you believe there is a reward of 40l.? - A. From the best information I ever had, I believe there is. Q. Then if you convict only one, you believe there is a reward of 40l.? - A. Yes. Q. If you convict two, it will be 80l.? - A. Yes. Q. If you convict three, it will be 120l.? - A. Yes. Q. And if you catch a fourth, it will be 160l.? A. Yes.( William Mead was then called, who confirmed the evidence of Prior). MICHAEL WAINEHOUSE sworn. - Examined by Mr. Jones. I am warehouseman to the prosecutors: On Friday, the 6th of March last, Mr. Prior came to our warehouse, I remained with him in the warehouse; I saw three persons come up to the window, two of whom came in, William Croson, and Widdison; William Croson took a piece of cloth off the table and walked off with it; a constable immediately rushed out, and secured William Croson; I picked up the cloth between the door and the kirb-stone, this is the piece of cloth, I am certain to the cloth, there is twenty-six yards of it; I had seen John Croson about a quarter after five o'clock looking at the window. I looked him full in the face, and he walked off; I saw him at the Mansion-house, and knew him again. JOSEPH RITCHINGS sworn. - Examined by Mr. Jones. I am porter to Mr. Swaine, I was in the warehouse with Prior and the last witness: After Prior had been in about a quarter of an hour, William Widdison came up to the door, he opened it a little way, and went away and left it; then another person came, and shoved it a little further, a shortish person, I cannot say who it was; then William Croson came into the warehouse, I cannot swear whether Widdison was within the warehouse door, or whether he was just by; William Croson took up the piece of cloth, and as he was going out Mr. Prior rushed out upon him, and caught hold of William Croson ; throwing his arm over to lay hold of Widdison, he caught hold of him, but they both fought so hard to get away, that he was obliged to leave his hold of Widdeson; I followed him immediately, called out stop thief, and caught him in Church-alley, Basinghall-street; I never lost fight of him at all. EDWARD SWAINE sworn. - Examined by Mr. Jones. Q. Who are the partner s that constitute the firm of your house? - A. Robert Swaine , John Swaine , Edward Swaine , and Hannah Swaine . Q. Look at that piece of cloth? - A. It is our property, it has our name upon it. William Croson did not say any thing in his defence. Widdison left his defence to his Counsel. Samuel Croson 's defence. I was not there at the time the robbery, was committed. John Croson's defence. I am quite innocent of the affair. The prisoner, John Croson , called four witnesses, who gave him a good character. William Croson , GUILTY, aged 19. Widdison, GUILTY, aged 15. Of stealing the goods, but not of breaking and entering the dwelling-house . Transported for seven years . Samuel Croson , NOT GUILTY . John Croson , NOT GUILTY .