Joseph Wild

221

D Wong on 24th May 2016

Old Bailey: JOSEPH WILD, Theft > pocketpicking, 19th October 1840. Offence: Theft > pocketpicking Verdict: Guilty > no_subcategory JOSEPH WILD was indicted for stealing, on the 22nd of August, 1 coat, value 10s.; and 1 handkerchief, value 1s.; the goods of George Burgess, from the person of Henry Burgess. HENRY BURGESS . I am thirteen years old—I live with my father, George Burgess, in Holywell-row, Worship-square. On the 22nd of August, between four and five o'clock in the evening, my father gave me a coat wrapped in a blue handkerchief, to take to Oxford-street—in Holborn the prisoner stopped me, and asked me to hold a parcel while he wrote a note—my younger brother was with me—he took the prisoner's parcel, and carried it up to the corner of a court, and then the prisoner snatched this coat and handkerchief from me, and ran up the court—I am sure he is the man—I have no doubt of him—I ran a little way up the court, but he got away—the coat has never been seen since—there was no point to the pencil which he wrote the letter with—this is it—(looking at one)—I know it, because it had no black lead in it—it was broken off at the end. JOHN KERSHAW (police-constable G 123.) I received the pencil at the station-house, and took charge of the prisoner—an officer, who is discharged, searched him at the station-house, but what was found on him I cannot tell. Prisoner's Defence. I know nothing of the robbery. GUILTY . Aged 20. JOSEPH WILD, Theft > simple larceny, 19th October 1840. Offence: Theft > simple larceny Verdict: Guilty > no_subcategory Punishment: Transportation JOSEPH WILD was again indicted for stealing, on the 31st of August, 6 towels, value 10s.; 1 smock-frock, value 2s.; and 1 apron, value 6d.; the goods of Richard Moss. ELIZABETH EBECCA MOSS . I am the daughter of Richard Moss, who lives in Hoxton-market. On the 31st of August my father gave me a bundle containing six towels, a smock-frock, and an apron, to take to my mother—as I was going along Moorgate-street, the prisoner stood in the passage of No. 56—he beckoned me, and told me to take a parcel for him to Mr. Powell's, the second turning down the street, and he would give me 6d.—I took it a little way, and I could not find Mr. Powell—I went into the shop, and said, "If you please, sir, I want to see the shopman"—I had left the parcel my father gave me with the prisoner while I went to find Mr. Powell—I could not find the prisoner nor the parcel when I came back—I was not gone above five minutes—I am sure the prisoner is the man. RICHARD MOSS . I gave my daughter these things to take home—I have never seen them since. WILLIAM BROWN . I was in Moorgate-street on Monday, the 28th of August—I observed the prisoner standing up a passage—I saw him call the little girl to him, and she had a bundle with her. Prisoner. At Worship-street he said it was on Thursday. Witness. No, I said Monday, the 7th of September, but I went home, and told my wife, and found it was on Monday, the 31st of August. GUILTY. Aged 20.— Transported for Fifteen Years. (There were four other charges against the prisoner of a similar nature.) Joseph was 22 years old on arrival in VDL – he was 4’11” tall, fair complexion, pockpitted, brown hair, light grey eyes. Tattoos. Conduct record: Drunk, misconduct, picking locks, then larceny under £5 twice in Jan. 1848 – then sent to Maria Island. 25/1/1849: Joseph died at Long Point, Maria Island.