Ann Wilkins

Level 346

Maureen Withey on 19th October 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 19 October 2023), October 1832, trial of ANN WILKINS (t18321018-132). ANN WILKINS, Theft > pocketpicking, 18th October 1832. 2338. ANN WILKINS was indicted for stealing, on the 31st of August , 4 sovereigns, one 10l., and one 5l. Bank note, the property of George Williamson , from his person . GEORGE WILLIAMSON . I am in the marines . I came from Chatham about twelve o'clock on the night of the 31st of August; I cannot swear that the prisoner had been in my father's service, but a person of that name lived with him- my father is a farmer at Nottingham: I had been there to get money from my friends to buy my discharge - I had a 10l. note, a 5l. note, and four sovereigns; I had come to town on the Friday, and met with Morley at the Black Horse, Whitechapel - I fell in with the prisoner there, and several others; I went to several public-houses with the prisoner, and treated her; I know that she took my money out of my pocket, and put it in again several times; it was in a napkeen purse in my watch pocket - I slept with her that night, and on the Saturday night, while I was sitting drinking a pint of beer with her, I missed my money; there was no one there but her and Morley when I missed it, and she ran away - I gave an alarm; the officer took her some time afterwards - I am sure the prisoner is the girl who took my note, purse, and money. Prisoner. Q. Did you not say you had 19l.? A. Yes, I had; I had changed one sovereign. HENRY MORLEY . I am in the first regiment of Guards. I did not know the prosecutor till that Friday, when I called in at the public-house and saw him - there were some persons singing, and the prisoner was there; the prosecutor and she met me the next day, and we sat drinking some time; the prisoner then said she knew another place where we could have something to drink - we went there: the prisoner said she had pawned some things, and he gave her money to get them out; when she went out she took his money - when she had been gone about two minutes, I said to him, "Is your money all right?" he then missed it - I had not seen her take it, but I saw it all safe when he gave her the few shillings to get the things out of pawn - the two notes were tied together with a piece of black tape- when the prisoner wanted money for any thing, she asked him, and he gave it her. Prisoner. Q. When I got the money from him to pay for the supper and things, did you not ask for some money for a girl to sleep with you? A. I asked him for two half-crowns, and he gave them to me. JURY. Q. Was he sober? A. Yes - he had a pint or two of beer, and when he put his purse into his pocket, after giving me the two half-crowns, I put my finger into his pocket, to see that his money was safe, and it was. ROBERT CHRISTIAN (Police-constable H 14). On Sunday morning, the 1st of September. I received information that the prisoner was seen with a 10l. and a 5l. note, and that she was gone to Wentworth-street with another girl; I sent a man to fetch her back - I challenged her with having a10l., and a 5l. note; she said she had, and she gave them to me out of her bosom; she said it was part of 100l. which she had robbed her mother of at Cambridge - I afterwards heard that the prosecutor had been robbed; I then went to the Bank, and from there to Messrs. Barclay's, where I found that 20l. in country notes had been changed for a 10l. note, a 5l. note, and five sovereigns - the numbers correspond with these notes. THOMAS SHELSWELL . I am an officer. I found the prisoner's house; I went there to look for the purse, but could not find it - while I was there a letter came from the prisoner, who was then at Clerkenwell. GEORGE WILLIAMSON . This is the prisoner's writing- I saw her write while she was with me several different times. Prisoner's Defence. I cannot write - I am obliged to get the prisoners in the gaol to write letters to my friends, and what the prosecutor has sworn is quite false. GUILTY . Aged 19. - Transported for Fourteen Years . ----------------------------------------------------------------------- National Archives, Criminal Petitions. HO 17/69/77 Prisoner name: Ann Wilkins. Prisoner age: 19. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey, October Sessions 1832. Crime: Stealing from the person. Initial sentence: Fourteen years transportation. Gaoler's report: 'Not known before'. 'Prostitute'. Annotated (Outcome): Abroad. Petitioner(s): Three local supporters. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Previous good character; youth. Date: 1832. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Her sentence appears to have been reduced to 7 years, according to the Tasmanian records. Tasmanian Records. Conduct Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON40-1-9$init=CON40-1-9P337 No 229. Ann Wilkins. Her sentence was extended twice. She finally gained her Free Cert in 1842. See record for details. Muster Roll. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-6$init=CON13-1-6P58 Ann Wilkins, tried Middlesex Gaol Delivery, 18 Oct 1832, 7 years.