William Palmer

Level 55

Barbara Lister on 6th July 2026

William Palmer was a recent employee of a partnership of jewellers run from a house in what is now the Leicester Square area of London. The partners keep a stock of gems and precious metals in a box in the workroom and losses of stock are noticed. Suspicious falling on Palmer one of the partners sets a trap, asking Palmer to work a Sunday so he and Palmer are the only people present. Counting the stones before Palmer's arrival and later confirms that Palmer is taking stock. Discovering that Palmer is living in two rooms at an address in Pimlico (under the name Wells) the partner goes to the magistrates and Palmer and his rooms are searched. The search does find some garnets and topazes. The other stock losses are very likely to have been pawned but Mr Lane, the pawnbroker, dies not positively identify Palmer. (The partner does identify some stones taken by the pawnbroker as lost from his business.) The jury ask about the value of clearly identified stones. (The indictment was for a very long list of stones and metals.) Palmer is sentenced to 7 years transportation for stealing goods valued below 30 shillings. (A higher value might have attracted a death penalty.) (Proceedings of the Old Bailey trial date 14 September 1814) Palmer's page on Digital Panopticon, including linkage to the Baring, is https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=obpt18140914-46-defend454