John William

342

Maureen Withey on 24th February 2022

HAMPSHIRE ASSIZES. On Wednesday sennight, these Assizes concluded, and in addition to our report given last week, the remaining prisoners convicted were sentenced as follows; and the others acquitted: Death Recorded. John Yewer, James Wallis, Chas. Russell, and John Williams, for breaking open a house at Alresford, and stealing various articles, the property of J. L. Winn. Reading Mercury, 28 July 1834. -------------------------------------------------- The mother of John Yewer presented a petition regarding his sentence: National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/84/82 Prisoner name: John Yewer (John Yewer Haysom). Prisoner age: 17 years. Court and date of trial: Hampshire Summer Assizes, Winchester, July 1834. Crime: Burglary, in the house of John Lawrence Winn (John Laurence Winn) at the Parish of New Alresford [Hampshire] on 27 April 1834. Initial sentence: Death recorded and commuted to 14 years transportation. Gaoler's report: 'Character bad'. Annotated (Outcome): 'Nil'. Petitioner(s): Elizabeth Haysom (mother) of Southampton [Hampshire]. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): First offence; his youth; previous good character; led into the offence by others. Additional Information: Ordered to Leviathan [convict hulk]; convicted with three others [including William Fagan alias James Wallis]. Date: 1834 July 31. --------------------------------------------------- Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-47$init=CON31-1-47p93 1893. John Williams, Tried Southampton Ass, 10 July 1834, 14 years. Transported for Burglary, Stated this offence, Housebreaking and burglary. Tried with John Yewer, and Charles Russell. Single Surgeon’s report, Quiet, orderly. Many incidents on his record. In margin: Q.S. Richmond, 9 April 1847, 7 years. (Larceny of wearing apparel) -------------------------------------------------- QUARTER SESSIONS, RICHMOND. MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1847. Peter O'Brien and John Williams stood charged with stealing a pair of boots of the value of 5s., and other articles, the property of John Cawser. John Cawser, sworn.-I was in Richmond on the 16th February last ; I was not more than two hours in the township, before I became quite drunk; I recollect having something to drink at Ockerby's, in the skittle ground ; I remember being at Burgess', and also having a glass or so at Murphy's ; I do not know either of the prisoners; they never were mates of mine; after I had had a sleep, I found myself " landed again " (being quite naked) ; I knocked at the door, thinking I was at Burgess's, but it proved to be the watchhouse door; when I came into Richmond, I was dressed in a blue frock, waistcoat, boots, &c. ; when I knocked at the watch house door, I had nothing on but my trowsers ; these boots are mine, and are worth 5s. ; this waistcoat is mine, and is worth 2d. ; this handkerchief is mine, and is also worth 2d. ; they did not take my shirt. Peter Thoipe, sworn.-I am a constable, and remember the 16th February last ; saw the last witness on that day in Ockerby's skittle ground, apparently asleep in the corner; Constable Brown was with me; we were in the skittle ground; the prisoners came to the skittle ground while we were there ; prisoner O'Brien went and lay down by the side of the prosecutor, saying "Are you asleep, old man ?" he made no answer ; I then saw him take the boots off Cawser's feet ; after he had taken the boots off, he said to the other prisoner, "Shall I take the trowsers off?" who replied, " No." Williams was standing in the skittle ground ; they could not see us because we were concealed ; O'Brien rolled the boots in a handkerchief, and said to Williams, ''cobding," which means " Take these from me ;" they then both walked away ; Brown and I followed them, and took the things from them; Williams was1 going across the yard when I apprehended him ; I found these boots on him, under his arm; this handkerchief was rolled round them ; I took Williams to the watchhouse; on searching him, he had on a blue shirt and two waistcoats ; this blue shirt and waistcoat are what he had on ; after we had stripped them, we told them each to put on their own clothes, and Williams put these on; I asked him how he became possessed of them ; he said the old man was his, mate, and he was taking care of them for him. Cross-examined by O'Brien. - These boots were on the old man's feet when I went into the skittle ground; it was about eight o'clock in the evening ; it was moon-light, and I saw you take the boots off. Jabez Brown, sworn.- I am a constable ; I apprehended O'Brien just as he got into the street ; I lost sight of him for an instant, but I swear he is the man I saw in the skittle ground take the boots off Cawser's feet ; I knew him before; Williams said they were going to take care of the things for the old man, as they were all grubbers employed together, and said to me " I shall depend all on you, as you are a ' Towney ' of mine, I hope you will not bump very hard against me." [The witness also corroborated the former in most particulars.] Cross-examined. - The prosecutor had no blue shirt on when I went into the skittle ground, and I heard the prisoner O'Brien say, " Cob Ding" and saw him hand Something to the other prisoner. The learned chairman called upon the prisoners for their defence, but they had nothing to say; he then summed up the case to the jury, who, 'without retiring; found a verdict of Guilty against both the prisoners. They were each sentenced to seven years' transportation. Colonial Times, 27 Apr 1847.