John Williams

110

Ron Garbutt on 23rd March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 23 March 2020), April 1815, trial of JOHN WILLIAMS MICHAEL BROWN (t18150405-137). JOHN WILLIAMS, MICHAEL BROWN, Theft > grand larceny, 5th April 1815. 560. JOHN WILLIAMS and MICHAEL BROWN were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 25th of February , one hundred and twenty-nine yards of printed cotton, value 3 l. the property of John Birt . JAMES FORD . I am shopman to John Birt , linen-draper , 8, Russell-street, Covent Garden . On the 25th of February, about ten o'clock in the morning, I saw six pieces of print tied fast to a chair before our door; I went out, and I heard some boys say that the men that took the print were taken to the Brown Bear , Bow-street; I went to the Brown Bear , and saw the prints and the two prisoners. MR. GASKINS. On the 25th of February, I was going along Wild-street; I saw the two prisoners with a bundle, and a great number of persons after them; they turned up. Orange-street, ran into an empty house; they came out again without the bundle, and went away. I then went up to Bow-street, I met Dickens, the officer; I told him; he said, he would go with me if I would shew him the house; I took him to the house, and in the dust hole, there were six pieces of print; on our leaving there to go to Bow-street, I saw John Williams : I am sure he is one of them; when I saw Brown, he was disguised; I was not so sure of him. JEREMIAH SCRIVEN . I saw the two prisoners go up Wild-street; a mob of people followed them; I was looking at them; they turned up Orange-court, went into an empty house with the prints; they staid there a bit, and came out without it. When the officer took the property, the officer asked if any body knew them; I said, I did; I went with the officer. I am sure the two prisoners are the men. SAMUEL DICKENS . I am an officer. Gaskins came and informed me he saw John Williams go into an empty house with the prints that I produce; I found the prints in the dust hole of No. 3, Orange-court. Ford. These are the six pieces of print that we had in the chair before the door; they are Mr. Birt's property. WILLIAMS, GUILTY , aged 19. BROWN, GUILTY , aged 16. Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder. https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18150405-137