William Williams

221

D Wong on 18th May 2020

Old Bailey: WILLIAM WILLIAMS. Theft: theft from a specified place. 7th April 1824 Verdict Guilty Sentence Death WILLIAM WILLIAMS was indicted for stealing on the 22d of March , at St. Mary-le-bone , a sugar bason, value 2 l.; a fish-slice, value 1 l.; a gravy-spoon, value 1 l.; two table-spoons, value 1 l.; a fork, value 10 s.; two salt-spoons, value 7 s., and seven seals, value 5 s., the goods of Henry Elder , in his dwelling-house. HENRY ELDER. I am a coach-maker , and live in Margaret-street, Cavendish-square , in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone. I was not at home at the time in question. SAMUEL SUMMERS. I am a coach-finisher, and live with Mr. Elder. On the 22d of March, between two and three o'clock, I was in the workshop, near the staircase of the dwelling-house. There is a private-door leading to the dwelling-house, and another from the shop, which is generally open, the street door is kept shut. I heard some words on the stairs, looked up, and saw the prisoner behind the cook, who was coming down stairs - she asked him what he did there; he said he was sent there by a gentleman; she then asked what he had in his apron; he said "What is that to you?" she said she insisted upon knowing, and put her hand on his shoulder to stop him from going out - he gave himself a twist, I directly collared him, and insisted on knowing what he had got; I put my hand to his apron, which was tied up round him, something rattled, he said, "Well, come, I will shew you, do not hold me in this way." I took him into the counting-house, and found a sugar-bason, two table-spoons, a fish-slice, a gravy-spoon, a fork, and two salt-spoons on him; he afterwards sat down by the side of the desk, and there I found a seal. ROBERT WILLIANS. I am an officer. The prisoner was given into my custody, with the property, which I have had ever since. MARY LITTLE. I am cook to Mr. Elder. I was going down stairs, and saw the drawing-room door open; I went in, (as I knew it was shut not an hour before) and saw the prisoner coming out of the adjoining room, where part of this plate was kept. I asked him how he came there - he said a gentleman below had sent him up. He asked if some gentleman lived there; I do not recollect the name. I went down stairs before him, keeping him behind. I stopped him at the bottom of the stairs. Summers came - he has stated what passed correctly. Part of the plate was kept in the adjoining room too that in which I saw him, and the other locked up in the room where I saw him. I knew it all to be my masters'. I missed it from where it was taken. MR. ELDER. It is my property; most of it is engraved with my initials; it would take 30 l. to replace it. Prisoner. Q. Are you aware that your door was open - A. It must have been, or he could not have got in. Prisoner. I will leave it to the mercy of the Court. GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 22. Colonial Secretary Index: WILLIAMS, William. Per "Asia", Apr 1825 1825 May 6: On list of convicts landed from the "Asia" and forwarded to Windsor for distribution (Reel 6014; 4/3514 p.210) 22/10/1833: Convict Death Register: William Williams died at Liverpool, NSW.