Elizabeth Wood

Level 42

Alison Ellett on 24th December 2022

586. SARAH CONJUIT , and ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN WOOD , were indicted for feloniously stealing a pair of silk stockings, value 7 s. a pair of cotton ditto, value 3 s. 6 d. the property of Isaac Garner , privily in his shop . She was transported with her 2/3 year old daughter also Elizabeth on the Neptune one of the worst ships where the death rate was extremely high Elizabeth was sent to Norfolk Island where she married Edward Westlake her daughter later married James Pellinger Pillenger Later they settled In Tasmania ISAAC GARNER sworn. I live near Shoreditch turnpike ; I am a hosier ; I was not at home at the time the robbery happened; I only speak to the property. ELIZABETH GARNER sworn. On the 19th of August , the two prisoners came into our shop; I never saw them before; I was in the shop; the prisoner Woowhere she later married James Pellinger/Pillengerd asked for men's ribbed cotton stockings; I shewed them some at three shillings and six-pence a pair; they did not like the rib; I shewed them another, but they were not fine enough; then the prisoner Conjuit said there is a pair at the corner of the window, of dark stockings with clocks, which we wish to look at; while I was getting them, I saw the tall prisoner take the pair of cotton; I did not see her take the pair of silk; I asked her four shillings for the dark stockings; she bid me three shillings; I told her we did not deal in that manner; then she bid me six-pence more; I saw the cotton stockings under her arm; I did not see the silk stockings till I came round the counter; she had put the cotton stockings under her cloak; under her right arm, but covered them quite; I took them from her; she gave me bad language; they were both in liquor; she swore, but I cannot recollect the words: the prisoner Wood dropped the silk stockings from her left side, when I shook her; and See originalClick to see original the little prisoner took them up, and said are these yours? I said yes; and sent for an officer; he told me to take them into the parlour and search them; I found nothing but duplicates of four pair of stockings pawned that day; I never saw the prisoners before; I saw the silk stockings ten minutes before they came in; they hung on a line at the door and the cotton next to them; the prisoners were twenty minutes in the shop after I began to suspect them; I looked sharp, and saw the prisoner Wood take the cotton stockings. Court. What distance from the line was the prisoner? - About two yards. Was it possible these stockings could be shook off the line? - I was on the opposite side of the shop, towards the top, and the line was at the door; I gave the stockings to the officer, and he gave them to me again; I have kept them till this morning. (The stockings produced and deposed to.) JAMES SHAKESHAFT sworn. I returned the same stockings again to Mrs. Garner. PRISONER WOOD's DEFENCE. I went to buy my husband a pair of stocings; I asked for a pair of mottled stockings with clocks; she shewed me one pair: I told her, they were too good; she said she missed a pair of stockings; she ran from behind the counter, and shook me in such a manner, whether they fell down or not, I cannot say; I sell things in the streets. PRISONER CONJUIT's DEFENCE. I went with this Mrs. Wood to buy a pair of stockings; I had the child in my arms, I saw a pair of silk stockings laying, the child took them up, and gave them to the prosecutrix, the prosecutrix bid me go; she said she said she had nothing against me, I would not go out, the officer came and took us both. Prosecutrix. I stopped her, and would not let her go, I locked her in, she said she had left half a guinea over the way. ELIZABETH GILL sworn. I know Sarah Conjuit from a baby; and her mother and father are very honest industrious, good people; her poor mother lays almost dead in the yard now; I cannot say I ever knew any thing against her till now; she has been a girl on the town, misfortunate, but nothing else. BOTH GUILTY, Of stealing, but not privately . The Prosecutrix recommended the prisoners to the mercy of the Court. Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice WILSON.