| Reference Number | t17940430-108 |
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| Verdict | Guilty > with recommendation |
| Sentence | Death |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 24 March 2023), April 1794, trial of JOSEPH GEORGE (t17940430-108). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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336. JOSEPH GEORGE was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Thomas Weightman , about the hour of eight at night, on the 17th of February , and burglariously
stealing therein, five silk handkerchiefs, value 1l. his property .I live in Newgate-street . On the 17th of February, this boy and another were looking at my window, about half past seven in the evening; I saw the boys standing there; in a very little time I heard the window crack; I went immediately to the door, and before I could get to the door, they had drawn out five silk handkerchiefs, by a wire or some kind of tool; however I pursued them both down Snow hill, but I lost them; I am certain the prisoner was one of them. On the Monday evening following, which was that day week, the very same boys came again; my boy ran out to the door and laid hold of this; that evening they got nothing, they had very near got a card of lace, but they did not get it out.
Q. Is your window an upright, one part no farther projects out than another? - No; it is exactly upright, within the upright of my house.
Q. It is not a shew glass that takes in and out? - No.
Q. And when you shut your windows at night, you enclose it within your house? - I certainly do.
Prisoner. Was the window broke before? - Never.
About seven in the evening, the 24th of January, I was standing behind our counter, tying up a parcel, Monday evening, and I heard one of the windows crack, with that I jumped over the counter and I opened the door, and I saw the prisoner at the bar and another run from the window; they attempted to make their escape round the corner, by Mr. Brewer's corner, and I pursued them and laid hold of this just by the corner.
Prisoner. I was walking down Newgate-street, and as I was coming down I was going to cross over at Snow-hill that lad catched hold of me, and said that I had been breaking his master's windows, and they took me into the shop and shewed me a broken window with a piece of tin against it, and the gentleman said that he put a piece of lace nigh there, thinking that he should catch some of us.
I keep a poulterer's shop in Greek-street, Soho. The prisoner's father is a fishmonger, the boy is brought up to the same business, I have known him these ten years, his general character is good, he lived in Greek-street, Soho.
I am a Shoe-maker, No. 8, Moor-street, Soho; I have known the prisoner above sixteen years, he is about nineteen years; of his character I never heard any harm; he used to occupy along with his father, his father is, what I call, a walking fishmonger.
The prisoner called four other witnesses to his character.
GUILTY. Death . (Aged 18.)
Recommended by the jury on account of his youth and general good character .
Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER.