The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

851.   ROBERT HALL was indicted for offending as a rogue and vagabond a third time, having been before twice convicted .

MR. LAW conducted the prosecution.

MR.   WILLIAM STAPLE . I belong to the Clerk of the Peace's office, Westminster; I produce a record of the prisoner's conviction as a rogue and vagabond, before I. E. Conant, Esq. on the 26th of April, 1819, and the record of the Quarter Sessions of the 1st of July, confirming that conviction; he was sentenced to be confined six months.

- (read).

BANKS   ROBERT NODDER . I am Governor of Tothill-fields Bridewell, the prisoner was committed on the 26th of April, 1819, till the Sessions, and then remanded for six months.

  JOSEPH UNWIN . I come from the clerk of the Peace's office, Middlesex, I produce the record of the conviction of the prisoner as an incorrigible rogue, on the 28th of February, 1820; he was committed to the House of Correction till the Sessions. - (Read) - I also produce the order of the Quarter Sessions confirming the conviction, and ordering him to be imprisoned twelve months, and twice whipped.

MR.   JOHN STAFFORD . I know the commitment to be Mr. Birnie's hand-writing - he is a Magistrate of Middlesex.

MR.   WILLIAM ATKINS . I am Governor of the House of Correction; the prisoner was committed to my custody on the 15th day of April, and discharged at the expiration of twelve months, and twice whipped.

  WILLIAM JEFFERSON . I am an officer. On the 5th of April , between five and six o'clock in the morning, I saw the prisoner coming up Bedford-street, Covent-garden, with another man; he had a basket on his head; I followed them; one went through the market, and the other through the Piazza; I followed the prisoner up James-street, into Great Queen-street, and just as he crossed Wild-street, his companion came up and whistled, and called out Jem; and immediately ran into Drury-lane, the prisoner looked round, did not see me, and went on with the basket on his head; I laid hold of him in King-street, and asked what he had in it; he said nothing; I said, I must see; I pushed him into a public-house, he threw it down, and caught hold of one end of a crow-bar, which was in it, I had the other end, it is a very powerful one, and would open any door in London, it is on an improved

principle, and has an extra purchase, I found a small screw driver in the basket, two sacks, and some green baize; he said, if they were mine, I might have them - that he had found them; I asked where, he said, in Piccadilly, and was going to Newgate-market; I said, that was not the right way.

  THOMAS JONES . I am a constable, and know the prisoner perfectly well; I took him on the first conviction, and was a witness against him; I attended at the second conviction - he is the same man.

Prisoner's Defence. I live at Chelsea; I was going to market, and between St. James's-church and the Haymarket, I found the crow and things, and put them in my basket; I was taken in Holborn; it is a conspiracy against me.

GUILTY . Aged 20.

Transported for Seven Years .

Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant.