The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

353.   JOHN DONOVAN,  WILLIAM WHITE , and   JOHN HENNESSY , Robbery with violence on   George Hammersley, and stealing a watch and chain, his property.

MR. WALKER Prosecuted.

  GEORGE HAMMERSLEY . I am a caretaker, and live at 85, High Street, Aldgate—on 10th January I was in High Street,  Whitechapel, at 7. 30—when I got to the corner opposite Webb's public-house I was surrounded by three or four men, who shoved me and made a noise "Hi! hi!"—I did the same to try to go between them, but could not, and all at once I said "What the devil are you up to?" and then they threw my arms up, and my overcoat, undercoat, and waistcoat were pulled open, and my watch was pulled from me from behind—I turned round, and they were gone—it was a very thick fog, and I could not see three, yards from me—I cannot identify any one—the value of my watch and

chain was 5l.—all the men dispersed in a moment—Frost made a communication to me, and went to fetch a constable.

  WILLIAM FROST . I live at 36, Rodney Buildings, Pitfield Street, and am a lamplighter—on 10th January I was in High Street,  Whitechapel at 7. 30 p.m., and saw the three prisoners walking to the prosecutor—they seemed to follow a woman round; they did not get anything—after I had been watching them about five minutes I saw a large number of men, including the three prisoners, round Mr. Hammersley—they helped Kaylor, a man now undergoing 12 months, and pinned the prosecutor against the wall—then I saw his watch snatched by another man not in custody, and it was passed to McCarthy, and all the prisoners made off—I next saw Donovan and White in Fashion Street, in a public-house, last Friday evening—I pointed them out to Sergeants Flack, New, and White.

Cross-examined by Donovan. There were 13 of you on that night—I was about a yard from you and could identify you—I identified you at Leman Street Police-station on Saturday afternoon at four o'clock—I pointed you out on Friday in the public-house.

Cross-examined by White. I had a good look at you outside a very light public-house—I had seen Donovan once or twice before.

  WILLIAM NEW (Detective Sergeant). On 10th January I was in High Street,  Whitechapel, just before seven o'clock, and saw Donovan, White, Kaylor, McCarthy, Gibbs, and two other men, standing together outside Webb's public-house—I did not see them again till, in company with Sergeants Thick and White, I arrested Donovan and White in a public house in Fashion Street on Friday week—we took them to the station—afterwards we went to another public-house and arrested Hennessy—Donovan said, in answer to the charge, "I don't belong to that gang; I did not steal the watch; I know nothing about it"—White said, I think, "I don't go with that gang"—Hennessy said "I know nothing about it"—Donovan said nothing to me about having a bad leg—neither White nor Hennessy said anything to me about being in bed at the time—they were put with nine other men on Saturday and identified by Frost—the constable who arrested Hennessy is ill and cannot be here.

Cross-examined by Donovan. I saw your leg afterwards, because I was told you had kicked out, and I found bruises and a bandage on it.

Cross-examined by Hennessy. You were placed with six others to be identified—there were nine altogether.

The Prisoners' Statements before the Magistrate., Donovan says:" I was in bed with a bad leg and neck at the time." White says: " I was in bed at the time." Hennessy says: "I was at home that foggy night."

Witnesses for White.

  MARY ANN WHITE . I live at 15, Great Pearl Street, Spitalfields, and am a cigar box paperer—I am White's sister-in-law—you saw me in the London Hospital in the  Whitechapel Road at very near 6. 30 by the hospital clock—you left the hospital at 6.20 p.m. on Friday, 10th January, and you went home to your mother, who lives at 75, Bacon Street, Bethnal Green.

Cross-examined. He would go along Cambridge Heath Road to go to his mother's from the hospital— Whitechapel is not the same as High Street,  Whitechapel; it is Aldgate way—it would take a quarter of an hour to walk from the hospital to High Street—I don't think it is more than

half a mile—I do not know Webb's public-house—his mother is at work to-day—she knows her son is being tried, and that he was at home on this night—I don't live at the same place as his mother.

  MARY HENNESSY . I am Hennessy's mother—I live at 15, Brick Street, Brick Lane,  Whitechapel—on the night of 10th January he was at home—it was either Thursday or Friday; I am certain of it.

Cross-examined. He was at home all day; he helps me with my work—he did not go out.

Donovan in his defence stated that he had a bad leg, and that he could not have committed this robbery.

White stated he had just come out after three months in gaol, and that he was in bed when this occurred.

Hennessys stated that he was at home and knew nothing about it.

DONOVAN and WHITE— GUILTY .

HENNESSY— NOT GUILTY .

Donovan then PLEADED GUILTY** to a conviction of felony in December, 1883, and White to one in October, 1887.— Twelve Months Hard Labour each.

The Court commended Frost's conduct, and awarded him 3l.