

<!-- MAIN CONTENT -->
<div id="main" class="full"><div id="main2">

				<div style="font-family:serif;"><i>Old Bailey Proceedings Online</i> (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 05 October 2023), May 1838, trial of                                                                                                          GEORGE WILLIAMS                   (t18380514-1141).<hr/><h2>GEORGE WILLIAMS, Theft &gt; pocketpicking, 14th May 1838. </h2>                                                            <p>1141.                                                                                                          GEORGE WILLIAMS                   was indicted                                           for stealing, on the                         1st of. May, 1 handkerchief, value 2<i>s</i>.; the goods of                                                                                                 John Chatfield, from his person.               </p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             JOHN CHATFIFLD                  </span>. About half-past seven o'clock on the evening of the 1st of May I was walking up Leadenhall-street&#8212;I felt a pull at my shoulder, and on looking round I saw the witness Whitney having hold of the prisoner, who had my handkerchief under his coat&#8212;I had felt it safe in my pocket not half a minute before.</p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             THOMAS WHITNEY                  </span>. I am a labourer, and live in Elizabeth-court, Dock-head; On Tuesday morning, the 1st of May, about half-past seven o'clock, I was going down Leadenhall-street, and saw the prisoner lift up the flap of the prosecutor's pocket, take out his handkerchief, and place it under the tail of his own coat&#8212;I siezed him, took the handkerchief from him, and took him towards Aldgate watch-house&#8212;he made a desperate resistance, and so did several who were in company with him, by biting my hands, and so on, but I succeeded in lodging him in Aldgate watch-house&#8212;the prisoner said, "He is taking me for doing nothing," and tried to excite the by-standers against me, and he was kicking me and trying to throw me down.</p>               <p>                  <i>Prisoner</i>. I was going along&#8212;there was a handkerchief lying down, and this man came and took hold of me. <i>Witness</i>. I saw him lift the flap of the prosecutor's coat, and take it out&#8212;I laid hold of the prosecutor and the prisoner at the same time.</p>                              <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             JOHN WILLIAM HARDEN                  </span>. I am a constable of Aldgate ward. I received the handkerchief from Whitney&#8212;the prosecutor claimed it.</p>               <p>(<i>Property produced and sworn to</i>.)</p>               <p>                                                                                       GUILTY                  . Aged 18.&#8212;                                          Transported for Ten Years.</p>            </div>
				
</div></div><!-- #main -->