Person:John Wellings (1)

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 1674-1913 John Welling 1835

NICHOLAS POWERS, JUSTINE INNES, JOSEPH BENGE, JOHN LINNEY, Theft > stealing from master, Theft > receiving, 21st September 1835.

2067. NICHOLAS POWERS, JUSTINE INNES , and JOSEPH BENGE were indicted for stealing, on the 3rd of August, 8 pounds 4 ounces of copper, value 8s., the goods of Richard Hughes, their master; the said Joseph Benge having been before convicted of felony: and JOHN LINNEY for feloniously receiving the same, knowing it to be stolen. MR. BODKIN conducted the Prosecution. JOHN MINCHIN . I was in the employ of Mr. Hughes, a copper-plate engraver—Powers, Innes, and Benge were in his employ—this copper-plate, weighing for pounds eight ounces, was taken in the course of August, from my master's premises—Benge brought it out in his apron, and gave it to me—I took it to the prisoner Linney's house—he said me 4s. for it himself, by weight, at 6d. a pound—I brought the money to Powers, who divided it among us four. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Has the copper been scraped? A. Yes. JAMES CARTER . I am policeman. On the 22nd of August, in consequence of information, I stopped a cart in Perry's-mews—Linney was driving it—I searched two bags in the cart, and found the copper now produced among a quantity of other copper—I asked Linney how he became in possession of this—he said, "I can give a good account of it; I bought it of Mr. Welling, in Gray's-inn-lane"—the sacks were open before him when he said so—as I was taking him to the station-house, he said he would give me any money if I would let him take part of it out, or let him go—I had him in custody then—he was taken before a Magistrate, and remanded till Tuesday, the 25th—the matter was then gone into and he was fined 5l. and the copper detained. Cross-examined Q. Were you before the Magistrate on this occasion? A. Yes; I did not there state that he said he would give me any money to let him go, or take out some of the copper—It did not come to my memory then, but it did directly after—I have kept it in my money ever since—I did not name it on the last trial—I do not know why—I have not invented it since—the question was not asked me on the last trial—this copper was here at the last trial, but was not produced. MR. BODKIN. Q. What shop does Linney keep? A. A marine-store shop—I stopped him within three hundred yards of his shop. RICHARD HUGHES . I am a copper-plate ecgraver and live in Peterborough-court, Fleet-street—the three prisoners and Minchin worked with me—I have lost copper plates, which have been takes by my workmen—this is my copper-plat, it is in a state for the hammer—the lining made across it is for those portions to be taken off till we come to the pure metal—It is worth 1s. 1d. a pound. Cross-examined. Q. We understand the copper produced was here at the last trial? A. It was here, but not produced—I have preferred three bills against the prisoners by the advice of my solicitor—that is for copper which was in a bag at the last trial, but not what was produced—It was not included in the last indictment—I have not prederred a new bill for the copper which was disposed of then. COURT. Q. Have you reckoned any thing on the value of the copper on account of the preparation for your business? A. Not a farthing; I have reckoned it merely as new copper—any person conversant with the business must know immediately that this was new copper, and no person could take it for old metal. JOHN WELLING . I am ironmonger, and live in Gray's-inn-lane, I know Linney—I am sure I never sold him that 6 plate—I do deal in new copper. Cross-examined. Q. Did you sell him any copper? A. I have sold him old copper—I cannot say exactly how much, but should think about one hundred-weight—It was returned to him at Marlborough-street, in my presence—the rest was detained, he was fined for all the rest, I believe. COURT. Q. To a person conversant with copper, is it not quite plain that this is new? A. Not quite; in consequence of its being discoloured, I am not prepared to say this has not been worn—It is marked very much—I think it is very possible he might be deceived—6d. or 7d. is a very fair price for old copper—I should think it a fair price for this if it was purchased for old. Q. Remember you have been examined before; would you have bought that for old copper at 6d. a pound? A. I might have been deceived and bought it if it was offered at 6d. a pound—I might have a doubt about it under some circumstances—If I knew the party it came from I might buy it at 6d. if they said, "I am no longer going to remain in business, and wish to sell, "I should buy it—I would not buy it of a stranger as old copper. JOHN MINCHIN re-examined. I have been to Linney's shop to sell copper, Suppose, six or seven times. Linney's Defence. I know nothing of either of the prisoners or of Minchin—I must have bought the copper among other pieces which I had in my cart at the time the policeman took me—he says I was driving instead of which the cart stood in the gateway, and the policeman was up in the cart when I came—he questioned me—I said I bought great deal of it of Welling, but it was impossible I could give an account of every piece—I was taken before it was impossible I could give an account of every piece—I was taken before a Magistrate, remanded three days, and brought up all the people I could to identify the copper I had bought of them and for what I could not give an account of I was fined 5l. and discharged. I believe the copper now produced was included in the other indictment; for I was indicted for forty-three pounds. HENRY PHILLIPS . I am second clerk at the Police-office, Marylebone—Linney was brought before Mr. Shutt—I have a minute of what I take down up—no conviction was drawn up—he was fined 5l. LINNEY— GUILTY .— Confined Six Months. See page 774. POWERS INNES BARGE NOT GUILTY .

JOHN WELLING, Theft > theft from a specified place, 26th October 1835.

2284. JOHN WELLING was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of September, at St. Giles's, Camberwell, 1 watch, value 10l.; 1 watch-chain, value 4l.; 2 seals, value 2l.; 1 watch-key, value 5s. 1 brooch, value 1l. 15s.; and 2 rings, value 2l.; the goods of William Seth Gill, in his dwelling-house. WILLIAM SETH GILL . I live at Peckham Rye, in the parish of St. Giles, Camberwell. On the 15th of September, I was sitting in my drawing-room in the afternoon, and in consequence of what was said to me, I went into the surgery, and then into the adjoining room, and missed my watch, chain, ring, and brooch, worth at least 20l.—the watch was well worth 10l.—I had been in the room ten minutes before, and the articles were safe—I went to the police, and told them, and went with an officer to Bath-street, Melsom-ground, about a quarter of a mile from my house—I found the prisoner, two other men, and two women there in the room, and some baskets—I put my hand on the prisoner's shoulder from the description I had received, and gave him into custody, but he ran away—I saw him in custody in about a month afterwards—I have found none of mu property. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Do you occupy the whole house? A. Yes—I know nothing of the prisoner, except from information from other people. SARAH MESS . I live exactly opposite the prosecutor's house. I was at tea on the afternoon in question, and saw the prisoner—I had seen him frequently before that—on the 15th of September, about a quarter to five o'clock, I saw him knock at the prosecutor's door, and wait four or five minutes, then open the door himself, and go in—he opened it with the handle or latch; nobody let him in—it was the surgery door—the street door is always open—the surgery door is on the left of the street door—I watched, and saw the door open leading from the surgery into another room, but could not see that he opened that himself—he came out in seven or eight minutes; and when he got outside the gate, he put his hand to his trowsers pocket, and pulled it up again, as if he was looking at something in his hand—he put it in again, and walked a short distance, and called at a shop to know if they wanted any baskets, which he had, selling—he then walked briskly away, and then ran—I sent a message over to Mr. Gill by my sister—I must have seen if any other person went into the surgery while he was there—I could see into it from my window—the door between the surgery and the other room was closed before he went in; and I saw it open while he was in. Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. Have you ever given a description of the person who did it? A. I gave a description of his dress—I said he had a dark dirty fustian dress on—I gave no other description—I mentioned the baskets—I saw one large basket behind him—I have only described his height; nothing else—I did not describe him as having large bushy curly hair—I believe I described him to the police-sergeant. MR. GILL re-examined. She described the person to me—she did not state any thing about bushy curly hair—the policeman told me he had a duty to perform, and has left the court—I do not know that she gave a description to that policeman—she gave me the same description she has mentioned now—she said it was a man she had seen carrying baskets about. SARAH MESS re-examined. I have seen him frequently about during the summer, for more than a montth or six weeks, selling baskets—I had observed his features when he was going to a grocer's and cheesemonger's nearly opposite, and that was the shop he called at after leaving the prosecutor's—I have seen him calling at every house as he went along. Prisoner's Defence. I am totally innocent—the policeman came to my house and searched, but could find nothing. MR. GILL. I came to town immediately after the robbery, and returned by the Surrey Canal—I should think full half an hour must have expired before I got to the prisoner's house, which was about a quarter of a mile from mine. NOT GUILTY Fourth Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant.

JOHN WELLING, Theft > simple larceny, 26th October 1835.

2285. JOHN WELLING was again indicted for stealing, on the 22nd of October, at St. Giles's Camberwell, 1 till, value 2s.; 4 shillings and 2 sixpences; the goods and monies of George Mussell. GEORGE MUSSELL . I live in Church-street, Camberwell. On the 22nd of October, about half-past eight o'clock in the evening. I heard a noise in the shop—I went in immediately, and found the till on the floor—I had seen it about five minutes before—there was then five or six shillings in it—nobody had been in the shop after I saw it safe, to my knowledge—when I got into the shop I saw the prisoner outside the door, collared by the witness—he struggled to get away—the money was in the till, which was on the floor. Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. How far were you from the persons who were struggling? A. Close to them—I did not lay hold off the prisoner, as the witness was sufficiently strong; but he got away—I did not feel inclined to lay hold of him—I was standing at the door—I saw him for about two minutes—I did not lose any money—I had never seen the prisoner before—I was by his side—I do not recollect saying anything to him—I was much agitated at the time—I can swear to him—there was a lamp-post immediately opposite. JAMES MAYES . I was standing close by the prosecutor's shop, at about half-past eight o'clock in the evening, and saw a person go into the shop—it was the prisoner, I am sure—I watched him, and saw him reach over the counter, and take the till out—I stopped him at the door with it—I took hold of him, and he made his escape—I have not the least doubt of him, and swear positively he is the man. Cross-examined. Q. Had you ever seen him before? A. No—I was walking with a man, who is not here—he saw all this—I struggled with the prisoner for about two minutes—the prosecutor came in the mean time—he did not attempt to lay hold of him—I was close to the shop, looking in at the window—there was a gas-light in the shop—I swear I distinctly saw his features—it lasted about five minutes altogether—I did not follow him when he got away. Prisoner's Defence. I was going home, and the policeman came up to me, and asked me to go back to the shop—I walked back with him—I know nothing of it whatever—I had been to order some goods, which I had to take to a lady's house. GEORGE MUSELL . There was 10d. in the till besides the silver—a policeman took the prisoner—he is not here. GUILTY . Aged 20.— Transported for Seven Years. Before Mr. Justice Gaselee.

Death Certificate

Baptism Register