Social England under the Regency, Vol. 2 (of 2) — John Shaqi
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 2 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Regency -- England
"The prisoner, being called upon for her defence, said that she
was a single woman, residing at No. 3, Union Street, Apollo
Gardens; she was a milk woman, and had a girl of about thirteen
years of age, her daughter, residing with her; she was a widow,
her husband, who was a labouring man, had been dead about eleven
years; is not acquainted with a soldier, nor was she ever in
company with one, nor had she been to the Tower in her life
before the day in question. Being asked by the magistrate why
she came so far from home, she replied she very often went to
Thames Street to buy salt herrings.
"Then, said the Magistrate, what induced you to go to the Tower?
"_A._ I went on Friday, purposely to see the lions, no one was
with me--I then went to see the Crown.
"_Q._ How came you to snatch that article from the keeper?
"_A._ I thought it a pity that so valuable a thing should remain
there, while half the nation was starving, for want of bread! I
wished, also, at the time, to take the whole of what was there,
and give it to the public!
"_Q._ Who told you to do this, or who was it put that good
thought into your head?
"_A._ I had no adviser whatever.
"Jeremiah Brett, one of the Chief Constables, deposed to having
taken the prisoner into custody. When he was conveying her away
in the Coach, he asked her why she had made an attempt to seize,
or lay hands on the Crown, and why she might not as well have
laid hold of one of the lions? She replied--she was not such a
fool, for she knew better than that.
"Upon being asked by the Magistrate to state a little more
particularly who she was, she said she was a Welsh woman,
from the county of Carmarthen, and had been brought up in the
principles of the Church of England. About ten years ago she
purchased some ground from Mr. Henry Hooper, of Apollo Gardens;
and, about five years ago, built a small house, in which she
lives, and which has already cost her £110. She was to have paid
£150. Her other houses and property were stolen from her by
ejectments, executions, &c., and her losses amounted, at least,
to £500. She never had any idea of stealing the Crown, until she
saw it, and was only impelled by the motive already stated. Does
not recollect that she ever thought of providing for the poor
until then.
"Mr. Swift, the Keeper of the Jewels in the Tower, was then
called, but it was stated that he was out of town, and would not
return before Saturday, or Monday.
"The evidence of this witness, however, being deemed necessary,
the Prisoner was remanded for a final examination."
[Footnote 2: Lambeth Street, Whitechapel, removed to Arbour
Square, Stepney, and now called the Thames Police Office.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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