Report of R Richards on 2 individual petitions (Susan Sammons, the prisoners mother,...

Report of R Richards on 2 individual petitions (Susan Sammons, the prisoners mother, dated 1828 and 1830) and 1 collective petition (5 people, the mayor and 4 magistrates of Norwich, Norfolk (1823)) on John Summons/John Sammonds, convicted at the Norfolk Lent Assizes held at Thetford for the burglary of Mr Nichols on 3 December 1821. Evidences supplied by William Wild, constable; Thomas William Stevenson and Joseph Seaman. There is a statement of the prisoners case from William Sale; statements by George Browne George; William Howlett; George Booty; Victor Emms; John Coe; Elizabeth Boddy, wife of William Boddy; Edward Smith with William Stacey; Thomas Prix; Robert Cooper (with covering letter, signature torn); and George Jay; and a covering letter from John Smith; (attached to the petition is) a statement that the prisoner was helping his father at the time of the crime signed by 6 people; a summary of the case and statements; a further statement of the case; a letter from Edmund Wodehouse; a letter from {Edward?] Dawson; letters from the keeper of Norwich Castle gaol [signature illegible]; J H [John Henry] Capper; J B Evans [x2]; Reverend Thomas Decker, chaplain to Norwich Castle [x3]; W Burt, magistrate of Norwich; Richard Mann [x2]; and Susan Sammons [x3]. Grounds for clemency: youth (16 years), the prisoner is innocent, he is the eldest of 7 children; his father is very poor (a bricklayer's labourer), an alibi for him had been given by Joseph Seaman at his trial and this is a case of mistaken identity. Initial sentence: 14 years transportation. Recommendation: speaks in favour of mercy. Annotation (to the earlier petition) 'Nil'. Folios 284-340.