Report of W Hay on 1 individual petition (the prisoner) on behalf of Edward Scholefield/Edward...

Report of W Hay on 1 individual petition (the prisoner) on behalf of Edward Scholefield/Edward Schofield, sergeant in the 31st Regiment of Foot convicted at the Salford Quarter Sessions on 7 May 1821, for robbery of cash and wearing apparel, value £13 on the 24 March 1821, property of Elizabeth Lord and her 2 nieces. Evidences supplied by Elizabeth Lord and Sarah Lord. The prisoner is held on board the Justicia hulk at Woolwich. There is a covering letter from W Hayter[?] of the Horse Guards on behalf of the Commander in Chief. Grounds for clemency: the prisoner has served in HM Army for 22 years, served in Holland, twice wounded, is an out-pensioner, the prisoner is innocent, has an alibi, a long period had expired before case was brought to the attention of the law, when the case was cross-examined before Entwisle, a magistrate for Rochdale, he decided it should be tried before a jury, due to the negligence of his attorney he has already served 2 ½ years, another robbery was committed shortly after Schofield's conviction by men disguised in a similar way, the victims are unsure of the prisoners identity, Lord was being prosecuted by the prisoner for defamation when the charge was brought against him, a similar crime has been committed since, Schofield's innocence was upheld by a woman, Anne Maria, who has knowledge of the people who committed the second robbery. Initial sentence: transportation for life. Recommendation: no mercy. Folios 270-275.