Prisoner name: Elizabeth Patterson. Prisoner age: 21. Prisoner occupation: Formerly...

Prisoner name: Elizabeth Patterson.

Prisoner age: 21.

Prisoner occupation: Formerly a servant to Mr Jones, bookbinder, of Haymarket, London.

Court and date of trial: Old Bailey, 10 September 1831.

Crime: Stealing from the person; a purse, value sixpence, from Mrs Ann Weston Bailey at St Bartholomew Fair, London on 5 September 1831.

Initial sentence: Seven years transportation.

Gaoler's report: Here before.

Annotated: Nil.

Petitioner(s): Elizabeth Patterson, the convict, undersigned by seven inhabitants of London.

Grounds for clemency: Not guilty because the prosecutrix dragged the purse out her pocket herself when she used her handkerchief; the arresting officer who made the theft allegation was only a supernumerary and of dubious character employed for the day of the fair; he offered to take a bribe from the convict's father 'to make it all right' but refused to take the money in front of witnesses.

Other papers: Letter from William Gibbons [defence counsel] explaining the absence of the prosecutrix's signature on the petition. An affidavit by John Patterson, the prisoner's brother, bookbinder, of Temple Bar, London.