Prisoner name: William Powell. Prisoner occupation: Master bricklayer. Court and...

Prisoner name: William Powell.

Prisoner occupation: Master bricklayer.

Court and date of trial: Old Bailey April Sessions 1829.

Crime: House breaking - breaking into the house of Mr John Blake market gardener of Starch Green, Hammersmith, Middlesex on 28 March 1829 and stealing a flitch (40lbs) of bacon and a dressing case.

Initial sentence: Death commuted to transportation for life.

Annotated: Considered at Report in Council 1829. Nil 2 June 1829.

Petitioner(s): The convict and 39 people. The convict and 25 people. George Chisholm Curate and Lecturer of Hammersmith, some time employer of the convict.

Grounds for clemency: Convict says he found bacon in a ditch; he has a pregnant wife and four children; John Hicks was willing to bear testimony; dressing case he allegedly stole belonged to Mr Abbott and was restored to him; expected to be tried at Clerkenwell but was tried at the Old Bailey and his Counsel was absent; Mr Powell, poor, ill and with no employment.

Other papers: A letter from Thomas White, Clerk to Mr Adolphus, to Mr William Winch explaining that the case was moved to the Old Bailey without time for Counsel to prepare the case. William Winch, Mr Powell's accountant certifying that he was an honest workman. Three sets of notes and observations on the case. Character reference from George Bowles of Brighton, previous employer. A letter from Mr John Abbott confirming that Mr Blake was mistaken about the dressing case. A letter from Mr W Copeland, Sheriff, forwarding petition and letters from Mr Bowles and Mr Abbott. Character reference from George Bowles of Brighton, previous employer. William Winch, Mr Powell's accountant, certifying that he was an honest workman. A letter from John Blake supporting his wife's application to be transported with him and their children.

Additional Information: In Newgate prison.