Prisoner name(s): John Morton. Prisoner age: 25. Prisoner occupation: Servant to...

Prisoner name(s): John Morton.

Prisoner age: 25.

Prisoner occupation: Servant to Richard Anthony Salisbury (prosecutor) of Edgware Road, Marylebone [Middlesex] but by trade a gardener, formerly with Mr Jenkins, nurseryman, of New Road, Marylebone.

Court and date of trial: Old Bailey December 1827.

Crime: Attempting to extort money by threatening to charge with an unnatural crime; namely £50 from Richard Anthony Salisbury in [September] 1827.

Initial sentence: Seven years transportation.

Gaoler's report: 'Conduct orderly'.

Annotated (Outcome): 'Nil Jan 29 1828'. 'Not to be transported'.

Petitioner(s): John Morton (the convict) undersigned by ten members of the trial jury and supported by five affidavits. Declaration by all eleven members of the trial jury. Three petitions from Ann Morton (wife) a laundress of Great James Street, Lisson Grove [London]. Joseph Lancaster (a previous victim of the prosecutor's agent) a series of seven letters and one part-letter.

Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): The prosecutor fabricated the charge in an attempt to prevent the convict from charging him with an unnatural offence; the extortion letters purporting to be written by the convict were forgeries; the prosecutor's witness gave a false name and address; the prosecutor's attorney is a 'sham' attorney connected with a set of swindlers and has been tried at the Old Bailey; the prosecutor's unnatural propensities are known to the police; the convict would not have voluntarily presented himself to the magistrate on two occasions to answer the charge if he had been guilty; his former employer is willing to re-employ him if liberated; his good conduct on the hulks.

Other papers: Note from Henry Goulburn MP transmitting a petition to the Home Department. Letter from Mr Gregory transmitting a petition to the Home Department. A sheet of 'additional facts' relative to the case [unsigned]. Note [from Home Department] asking if anything is known about the prosecution witness and annotated that he is Harry Wood, a thief. Note from John Clark at the Sessions House confirming that the witness's name is not on the indictment. A pencilled note [within the Home Department] asking for more information. Statement by Mr Harmer. An undelivered and returned letter from the Home Department to the Reverend W Bentley [magistrate] in Worcester asking if Morton laid any charge against Salisbury.

Additional Information: The convict was held on board Leviathan hulk. Before her marriage his wife was servant [laundrymaid] to the late Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.