Prisoner name: Joseph Holden [Joseph Holdin or Houldin]. Prisoner age: 24 years....

Prisoner name: Joseph Holden [Joseph Holdin or Houldin].

Prisoner age: 24 years.

Court and date of trial: Preston Quarter Sessions january 1828.

Crime: Stealing cloth and a three gouges and a chisel, two indictments.

Initial sentence: Transportation for 14 years, seven years for each indictment.

Annotated (Outcome): Removed to Penitentiary.

Petitioner(s): Joseph Holdin, the prisoner.

Grounds for clemency (Petition details): Drunk when the offences were committed, previous good character. His case came on earlier than expected and his character witnesses were not present when he was sentenced.

Other papers: Character references from John Holiday and Thomas Grundy, his employers and prosecutors, and from Joseph Watts, prosecutor.

Character reference with 121 signatures and marks.

Letter from James Garth, prosecutor's solicitor, asking clemency for a first offence.

Covering letter from John Wood supporting the application and arguing that the sentence is too severe. Annotated that the prisoner is in the Penitentiary and the sentence may be shortened if he behaves well.

Note from Mr Stanley to Mr Phillips vouching for the respectability of some of the names on the petition and remarking on asimilar case in which the sentence was considered disproportionate.