Prisoner name: John Laughton [Lawton]. Court and date of trial: Old Bailey January...

Prisoner name: John Laughton [Lawton].

Court and date of trial: Old Bailey January Sessions 1825.

Crime: Stealing in a dwelling house.

Initial sentence: [Death] commuted to transportation for life.

Annotated (Outcome): Considered at Report in Council 16 February 1825. Nil. Refused.

Petitioner(s): Four petitions. First petition from John Laughton, the prisoner, and undersigned by prosecutor and jury and further undersigned by 29 others. Second petition from John Laughton, the prisoner, and undersigned by 19 others including the prosecutor. Third petition from Mary Radford, the mother of the prisoner, and undersigned by 7 others including the prosecutor. Fourth petition from 59 inhabitants of the town of Mansfield and undersigned by 3 magistrates. Fifth petition from Mary Radford, mother of the prisoner, and undersigned by 15 others. Sixth petition from Reynolds Frost and Samuel Leah, and undersigned by 82 inhabitants of Mansfield including four magistrates.

Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): First offence, prosecutor is his father in law, jury recommends mercy, prosecutor recommends mercy, respectable connections, good character, unemployed, would be re-employed if released, time served.

Other papers: Letter from John Laughton, the prisoner, giving details of the case and stating that the prosecutor had agreed not to appear in court, and wanted him discharged but the judge had said the case had gone too far and he was convicted.

Letter from Samuel Leah, the prosecutor, requesting that the prisoner be allowed to stay in the country.

Letter from John Laughton stating he has served five and a half years of his sentence, enclose a letter from his uncle and requests consideration of his circumstances.

Letter from Reynolds Frost, uncle of the prisoner, to Mary Radford.

Letter from Reynolds Frost to John Laughton.

Letter from [Lumley] forwarding a petition on behalf of John Laughton.

Letter from [Lumley] forwarding a memorial on behalf of John Laughton.

Memorial from John Laughton requesting a pardon after serving seven and a half years on the hulk York at Gosport.

Letter from Matilda Laughton, the prisoner's wife, expressing her hurt and surprise at not hearing from him. Requests that he writes to her as she cannot be happy without him.

Petition from 46 inhabitants of Mansfield, Nottingham requesting commutation of sentence for life.

Additional Information: On board York.