Report of Lord Burton on 8 individual petitions (W. Whitmore, employer; Edward Taylor,...

Report of Lord Burton on 8 individual petitions (W. Whitmore, employer; Edward Taylor, Joseph Townsend, prosecutrix's uncle and the prisoners Gould (3) and Barnes: one of the petitions is damaged but purports to contain the signature of the High Sheriff and other respectable persons) on behalf of William Gould, file cutter, convicted (with John Barnes alias Smith, Samuel Lane alias John Jones, JoSepth Natts and Joseph Cook) at the 'Last' Worcestershire[?] Assizes, for a burglary in the dwelling house (the Bell Inn at Northfield, 5 miles from Birmingham) of Elizabeth Townsend, during the night of 10/11 April 1785. Evidences supplied by Elizabeth Townsend, Theodosia Milward, Townsend's servant; Mary Whitworth, Mary Marston, Townsend's niece; Mary Bradley, Ann Gough, Townsend's servant; John Lea, oastler; Thomas Rogers, Thomas Wood, Birmingham inn keeper; Thomas Towsland, box maker; Thomas Partridge, Joseph Tart, gaoler at the Aston (sometimes called Birmingham) gaol; William Tart, gaoler's son; Matrick Macmanus, Catherine Hall, William Aylett, drummer in the 43rd Regiment of Foot; Susannah Oxenden, James Milles, Sarah Hunt, spinner; John Lowe, of Wednesbury; Ann Tavener, washerwoman; John Warboys, Susannah Marston, Mr Worbridge[?], Birmingham Gaol keeper; Thomas Davis and William Gould. There is also an unsigned covering letter for the petition and a further unsigned letter, letters from George Perrin[?], High Sheriff of Worcestershire (which are favourable to the prisoner) Edward Taylor, a copy of a letter from Barnes to Townsend in which he states Gould was innocent, a written testimony from Barnes claiming Gould was innocent and an unsigned letter from the HO which refers to the judge's report as 'of all the most unsatisfactory reports which I have ever received ... is the most so, and that is saying a great deal'. The petitioner Gould is either been guilty of a most atrocious Crime attended with circumstances of a most aggravating kind, or he is totally innocent of every part of the transaction'. The criticism being that Burton should be able to make up his own mind. Judge's report is 20 pages in length giving 'the substance of the whole trial': he intended to reprieve Barnes because of his youth and his confession, and to respite Gould long enough for him to appeal to the throne. The others were to be executed. Gough was less deserving because of his age (45 years) and his 'superiority in address and understanding' during his trial. Any leniency may encourage others. Grounds for clemency: Gould - previous good character, has a wife and 4 children, a victim of mistaken identity and the testimony of the other 3 men convicted with him that this was the case, being innocent he employed no counsel and was unprepared. Barnes: youth (18 years), parents are greatly distressed and he was drawn into the crime). Initial sentence: death, respited. Recommendation: further respite. Folios 310-349. See also HO 47/4/1, folio 1.

See also HO 47/4/1, folio 1.