Report/letter of Robert Townsend, Recorder of City of Chester, on the case of Mary...

Report/letter of Robert Townsend, Recorder of City of Chester, on the case of Mary Griffiths, servant to George Haswell, convicted on 6 October 1783, at the City of Chester General Adjournment and General Sessions and Gaol Delivery, for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Edward Moulson, in St. John the Baptist in Chester, on 9 September 1783, and stealing 1 gold ring, value 23/-, 6 muslin ruffles, value 10/6, 1 pair of men's worked ruffles, value 2/-, another men's worked ruffles and 1 chitterlin[?], value 10/6, and diverse other particular goods including a silver spur (property of Mr Nicholls that were left with the prosecutor last summer before going out of town) amounting in all to £4:3:0. The prisoner was also charged on 2 other lesser indictments of theft. Evidences supplied by George Haswell, prisoner's employer; Edward Moulson, Mrs Moulson, George Walker, Ann Griffith and Elizabeth Jones. Grounds for clemency: the judge had reminded the jury in order to reach their verdict to consider the indictment which 'was not laid capitally' and the prosecutor then applied to the court for the prisoner to be recommended for mercy, the prisoner had confessed under the promise of not having to suffer maximum punishment on the admittance and evidence of the first witness (George Haswell). Initial sentence: the jury found the prisoner generally guilty and not consenting to alter their decision pronounced the verdict of death, repited. Recommendation: 7 years transportation.

Folios 211-213.