Report of John William Rose, Recorder of London, on 1 individual petition (prisoner)...

Report of John William Rose, Recorder of London, on 1 individual petition (prisoner) and 1 collective petition (2 aldermen) on behalf of George Wakeman, hairdresser, indicted at the Old Bailey in February 1790, for stealing (pick-pocketing) 1 silver watch and 2 stone seals set in gold, value £4, property of Allen Wall, japanner, on 18 January 1790. Found guilty of stealing only. Evidences supplied by Allen Wall, Richard Hoddle, Joseph Taylor and the prisoner. The prisoner claimed that he was (as is customary for hairdressers) going to see the present fashions, it being the Queens birthday. There is also an unsigned note on behalf of the prisoner referring to Alderman Boydell. Grounds for clemency: first offence, previous good character, good behaviour while in prison, had not committed the crime, was immediately searched and no goods found, prosecutor picked first the prisoner, then another and then the prisoner again as the culprit (indicating the prosecutor was uncertain) and money is available for his future good behaviour. Initial sentence: 7 years transportation. Recommendation: to enlist in HM. Navy and to find sureties for good behaviour for the time equal to remainder of his sentence.

Folios 247-250.