Report of Alexander Thomson on 1 collective petition (35 people, including merchants...

Report of Alexander Thomson on 1 collective petition (35 people, including merchants from Birmingham in Warwickshire, many trades given, and including the Sheriff and Undersheriff of Warwickshire) on behalf of William Hollick, convicted (with Thomas Summerland) at the Warwickshire Lent Assizes in 1788, for stealing a wooden box and £2:5:9 a dwelling house, property of John Etches, grocer and liquor merchant, on 12 November 1787. Acquitted of the capital part of the charge. Evidences supplied by John Brocklehurst, apprentice to the prosecutor; Joseph Lines, William Jenkins. Grounds for clemency: of an honest and 'considerable' manufacturing family, always lived at home, youth (under 16 years at the time of the crime, under 20 years at the time of the petition), first offence, previous good character, was drunk at the time of the crime, and unused to alcohol, was seduced into the crime by Summerland, already served 4 years imprisonment (almost 3 years on the Lion hulk at Portsmouth), behaved well during his confinement, his father will take him into his protection and employment, and promises future good behaviour. Initial sentence: 7 years transportation. Recommendation: none made. Folios 193-196.