Report of John Heath on 1 collective petition (40 people of Kidderminster, Worcester)...

Report of John Heath on 1 collective petition (40 people of Kidderminster, Worcester) on behalf of John Jones, convicted (with John Edwards, brother in law to prisoner; 7 years transportation), at the Worcester Assizes on 12 March 1798, for receiving stolen clothes, knowing them to be stolen, property of John Millar, stolen on 19 January 1798. Evidences supplied by ------ Woodward, John Millar, James Weddies, servant to Millar; Henry Humphries, Joseph Ricketts, Thomas Jay and Frederick Albert. The prisoner had said the clothes were left in his charge by 'a strange man' (Edwards) when in fact the man was his brother in law. Edwards was suspected of committing worse crimes than this, as powder and ball was found on him at the time of his arrest. The judge thinks of the crime as particularly heinous as (though numerous) they are difficult to prove. Grounds for clemency: previous good character, previously served in the Herefordshire Militia, was innocent and was at work with his master at the time of the theft, he had no idea the goods were stolen when he took them, offers to serve in HM. Forces. Initial sentence: 14 years transportation. Recommendation: no mercy. Folios 115-117.