Report of Soulden Lawrence on 1 individual petition (prisoner' s father) and 1 collective...

Report of Soulden Lawrence on 1 individual petition (prisoner' s father) and 1 collective petition (22 people, comprising the prisoner's parents and tradesmen, churchwardens and overseers of the parish of Burton, Dorset) on behalf of Thomas Snoke, bricklayer, convicted at the 'last' Worcestershire Assizes, for a highway robbery, and taking a purse, watch, 4 guineas, 2 half-guineas, a 7/- piece, 4/6 and a £1 bank note, property of John Knibb/Joseph Knibb at Darkinscote Hill, on 29 November 1802. Evidences supplied by John Knibb, Richard White and Ann Bennett. Grounds for clemency: youth (24 years), contrite, has already served 6 months and behaved well during confinement, and had always been industrious, hard-working, well esteemed and respected, he had fallen into bad company, this was his first offence and the misery caused to his family. Initial sentence: death, commuted to transportation for life. Recommendation: that the prisoner be imprisoned for 2 years with hard labour, provided that not more than 4 persons can provide surety of £150, conditional on his good behaviour for 3 years from the end of his imprisonment; this should take effect immediately otherwise his transportation would be enforced. Folios 156-160.