Joseph KNIGHT

  General Notes:

Extract from the Old Bailey Session Papers (PRO 27 page 309):

JOSEPH KNIGHT "GLORY" Date of Trial: 29th October 1817

Entry Number 1553

Joseph Knight was indicted for stealing, on the 14th October 1817, one
handkerchief, value 3s., the goods of John Dent, from his person.

JOHN DENT: I am a linen draper, and live in Fleet-market. On the 14th
October, I was going up High Holborn, opposite St. Giles Church, I met
the officer with the prisoner. He asked me if I had lost my
handkerchief, I immediately missed it.

THOMAS THOMPSON: I am an officer. On the 14th October, I was in Holborn;
they were burning the gas in the street. I saw the prisoner very active
in attempting people's pockets; I watched him for a few minutes and then
lost him. I went towards St. Giles Church, and was returning back when I
saw the prisoner following the prosecutor in High Holborn, very close; I
crossed over and watched for about 100 yards; two more boys turned
round and looked at the prosecutor, and was going to follow him - some
conversation passed between them and the prisoner; they went away and
let the prisoner go on - he put his hand into the prosecutor's pocket
and took the handkerchief out; he ran away and passed the prosecutor
about one hundred yards - I lay hold of him, and asked him what he had
done with the handkerchief? He said he did not know what I wanted - he
had got none. I saw his left hand come out of his breeches - I put my
hand down there and took out the handkerchief - I held him till the
prosecutor came up and claimed it.

(Property produced and sworn to.)

PRISONERS DEFENCE: I did not know I had it about me.

Joseph married Sarah Ann VIDLER, daughter of William VIDLER and Mary COPPER, on 17 Feb 1840 in Dapto, NSW.¹¹ (Sarah Ann VIDLER was born in Jan 1822 in Sandhurst, KEN, baptised on 12 Feb 1822 in Sandhurst, KEN,³⁸ died on 13 May 1905 in Cambewarra, NSW and was buried on 15 May 1905 in Cambewarra Meth Cem, NSW.)