Kirkdale Sessions Liverpool Mercury May 21 1824

Swindling – Caution to the Public

Trial of Richard MOSS and Joseph WALKER for feloniously stealing sovereigns, the property of Benjamin FAWCETT

Benjamin FAWCETT stated that he lives at Wigan, and came to Liverpool on the 5^th February for the purpose of proceeding to the Isle of Man, and took lodgings at the house of Mrs SIMKINS, in Highfield-street; he went to the docks with the purpose of inquiring about a passage where he met the prisoner WALKER, who said that he had come from Halifax to purchase logwood. Witness told him he was going to the Isle of Man, and WALKER said he knew the country well, and if he would go with him he would treat him to a glass of ale, and tell him all the particulars about it. Prisoner took witness to the Union Tavern, in Union-street; it was about 11 o’clock in the forenoon. In a short time MOSS came in, and soon after a third man whose name he supposed afterwards was DARCY ; he appeared tipsy and came to witness, and ordered a glass of gin and water. Witness told him he was not the landlord. They did not appear to in the least aquainted with each other. DARCY said they were a set of poor devils as he was once, till his aunt left him £1500. He offered to bet glasses round they could not shew five pounds apiece, and pulled out a handful of bills from his side pocket, five and fifties, apparently Bank of England. The wager was bet, and witness took out five sovereigns, when DARCY paid for the glasses. DARCY said he had lost £18 the night before, in trying to name a halfpenny three times out of four, put under a jug. WALKER said he was foolish, as he had no chance of winning. DARCY said he would bet WALKER the same, and WALKER proposed that they should bet him £5 a piece, for a bit of fun, to shew him how foolish he was; MOSS was to bet too: the money was staked and MOSS took hold of it in his hands. They put down what he supposed was £5 each, and the other man what appeared to be three five pound notes. DARCY won and put the money in his pocket. Witness thought they were only in fun, and did not expect they would keep his money. WALKER said he had better bet again to get his money back , but witness said he had no more cash without going back to his lodgings. Witness went to his lodging s in Highfield-street and WALKER went with him; when they returned, MOSS and DARCY were there; they bet another five pounds and DARCY won again, and they pocketed what he had fetched. Witness then complained very much because they would not return his money, when WALKER said he would go to the bank and get a bill cashed, and lend him some: they went out together, and when they got out of Union-street, WALKER said he had better return to the other men, as it would take him half an hour. When he went back he found MOSS looking out at the door. He complained and said he must have his money again; and MOSS proposed that he should have three pounds returned, but witness said £7 was more than he could afford to lose. The two men went out the back doorand he followed them, but DARCY was out of sight; he asked MOSS where the man was that had his money, and he said he was only in the necessary and would be in again presently; but neither DARCY nor WALKER ever returned. Witness then said he would have a constable and after a deal of altercation, MOSS took him by the shoulders and endeavoured to drag him down, but he saved himself by catching hold of a table. MOSS then ran out, and pulled the door after him; witness followed him crying stop thief; he ran down another street and into a back yard, where he was taken in a necessary MOSS offered to get him the £10 again, if he would let him go but HALSALL the constable, who had him in custody, would not allow it. The prisoner WALKER was apprehended on the 7^th February, on the Manchester road Dorothy JONES lived in Fazakerley-street; she examined the privy immediately after MOSS was brought out and found six papers, which she gave to Mr HALSALL. They were what were called flash notes.

MOSS in his defence, said he merely went to the house to get a glass of lemonade, and read the newspaper. He knew nothing of DARCY or WALKER and he never touched the man’s sovereigns. When he heard the cry “stop thief” he certainly endeavoured to escape – it was in the neighbourhood where he had lived previously, and occupied a arehouse; he had lived in the town twenty-six years and had never been brought before a jury in his life in Liverpool. The prisoner burst into tears and was unable to proceed.

The jury after a consideration of two minutes found both prisoners Guilty

The Chairman sentenced them to eighteen months imprisonment, and to be kept to hard labour, observing, had it not been for their time of life they would have certainly been sent out of the country

Caryl Williams www.old-liverpool.co.uk Old Liverpool 19198-2008