While researching my family tree I happened upon this info about a trial at the Old Bailey in 1833, John Randell was convicted of stealing a copper scale and was transported for 7 years !
Nowadays he'd get community service !
Old Bailey Proceedings Online , November 1833, trial of JOHN RANDALL
BENJAMIN COLLINS (police-constable). On the 5th of November, I was in Paul-street , about half-past eight o'clock in the evening; I saw the prisoner and another; I watched them; one of them took a scale from inside the prosecutor's window; I walked towards them, but before I could get to them, the prisoner crossed the road, with this scale under his arm; I crossed and took him with it.
ROBERT MOBBS . This is my scale.
Prisoner's Defence. I met the boy who took the scale. he gave it me and I ran off with it.
GUILTY . Aged 15. - Transported for Seven Years
A murderer, Nathaniel Mobbs, was convicted and given the death sentence in 1853 for a crime passional. Nowadays he'd get a few years prison and be out again in half his sentence !
I sometimes think it's a pity Australia is full....
The Old bailey is still in use today. You can check your ancestors at the Old Bailey website and see the most wanted suspects as well.
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