James Tate — The Theft of Supper (23 September 1861)
At 18, James Tate was convicted of stealing lamb, mutton, rabbit, cheese, pie, pudding, bread, and dishes. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at the Old Bailey to six months’ imprisonment.
Tag Archives: Old Bailey
This Day in History – 18 September 1805
Tried at the Old Bailey for feloniously assaulting a man on the King’s highway, William Player was found guilty. The case reflected Georgian London’s anxieties about lawlessness on the roads.
This Day in History – 16 September 1812
16 September 1812 — Old Bailey Manslaughter: Thomas Oakley was tried for manslaughter at the Old Bailey after a death for which the court found him responsible but not guilty of murder.
This Day in History — 27 August 1729
27 August 1729 — Old Bailey: Benjamin Rand was convicted of a lesser offence in a housebreaking case and sentenced to transportation, illustrating how Georgian juries softened capital charges.
This Day in History – 21 August 1848
21 August 1848 — Old Bailey Session: Thomas Lancaster faced trial for coining counterfeit coins. In the same session, Albert Brown was judged for poisoning, and John Boosey for pocket-picking.
This Day in History – 19 August 1844
On 19 August 1844, John Morphew was convicted at the Old Bailey for stealing a rasp and horseshoes from his farmer-employer—a crime against trust as much as property.
This Day in History – 13 August 1818
13 August 1818 — Old Bailey: A £1 Bank of England note dated today was passed and found to be forged, leading to a capital trial for uttering. In the same year, Richard Ratford was transported for 14 years for a similar offence.
This Day in History – 12 August 1839
12 August 1839 — Old Bailey: Clerk Henry Jarman admitted guilt to embezzling 7s 3d, held for an employer, and was likely sentenced to transportation, ending his career—and life in England
This Day in History — 9 August 1726
The Day Before the Horse-Thefts (9 August 1726) — On the eve of two geldings disappearing, George Prentice (alias Johnson) moves through Smithfield. The next day, 10 August, the thefts that send him to the Old Bailey will occur.
This Day in History – 5 August 1879
James Dilley & Mary Rainbow — The Tragedy of an Infant, Hidden in Paper (5 August 1879)
Charged with the murder of their unnamed newborn, Rainbow and Dilley were swiftly convicted. The child’s body was found wrapped in paper—the crime and secrecy both haunting in Victorian London.
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