On 5 May 1736, Moses Gladwin was sentenced to death for shoplifting silk handkerchiefs worth 40 shillings. Caught hiding the goods under layered coats, his defiant defence failed, and the Old Bailey jury convicted him under England’s harsh “Bloody Code” laws.
Tag Archives: today in history
This Day in History: 29 April 1724
On 29 April 1724, Thomas Burden was executed for robbing elderly William Zouch at swordpoint. After tying the old man to a chair and stealing 31 shillings, Burden was quickly captured and sentenced to death, later blaming the Devil and drink for his downfall.
This Day in History: 25 April 1746
On 25 April 1746, nineteen-year-old servant Matthew Henderson was executed for murdering his mistress, Elizabeth Dalrymple. His confession shocked London: he claimed he had no clear motive, only a sudden temptation that led to one of the Old Bailey’s most disturbing domestic murders.
This Day in History: 24 April 1723
On 24 April 1723, five men were tried for the murder of Anne Bristol after she was found dying on Smallberry Green. Witnesses heard screams, surgeons found brutal injuries, and confessions were read—yet every accused man was acquitted.
This Day in History – 22 April 1789
In 1789, servant Sarah Natchell was accused of stealing over £45 from Bartholomew Coffee House in West Smithfield. Though only convicted of stealing tea-cloths, the betrayal of household trust earned her a harsh sentence: seven years’ transportation to New South Wales aboard the Lady Juliana.
This Day in History: April 21st, 1680
On 21 April 1680, the Old Bailey heard two serious cases: Edward Harrison was convicted of manslaughter after a deadly dispute, while William Harding was found guilty of the rape of a young child. Both men were sentenced to death, reflecting the severity of justice in 17th-century London.
This Day in History: April 16th, 1729
In 1729, John Mitchel was convicted of extortion after threatening to accuse men of sodomy unless they paid him. Operating in St James’s Park, he exploited fear of scandal to extract money. His scheme ended when one victim reported him, leading to imprisonment and punishment in the pillory.
This Day in History: April 15th, 1692
Henry Harrison was executed in 1692 for the murder of Dr Nicholas Clench, a London physician. The case centred on financial motive, suspicious circumstances, and Harrison’s contradictory statements at trial, highlighting how early modern justice often relied on credibility as much as concrete evidence.
This Day in History: April 14th, 1860
In 1860, a routine police check in Marylebone turned violent when two men brutally attacked Constable Thomas Bell with life-preservers. Mistaking them for help, he was struck down and left bleeding in the street. Both attackers were later captured and sentenced to eight years’ penal servitude.
This Day in History: April 13th, 1743
In 1743, apprentice Elizabeth Cannon and lodger Ann Ellard robbed their bedridden mistress after a night of drunken planning. Caught within hours, they confessed and were sentenced to death. This tragic Old Bailey case reveals how quickly crime, drink, and desperation could lead to the gallows in Georgian London.
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