posted 12-19-2004 01:03 PM            

They cover the 1800 – 1834 period and have much silversmith and silver trade content. The site now cover the entire period 1674 – 1834.

Among the cases are the trial in 1813 of George Wintle for forging assay and duty marks. Ref t18130217-39. The authorities went into his factory mobhanded and the faking appears to have been on a very large scale indeed. The legal reasons for his acquittal are not given, as the Proceedings were rather populist and do not get into legal minutia but the problem appears to have been the uncertainty of who was actually responsible for this massive fraud. The later trial of Henry Day in 1822 (ref t18221023-47) gives a clue that James Wintle, his son and successor may have been considered less than innocent.

Another case (t18230219-109) shows that William Eley may well have been the actual maker of some, if not much, of the numerous flatware items bearing Paul Storr’s mark.

posted 12-19-2004 02:32 PM            

Here is an example of the wonderful insight to the past you will find. The trial seems a bit short and the punishment a might severe. But it was a different time....

quote:

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WILLIAM LILLEY, theft: specified place, 02 Dec 1824.
The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t18241202-116

Trial Summary:

* Crime(s): theft : specified place,
* Punishment Type: death,
* Verdict: Guilty,
* Other trials on 02 Dec 1824
* Name search for: WILLIAM LILLEY,

Middlesex Cases, First Jury, Before Mr. Sergeant Arabin.

116. WILLIAM LILLEY was indicted for stealing, on the 8th of November, at St. Mary-le-bone, twelve silver spoons, value 4 l., the goods of Daniel Bazalgette, in his dwelling-house.

SARAH EMMETT. I am cook to Mr. Daniel Bazalgette, who lives in Nottingham-terrace, Regent's-park, in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone. On the 8th of November I put a dozen spoons into the kitchen cupboard, and saw them there at eleven o'clock in the morning, and missed them at half-past one - I was at home all the time - the area gate was not locked; a person could come down there to the kitchen. I found them at Hatton-garden on the Saturday week following; they were four table, two dessert, and six tea spoons.

Cross-examined by MR. LAW. Q. Does your master keep the house? A. Yes. I cannot exactly spell his name.

WILLIAM LEE. I am an officer. On the 8th of November, about two o'clock in the afternoon, I met the prisonerview a gif image of the original file
See originalin Wilderness-row, Clerkenwell, in company with another person; I suspected him - I followed them, and took the prisoner; he ran away, leaving his hat in my hands, and in it were these twelve spoons. I followed him two hundred yards, and he was stopped. I asked him where they came from - he said I should soon find out.

Cross-examined. Q. You met him a great way from Mary-le-bone? A. Yes, three miles - another person was with him.

SARAH EMMETT. I know these spoons to be my master's, by the initials M. M. C., which are on all his plate; I do not know why. I have lived five months with him.

THOMAS LEWIS STILES. I am a silversmith and jeweller. These spoons appear to be silver, but I would not swear that they are so - (breaking one.) - Yes, they are silver, but of a very inferior sort. I suppose them to be made abroad; we dare not sell such; they have not got the hall mark. I should think them worth 4 s. an ounce; the largest weighs about two ounces; the dessert spoons about half an ounce, and the tea spoons about a quarter of an ounce.

Cross-examined. Q. Which is there most of, silver or alloy? A. Silver. I must assay it to tell the exact quantity of it.

Prisoner's Defence. I picked them up - the officer immediately came and laid hold of me.

GUILTY - DEATH. Aged 21.

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posted 12-19-2004 04:51 PM            

I think one must remember that the sentence was often commuted, few people were actually executed.Mind you, being whipped then transported cannot have been fun.