THE TRIAL AND INDICTMENT OF ALFRED MILES
1819-1867
A note by Elva Brooke (April 2005)
One of only three surviving children of Alfred and Anne Miles, Alfred was born on 30 January 1819 in Spitalfields, London. His father was a horsehair weaver and wigmaker.
Alfred was sentenced at Middlesex Sessions to seven years on 3rd March 1834 for larceny – stealing a pair of shoes and a teapot. He was single, and described by the Surgeon as orderly, with a good hulk report. His trade was as a women's shoemaker, at which he had spent two years. At the time of his transportation he stood just 4' 11.5" tall with light-brown hair, grey eyes and was thickly pock-pitted.
He was transported at the age of 15 with 239 other convicts on a new ship, the 447-ton William Metcalfe, built in Sunderland in 1834. The Master was Edward Philipson and the Surgeon-Superintendent Henry G Brock. The ship left Portsmouth on the 25th May 1834 and arrived in Hobart on 4th September 1834, taking the relatively short time of 102 days. On arrival, the young Alfred was appropriated by Mr O'Donnell of Elizabeth Street, to work at his trade as a ladies' shoemaker.
His colonial record was not good:
3rd October, 1834: O'Donnell/Gross misconduct in taking disgusting and indecent liberties with the female child only 4 years of age of his master, Mr William O'Donnell. Hard labour for 3 years, and being a shoemaker's boy it is recommended that he be removed to Port Arthur and having undergone probationary discipline, be employed in the shoemaker's shop. Vide Lt Govr, October 1834.
May 1835: Smoking tobacco in his hut contrary to regulations - 7 days.
23rd May, 1835: Making use of improper and indecent language in the cells and general misconduct - 18 strokes on the breach.
4th July 1835: The Convict Record of Thomas Kelly (convict no 418 per"Isabella") shows that on Saturday 4th July 1835 he was charged at Port Arthur with: "Quarrelling in his hut and cutting Alfred Miles with a knife in endeavouring to wrest it from him". (From Nigel Hargraves, Hobart, Tasmania)
2nd November, 1835: Most disgraceful and insolent conduct in the hut on Friday evening last - 50 on the breach, Port Arthur.
29th June, 1837: Absent from divine service - 48 hours solitary confinement, Port Arthur.
1st July, 1837: Cut the lamp of his hut & using the oil thereof - 48 hours solitary confinement.
Eventually, on 5th June, 1839, aged 19 or 20, he was given his Ticket of Leave, but even away from Port Arthur his problems continued.
27th July, 1839: 2 years extension of term of transportation - sent to Chain gang at Cleveland.
Absconding - 30 days. Attempting to abscond from the works - 15 lashes. Attempting to abscond - 10 days solitary confinement, 9 months in chains.
24th September, 1840: Oatlands Road Party - misconduct in sleeping in chapel.
25th September, 1840: Oatlands. Refusing to work and using threatening language - 14 days hard labour in chains.
6th March, 1841 - In custody in goal - misconduct in assaulting a fellow prisoner - 14 days solitary confinement. To be sent to Port Arthur for 4years.
12th April, 1841 - Life transportation.
16 April, 1845 - Ticket of Leave.
He had met Elizabeth Spice by this stage. They were married at "Bethesda", Battery Point, by Rev'd H P Fry of St George's Church. Alfred was 28, a 'shoemaker', and lived in Davey Street. Elizabeth was 19, and lived at New Wharf. Their witnesses were Charles Sparel and Margaret Thomas.
Alfred died at his home, 252 Elizabeth Street, Hobart on 22 May 1867, aged 48, after five years of fatal and painful kidney disease. He left a wife who had borne him eight children.
***
The following information on Alfred Miles (b 1819, Spitalfields) was obtained from the Corporation of London, London Metropolitan Archives.
There are three sections:
Corporation of London Joint Archive Service Ref No MJ/SP/1833/12/047
Corporation of London Joint Archive Service Ref No MJ/SP/1834/03/118
Corporation of London Joint Archive Service Ref No MJ/SP/1833/12/179
Clerkenwell
December
Sessions
1833
The King
Versus
Alfred Miles
&
John Butcher
Informations
Middlesex ) The Information of Charles Thomas William Ward and
Is wit. ) George Teakle
When upon Oath this Ninth day of December in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirtythree at the Police Office Worship Street in the Parish of Saint Leonard Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex before Me
One of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Middlesex on the Examination and in the Presence and Hearing of –
Alfred Miles and John Butcher
Brought before Me and charged with Felony.
The said Charles Thomas on Oath says –
I live at No 78 Brick Lane Spitalfields and am a Pattern Maker. Last Friday night between four and six o’clock the two prisoners came to me and the prisoner Miles asked me to buy some patterns of him. He said there were one pair and two odd ones and I seen them, they were in the other prisoner’s cap (or cape). I told him I would go in and hear what my Mother said. I went in and my Mother came out. I stood at the door. My Mother went and looked at the patterns and I heard her say “you have stole these patterns”. Before my Mother said so, the prisoner Miles ran away and on her saying so, the other prisoner ran away. My Mother brought the patterns in doors and after examining the makers of them I took them to Mr Ward’s in Church Street Bethnal Green Road and he immediately claimed them as his property. I gave the patterns to him and was returning home when I saw the prisoners standing by a baker’s shop. From there I followed them to a tobacconists shop where they stood. I saw the Police Constable Teakle and I gave both the prisoners in charge. They were then taken to Mr Ward’s shop. They are the same prisoners who offered the patterns to me for sale.
Signed: Charles Thomas
William Ward of 161 Church Street Bethnal Green, pattern maker says –
On Friday evening last in consequence of information I received I looked and missed four patterns from a board in front of my window. At the same time two boys at a little distance in the street were pointed out to me and they appeared like the prisoners. This was near about the time of 5 o’clock. Being lame I did not pursue them. In something less than half an hour the last witness came to my shop and delivered to me the four patterns now produced. They are mine and of my make. They are odd patterns and I found the fellow to own of them. They are worth about 1/3d. Afterwards the Police Constable brought the prisoners to my shop and from thence he took them away to the station. The Police Officer then returned to my shop and I delivered to him the four patterns produced.
Signed: William Ward
George Teakle H121 Police Constable says –
On Friday night about half past five o’clock I was called upon by the first witness and I took the two prisoners into custody. I took them to Mr Ward’s and from there to the station house. I afterwards received from Mr Ward the four patterns which I now produce.
Signed: George Teakle Sworn before me M E McNaughton
The prisoner Miles says –
The patterns which were taken from the prosecutor’s door had three black ties and one red one.
The prisoner Butcher says –
They should not have taken the patterns if the witness Thomas had not said he would buy them.
Taken before me
Signed: M E McNaughton
Corporation of London Joint Archive Service Ref No MJ/SP/1833/12/047
MIDDLESEX
These are to Certify That at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at the Sessions House on Clerkenwell Green in and for the County of Middlesex on Monday the thirtieth day of December in the fourth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, before certain Justices of our said Lord the King assigned to keep the Peace in the County aforesaid and also to hear and determine divers Felonies, Trespasses and other Misdemeanors committed in the same County,
Alfred Miles
Late of the Parish of Saint Matthew Bethnal Green in the said County labourer was, in due form of Law tried and convicted on a certain Indictment against him, for that he, on the Sixth Day of December in the Year aforesaid with force and arms at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid,
four patterns of the value of fifteen pence
of the Goods and Chattels of William Ward then and there being found feloniously did steal take and carry away; against the Peace, &c. And the said –
Alfred Miles
was thereon ordered to be imprisoned in the House of Correction at Clerkenwell
One calendar month and to be kept to hard labour except during one week thereof and during that week to be kept on solitary confinement and to be once privately whipped in addition to such imprisonment.
Dated the Seventh Day of March 1834.
H C Selby Clerk of the Peace for the said County
Corporation of London Joint Archive Service Ref No MJ/SP/1834/03/179
Clerkenwell
March
Sessions
1834
The King
Versus
Alfred Miles
Informations
Middlesex ) The Information of
to wit. ) Mary Griffith, Sarah Patten and Robert Neave
When upon Oath this Sixth day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirtyfour at the Police Office Worship Street in the Parish of Saint Leonard Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex before Me
One of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Middlesex on the Examination and in the Presence and Hearing of –
Alfred Miles
Brought before Me and charged with Felony.
The said Mary Griffith on Oath says –
I am the wife of Morgan Griffith of No 27 Essex Street Whitechapel a labourer. The prisoner is a stranger to me. He came upstairs last night and slept with other two boys in a bed in the same room where I sleep.between six and seven o’clock this morning they got up and went out. I then looked to see of my things were all right and I missed a pair of shoes. I put on my clothes and went in pursuit of the prisoner and his companions. I found the prisoner in a street near Rum Lane. He was running towards me. I had hold of him and said to the Officer who was near, “this is one of them that took my shoes.” The prisoner struggled to get away but I held him fast. I fell down and he give me a severe kick which has harmed me. I saw him take a candlestick from under his jacket and threw it on the ground. I took up the candlestick and gave it to the Officer who took charge of the prisoner and he was taken to the station house. The pair of shoes was worth 2/6d.
Signed: Mary Griffith
Sarah Patten wife of George Patten of No 27 Essex Street before mentioned a sawyer says –
I let out beds for the night. Last night I let a bed in Mrs Griffith’s room to the prisoner and two other boys for -/3d each. I sleep in the downstairs room and they had to pass through in going out. This morning at 20 minutes to nine I received information about Mrs Griffith having lost her shoes. As soon as I was dressed I went in pursuit of the prisoner and his companions. I met them all three abreast in Petticoat Lane. I went up to the prisoner and caught him by the apron. He let the apron go and ran away and a tea pot fell out of the apron. I did not take up the tea pot but I pursued the prisoner but lost him. I returned home and then I missed my tea pot from my mantel piece. I afterwards missed a candlestick and in consequence of information I received I went to the station house and then I found my candlestick. The candlestick produced is the same. The candlestick is worth -/10d and the tea pot -/10d.
― The mark of Sarah Patten
Robert Neave H9 Police Sergeant says –
This morning I was in Rum Lane and saw Mrs Griffith stop the prisoner. They were on the ground and I saw Mrs Griffith pick up a candlestick which she delivered to me. I took charge of the prisoner and took him to the station house. The candlestick I now produce is the same I received from Mrs Griffith.
Signed: Sworn before S Mumford Robert Neave
The prisoner does not wish to say anything at present.
Signed: Taken before me S Mumford
Corporation of London Joint Archive Service Ref No MJ/SP/1834/03/118