Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 February 2019), September 1742, trial of William Bird (t17420909-37)

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

text excerpt

[William Bird was tried for the murder of Mary Maurice, and of Phillis Wells at a separate trial a month later. Both women suffocated in an underground cell, ‘The Hole’, St Martin’s Round House, a gaol run by Bird, and where he lived. He was found guilty of Wells’ murder and sentenced to death, later commuted to transportation. In total six of a group of twenty women died as a result of incarceration overnight in the six-foot square space. The constables responsible for gaoling the women were never prosecuted]

Joseph Akins: I was Constable of the Night, when this Accident happened. I went there about eleven o'Clock and continued there till between four and five in the Morning. I was in the Chair above Stairs all the Time.

[…]

Jury. Did you hear the Cries of the Women in the Hole?

Akins: No, I did not hear any; there was Singing either among the Men or Women, but which I cannot tell: We had more Noise above to drown that below. - I did not see any Gin, or any strong Liquors carried down.

excerpt from 'Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 February 2019), September 1742, trial of William Bird (t17420909-37)' (184 words)

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1550826961493