Timeline
1847 – Convicted at Derby Assizes of a felony.
1855 – 6th October – Extract From the Leicester Chronicle – ln the month of July last, a mill belonging to Mr Adcock, near Swepstone, was burglariously entered, and ten stones of flour, about 15lbs. of ham, a shoulder piece of bacon, and two stones of bread were stolen therefrom. Suspicion falling upon a man of bad character, named James Pickering, the house where he lodged, of which a person named John Wood is the tenant, was searched, but upon the first visit no part of the plunder was discovered. P.S. Platts, of Ashby, who had been sent for on the occasion, made a double or quick return to the house in question, and found part of the ham undergoing the process of cooking, but Pickering had given leg-bail, and escaped. Subsequently, about seven stones of the flour, in one of Mr Adcock’s sacks, was found concealed near the fold yard of Mr Garner, of Packington Lodge. P.S. Platts, with praiseworthy promptitude, followed up the enquiry, and last week succeeded in apprehending Pickering at Bilstone, in Staffordshire. He was forthwith taken before the Rev J. M. Echalas, at Ashby, and fully committed for trial.— The prisoner has already been twice convicted of felony, and it is stated that he has two brothers, who are ticket-of- leave-men.
1855 – 20th October – Extract From the Leicester Mercury – James Pickering (30: labourer) was charged with breaking and entering a building within the curtilage of the dwelling-house of John Adcock, at Swepstone, on the 12th July, and stealing 10 stones of flour, value £1. 1s. 0d.; 15lbs. of ham, value 12s. and 2 1/2 stones of bread, value 7s. There was second count in the indictment charging him with larceny. Mr. Mundell appeared for prosecution. John Adcock, miller and farmer, Swepstone, deposed that he had mill communicating with the dwelling-house, and on the 14th of July last he retired to rest after having previously locked up his house. The next morning his grinder, Abraham Cooper, called his attention to a window which had been broken open in the mill, adjoining the bakehouse. Upon searching he found the articles described in the indictment taken from the bakehouse and dairy.—Abraham Cooper stated that he locked the mill on the 11th of July, and on the following morning noticed the flour scattered over the floor, and the window smashed in. There were traces of the flour from the bread tub to window, which was broken. Found that ten stones of flour bad been stolen. Went with P.S. Platts to Measham, and was shown some bread which could have been made from the flour stolen. Some flour was shown him before the magistrates, but it was in such bad state from being exposed that he could not compare it. —P.S. Platts, Ashby, said, that he went the mill, and, after observing that robbery had been committed, he traced the footmarks of two persons going in the direction of Measham, in a meadow of mowing grass. There were some grips in the meadow, which enabled him accurately to,measure the footsteps. There was flour in those grips where the parties must have fallen down. The track of the flour ceased a mile before he got to prisoner’s house. Went to the prisoner’s house, where he found the prisoner and a man named Wood, but no food whatever was in the house. Measured two pairs of boots, which he found in very wet state, and they exactly corresponded with the measures he had previously taken. Went again on the Sunday following, and found a large pudding in tbe oven, with slices ham upon it, and there was about a stone and half dough also baking. The prisoner was absent. Tried to apprehend the prisoner, but he was gone away. Received him into custody at Cosely, in Staffordshire, where he had assumed the name of Thomas Turner. On the prisoner going to Ashby, he told witness “this would not have happened if it had not been for Wood.” He said, “he heard his house was being searched, and he had gone away.” —P.C. Widdowson stated that he went with Platts to the mill, and in consequence of information he received, he went to a barn about a mile from Measham, where he found a bag containing seven stones of flour, covered over with some old litter. Was enabled to trace the flour by the marks the field.—Joseph Smith, of Measham, deposed, that about four o’clock the morning of the 12th of July, he was and looking in the town street; saw the prisoner and another man named Wood. He noticed their boots and trousers, which were very wet. They were coming from the mill. (By the prisoner:) Wood had no conversation with witness whatever.—Henry Whittle said, that he was in the lock-up at Ashby when the prisoner was there, and knew nothing previously of his case. Prisoner told him that he and Wood had broken into Mr. Adcock’s mill, and stolen some ham, bread, and bran, and they took part of it and hid it, and a part they took to Measham. He said, ” would have been all right, providing they had not met an old shoemaker (Smitb), who was taking his son’s breakfast, who was going boating, they turned their backs because he should not notice them; that they went to Measham, had part of the ham done in the oven, and on the policeman searching on the Sunday, there was a part of the ham and dough baking; he did not care for that, but ran away to Cosely; but a man named Turner’s wife (at Bilstone, who had become acquainted with the robbery) and prisoner’s wife having had a row, Turner’s wife told the police where the flour was hid; prisoner said, he did not care about that, as Turner was an old offender himself, and he was sure would not appear against him. That statement was afterwards taken down in writing.—Platts was recalled, and stated that it was impossible for the last witness to have known anything of the case previous to the disclosures he made.—Mr. Musson was then sworn, and stated that he received the written statement referred to, but it was lost. He, however, recollected the purport of it, which was the same effect as given above.—Tbe prisoner’s statement before the magistrates was then read, in which said he was not out that night after nine o’clock. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and a previous conviction for felony at tbe Derby assizes 1847 having been proved against him, he was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude.
1855 – 15th October – Convicted at the Leicester Quarter Sessions of housebreaking and sentenced to 4 years penal servitude.
1856 – 6th January – Received at Leicester prison, prisoner number 1849. He is a married, protestant father of 4 who can’t read or write with one previous conviction and one summons before a court. Remarks state his wife Mary lives at Cosely, Staffordshire.
1856 – 6th January – Received at Pentonville Prison.
1856 – 31st January – Received at Millbank Prison, prisoner number 6346, where his behaviour was good.
1856 – 15th September – Received at Portland Prison, prisoner number 6522, his behaviour is at times good and at times exemplary.
1859 – 3rd May – Received at Woking Convict Invalid Prison. Prisoner Number 25.
He is described as Sallow with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, his height is 5’2 3/4 and body type is stout. He is noted as having a mermaid tattoo inside his right arm and a crown with the letters VxR.M.C, on his left arm an anchor with the letters HxT J.P and that he has several scars on his forehead and had lost the sight in his left eye.
1859 – 14th October – Released from Woking Convict Invalid Prison.