Now! Then! William Smith stands trial for the theft of William Taylor’s hat during a Monday all-nighter at the Labour In Vain pub in Hull

21 October 1830: William Smith stands trial for the theft of William Taylor’s hat during a Monday all-nighter at the Labour In Vain pub in Hull

Hull Packet. 1830/10/26. Hull Sessions. Hull. Get it:

Excerpt

Thomas Snodgrass gave his evidence with peculiar naiveté. He said that at five o’clock on the Tuesday morning he went into the Labour-in-Vain to take a gill of ale, which was not unusual with him at that early hour, as, being a roper, he frequently rose to his work at three. On going into the room, he saw a number of persons, some asleep and some awake. He took not particular notice of them as he concluded they had been “adrift” all night. Presently he saw the prisoner take up a cap and a hat, and as he (witness) thought he could have no business with both, he “did” notice “his” motions. At last he threw the cap down and put the hat on his head. Witness said, “You look best in the hat, but it’s not your own.” Prisoner turned it round and round on his head many times, and seemed to like it, and at last walked off. Shortly after, the prosecutor waked up, and said he had lost his hat, and appeared to be in very great trouble, upon which witness acquainted him with what he had seen. The witness concluded his evidence by informing the bench that when the matter was “overhauled” before the magistrates the prisoner said that he was “fresh” at the time and took the hat by mistake, but that he was willing to pay the man. It was, evidently, the witness said, a drunken “consarn” in fair time, and as the man was willing to pay, he thought the court could not do better than look over it. To this ill-timed piece of advice the Recorder replied that he was sent for to give his testimony and not to take part in the judicial proceedings of the court.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Original

William Smith (20), charged with stealing a hat the property of Wm. Taylor. The prosecutor stated that on Monday night, the 12th inst., having passed the evening at the Labour-in-Vain, at South-end, late at night he got sleepy and laid his head upon the table. He did not wake until five o’clock on the following morning, when he missed his hat. There were many people in the room. On Tuesday morning, while passing along Whitefriargate, he met the prisoner, upon whose head he recognised his own hat; prisoner had at the time another hat under his arm. Witness procured a constable and gave him in charge. He said he had bought the hat and could take him to the shop.

Thomas Snodgrass, the next witness, gave his evidence with peculiar naiveté. He said that, at five o’clock on the Tuesday morning, he went into the Labour-in-Vain, to take a gill of ale, which was not unusual with him at that early hour, as, being a roper, he frequently rose to his work at three. On going into the room, he saw a number of persons, some asleep and some awake. He took not particular notice of them as he concluded they had been “adrift” all night. Presently he saw the prisoner take up a cap and a hat, and as he (witness) thought he could have no business with both, he “did” notice “his” motions. At last he threw the cap down and put the hat on his head. Witness said, “You look best in the hat, but it’s not your own.” Prisoner turned it round and round on his head many times, and seemed to like it, and at last walked off. Shortly after, the prosecutor waked up, and said he had lost his hat, and appeared to be in very great trouble, upon which witness acquainted him with what he had seen. The witness concluded his evidence by informing the bench that when the matter was “overhauled” before the magistrates the prisoner said that he was “fresh” at the time and took the hat by mistake, but that he was willing to pay the man. It was, evidently, the witness said, a drunken “consarn” in fair time, and as the man was willing to pay, he thought the court could not do better than look over it. To this ill-timed piece of advice the Recorder replied by requesting the witness to go about his business; informing him that he was sent for to give his testimony and not to take part in the judicial proceedings of the court.

The next witness, James Haller, constable, took the prisoner into custody at the request of the prosecutor. He said he would take them to the shop where he bought it, but witness thought the shortest way of deciding the affair was to bring him at once before the magistrates. On coming near the door of the Mansion House, he threw down the hat and ran off, but was overtaken in Salthouse Lane and brought back.

Guilty but recommended to mercy by the prosecutor on the ground that he supported an aged mother. To be imprisoned and kept to hard labour two calendar months.

551 words.