Catalogue description Prisoner name: James Gibbs . Prisoner age: 27. Court and date of trial: Gloucester...

Prisoner name: James Gibbs.

Prisoner age: 27.

Court and date of trial: Gloucester Quarter Sessions, adjourned, 12 April 1837.

Crime: Sheep stealing - one ewe sheep on 25 March 1837 from Thomas Gemm (or Thomas Yem or Thomas Yemm).

Initial sentence: Transportation for life.

Gaoler's report: Character not known.

Annotated (Outcome): Sentence reduced to 14 years 12 May 1837.

Petitioner(s): Two petitions from the prisoner, one also signed by 38 inhabitants of Mitchel Dean. The Reverend George Cox, curate, and three others.

Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Innocent of crime; case of mistaken identity; two prosecution witnesses gave false testimony against him; no previous charges against him.

Other papers: letter from the Reverend George Cox forwarding a copy of prosecution and defence evidence depositions on commitment and astronomical computation. Copy depositions on commitment. Copy evidence at the trial. Letter from S R Strode forwarding plan and elevation of the crime scene and astronomical computation of the moon's rays at the crime scene. Reverend George Cox transmitting petition. Robert B Hale MP pursuing the petition. Reverend George Cox requesting the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol to intercede. Charles Bathurst letter to Home Department justifying his not interfering with statutory sentence of transportation for life. Plan and elevation of the crime scene. Astronomical computation of the moon's rays at the crime scene. Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol transmitting letter from Reverend George Cox. Coloured map of part of Mitchel Dean. Coloured panorama of visible horizon at Mitchel Dean. Coloured plan of lunar beams at Mitchel Dean. Coloured drawing of the crime scene. Reverend George Cox transmitting papers. Copy new evidence including astronomical computations. Reverend George Cox transmitting omitted copy of evidence at trial. Lord Somerset transmitting petition. Reverend George Cox thanking Home Secretary for convict's pardon.