Catalogue description Report of W Best on 3 individual petitions (Thomas Jones Phillips, Mayor of Newport;...

Report of W Best on 3 individual petitions (Thomas Jones Phillips, Mayor of Newport; William Powell, chaplain to the Sheriff; and Samuel Etheridge, book seller of Newport) on behalf of Elizabeth Davies convicted at the 'last' Newport Assizes for stealing wearing apparel from John Orwin, the prosecutrix, Sarah Thomas alias Sarah Brewer/Sarah Wallace. The prisoner is held in Monmouth gaol. There is a letter from Joseph Price JP for Monmouth; and statements made by Margaret Evans, wife of William Evans, gardener and seedsman of Landaff, Glamorgan; John Smith victualler of Cardiff; and Thomas Scanderett, butcher of Cardiff. Grounds for clemency: the prisoner's case was not properly investigated, the prisoner has shown exemplary conduct, her previous employers were willing to re-employ her, did not have the benefit of people to speak for her in court and the case was brought against the prisoner out of malice by the prosecutrix a woman of bad character (a known prostitute). Initial sentence: 7 years. Transportation. Recommendation: mercy. Annotated: 'Free Pardon'. Folios 249-261.