Robbery, Burglary, and Other Felonious Acts
The combination of the Robbery Act of 1691, the Shoplifting Act of 1699, and the Larceny from a Dwelling House Act of 1713 had made many offences non-clergyable. The benefit of clergy was denied those who had committed the following crimes: robberies of 5 shillings or more in a dwelling-house, shop, or warehouse; stealing goods of 5 shillings or more in the day or night from a shop; and stealing goods of 40 shillings or more from a dwelling or outhouse.[1] This meant that these felons could not memorize a few lines from the Holy Bible, pretend to read it, and expect to be pardoned for their crimes. Criminals now had to consider the physical location of the goods, as well as their monetary value before planning a theft.[2]
The following tables are a listing of items stolen and their corresponding punishments from a single session at the Old Bailey Sessions-House.
Punishment and Property, Old Bailey Sessions, January 1715[3]
| Whipped (7 Offences) | Burnt in hand (13 offences) | Hanged (5 offences) |
| 15yds linsey-woolsey | 25yrds drugget | silver tankard and silver spoon |
| 100lbs hemp | 15lbs whalebone | "a large quantity of Cambrick's" |
| groceries (1 quartern loaf, 2lbs cheese, 1/2lb bacon, 1/2lb sugar) | 3 holland smocks | 600lbs sugar |
| 2 holland shirts | 2 cloth coats | 4 pewter spoons and a copper furnace |
| 1 huckabuck tablecloth | 4 gold rings | 1 bed, 2 blankets, and a rug |
| 4 canes | 1 gold ring | |
| 3 diaper tablecloths | ||
| 1 pair of shag breeches | ||
| 1 feather bed and flaxen sheets | ||
| 3 silver spoons and 1 silver mug | ||
| 1 cloth coat | ||
| 1 russet waistcoat | ||
| 2 coach seats |
Punishment and money, Old Bailey Sessions, January 1715 [4]
|
Whipped
|
Prosecutor's Valuation
|
Jury's Valuation
|
|
linsey-woolsey
|
15s.
|
4s., 10d.
|
|
hemp
|
-
|
10d.
|
|
silk handkerchief
|
6d.
|
-
|
|
groceries
|
-
|
10d.
|
|
holland shirts
|
8s.
|
10d.
|
|
tablecloth
|
-
|
10d.
|
|
canes
|
-
|
10d.
|
|
Burnt in Hand
|
||
|
drugget
|
-
|
4s., 10d.
|
|
whalebone
|
30s.
|
-
|
|
holland smocks
|
10s.
|
4s., 10d.
|
|
2 cloth coats
|
-
|
-
|
|
4 gold rings
|
60s.
|
-
|
|
1 gold ring
|
-
|
4s., 10d.
|
|
tablecloths
|
10s.
|
-
|
|
pair of breeches
|
15s.
|
-
|
|
feather bed and sheets
|
-
|
-
|
|
silver spoons and
mug
|
70s.
|
39s.
|
|
1 cloth coat
|
4s.
|
-
|
|
russet waistcoat
|
10s.
|
-
|
|
coach seats
|
40s.
|
4s., 10d.
|
|
Hanged
|
||
|
silver tankard and
spoon
|
10 pounds
|
-
|
|
Cambricks
|
90 pounds
|
-
|
|
600lbs sugar
|
10 pounds
|
-
|
|
pewter spoons and copper furnace
|
-
|
-
|
|
bed, 2 blankets and rug
|
-
|
-
|