John Smith (housebreaker)
Encyclopedia
John Smith also known by the alias
John Wilson, was a London
housebreaker, most notable for his three evasions of execution. His first evasion granted him the nickname of Half-hanged Smith.
farmer. He was apprenticed by a packer, and served him as a journeyman
. He then went on to serve the navy, first in a merchantman, then in a man-of-war, and was discharged after the Battle of Vigo bay
. Soon after that, he enlisted as a soldier, where he acquainted with bad associates and started his career as a housebreaker.
of the same year. He was taken to the Tyburn gallows where he was hanged.
Smith's family and friends were present at his hanging. Some attempted to tug at his legs to shorten his suffering, while others held them up for the mere possibility that Smith would not die. Others fought over the body with anatomists. After hanging for a quarter of an hour, the people cried out 'A reprieve'! The reprieve was granted, and Smith was cut down. He was taken to a house in the neighbourhood, where he recovered.
When asked what his feelings were during the execution, Smith replied:
Smith was granted freedom a few months later, on 20 February 1706.
. Due to some complications of his case, the jury left the verdict to the twelve judges. The judges decided to set him free.
There appeared to be no hope for Smith on his third prosecution. It seemed as if the judge would certainly sentence him to an execution once and for all. However, the prosecutor died on the day before the execution, and Smith was once again set free.
. Smith attempted to get rid of the padlock, although the padlock was later found in the 'Channel'.
Although it was agreed that Smith had intended to burgle the warehouse, Smith was only found guilty of theft. He was sentenced to transportation to Virginia
. He then lodged an appeal to Sir John Eyles Knight, the Lord Mayor
, requesting for physical punishment in lieu of transportation. In spite of his physical disabilities and role as a father of two children, the court took no pity on him and he was taken to Virginia on the Susannah.
was convicted of robbery and abuse of a girl named Sarah Griffin, and survived his execution in the Tyburn gallows in 1740. He was also sentenced to penal transportation
, although this was because of the same crime rather than another one.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
John Wilson, was a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
housebreaker, most notable for his three evasions of execution. His first evasion granted him the nickname of Half-hanged Smith.
Early life and career
John Smith was the son of a MaltonMalton, North Yorkshire
Malton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 4,000 people....
farmer. He was apprenticed by a packer, and served him as a journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
. He then went on to serve the navy, first in a merchantman, then in a man-of-war, and was discharged after the Battle of Vigo bay
Battle of Vigo Bay
The Battle of Vigo Bay, also known as the Battle of Rande , was a naval engagement fought on 23 October 1702 during the opening years of the War of the Spanish Succession. The engagement followed an Anglo-Dutch attempt to capture the Spanish port of Cádiz in September in an effort to secure a naval...
. Soon after that, he enlisted as a soldier, where he acquainted with bad associates and started his career as a housebreaker.
First conviction
On 5 December 1705, Smith was accused of four indictments and was convicted of two of them, and was sentenced to death. He showed little concern over his sentence until his execution was ordered on the Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
of the same year. He was taken to the Tyburn gallows where he was hanged.
Smith's family and friends were present at his hanging. Some attempted to tug at his legs to shorten his suffering, while others held them up for the mere possibility that Smith would not die. Others fought over the body with anatomists. After hanging for a quarter of an hour, the people cried out 'A reprieve'! The reprieve was granted, and Smith was cut down. He was taken to a house in the neighbourhood, where he recovered.
When asked what his feelings were during the execution, Smith replied:
Smith was granted freedom a few months later, on 20 February 1706.
Second and third convictions
John Smith turned back to housebreaking upon release. He was tried at the Old BaileyOld Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
. Due to some complications of his case, the jury left the verdict to the twelve judges. The judges decided to set him free.
There appeared to be no hope for Smith on his third prosecution. It seemed as if the judge would certainly sentence him to an execution once and for all. However, the prosecutor died on the day before the execution, and Smith was once again set free.
Final conviction and transportation
On 17 May 1727, 66-year old Smith (using the name John Wilson) was found stealing a padlock. Two watchmen had seen him and another man trying to steal the padlock, so they went up to investigate. The other man escaped, but Smith was found with eight picklock keysLock picking
Lock picking is the art of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device, without the original key. Although lock picking can be associated with criminal intent, it is an essential skill for a locksmith...
. Smith attempted to get rid of the padlock, although the padlock was later found in the 'Channel'.
Although it was agreed that Smith had intended to burgle the warehouse, Smith was only found guilty of theft. He was sentenced to transportation to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He then lodged an appeal to Sir John Eyles Knight, the Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
, requesting for physical punishment in lieu of transportation. In spite of his physical disabilities and role as a father of two children, the court took no pity on him and he was taken to Virginia on the Susannah.
Similar cases
There have been some similar cases in the history of England. For example, a boy named William DuellWilliam Duell (criminal)
William Duell was a 16-year old English boy convicted of raping and murdering Sarah Griffin in Acton, London. He was sentenced to death. On 24 November 1740, he was hanged in Tyburn, along with four others. His body hung for about twenty minutes before being cut down...
was convicted of robbery and abuse of a girl named Sarah Griffin, and survived his execution in the Tyburn gallows in 1740. He was also sentenced to penal transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
, although this was because of the same crime rather than another one.