Crime and punishment in Wapping: horseplay

Animal theft can be a dangerous pursuit. The trial of  John Mackdanel, 2nd July 1735



This case from the Old Bailey is noteworthy for the variety of crimes commited and the distances that criminals are prepared to travel.

John Mackdanel, AKA Mackdonald was indicted for stealing a black gelding (a castrated horse) worth 12 pounds from a one Lynnell Lea on May 16th 1735 (12 pounds was worth between £1k and £9k, depending on whether one uses RPI or average income).

However Mackdanel appears to have a history of theft or at least being a serial witness to various crimes:

• In February 1729-30. He was convicted of stealing the Goods of Mr. Powel.
• In April 1733 he was an Evidence against Wadsworth, White, and Powel, for a Burglary (they were sentenced to transportation to Maryland as a result of this testimony and there appears to be a 'romantic' story that I'll recount in a later blog)
• In December 1733 against Baxter and Rook for a Robbery, and Baxter and Sickwell for a Burglary.
• In December 1734 against Casey and Beesly and John Sutton , for Robberies.
• He was likewise an Evidence against two others who were convicted last assizes in Kent.

The theft of the horse was detected on the 18th of may by Lynell Lea, some two days after Mackdanel allegedly stole it. Lea describes the horse as being 'at Grass in the Parish of  St. George in the East'. Clearly times have changed, as I would certainly never leave a horse unattended for two days in these parts.

However, by the 19th of May, Mackdanel with a man called Thomas Martin were in Essex trying to dispose of the horse as well as a mare according to John Newton:

On the ninteenth of May between seven and eight at Night, the Prisoner and Thomas Martin came to my House, the Fleece in South Halstead, with a Black Gelding and a Mare. Next Morning he offered to sell the Gelding. A Blacksmith fetched a Gentleman who wanted a Horse.

Mackdanel appears to be a shrewd dealer, refusing an offer of five guineas, trying to hold out for more:

The Prisoner asked eight Guineas, the Gentleman bid five but the Money was refused. Mr. Trayhem offered seven Guineas if they could bring a Voucher.

However, as in all great crime capers, everything appears to fall apart with Newton going on to state:

... they pretended they had hired the Horse of a Smuggler in Southwark, who was under a Cloud, and could not appear - They both got out of the House, and ran away, without their Horses. They were pursued different Ways. Martin escaped, but the Prisoner was taken at Coggeshall, and the Justice convicted him to Bridewell.
 

My lack of knowledge of the geography of Essex led me to look up 'South Halstead' - I couldn't find any modern references online, only various historical records. There is a 16th century pub called 'The Fleece' in Coggeshall, which is 10miles south of Halstead but deadpubs suggests there was a fleece in Halstead in the 19th Century, and this seems too much of a coincidence.

The trial like all the best continues with some cross examining by the suspect and begins with the classic opening line:

Prisoner: What Coat had I on?

However, as ever, the witness manages to turn the question to his advantage, highlighting the suspect's fall from grace:

Newton: A Blue Coat, the same as you had on when you were brought from Chelmsford in a Basket.
 

Mackdanel sets out his supposed profession stating:

I travel the Country and sell Handkerchiefs .

 But how did an itinerant handkerchief seller come by some horses?

I met Thomas Martin (who is now a Prisoner below) with two Horses. I asked him to let me ride and he gave me leave, I rid with him to Halstead where he desired me to put off one of the Horses, and so I, thinking no harm, offered this Horse to sell.

However, it appears that Mackdanel had provided a statement on the 24th of May to Alexander Vievar and Robert Tweed, 'Justices of the Peace for the County of Essex'. What I don't understand is how this trial worked, as this line of questioning usually runs on for a bit, whereas here, it ends quite abruptly, as the trial concludes with detail from his statement. In the statement he admits to something of a crime spree:

This Examinant saith, that on the second or third of this Instant May, he with Thomas Martin , otherwise Pup's Nose, and James Matthew , Waterman, robb'd a Gentleman in Deptford about twelve or one in the Morning of four Shillings and six Pence and a Silver Watch. That they knock'd him down and he calling for help, Matthews with a Hammer struck him several Blows on the Head and left him for dead.
 

This appears to be turning into something of a Mad May - at the beginning of the month he's in Deptford, South East London involved in a violent robbery, before ending up the month in Essex flogging a stolen horse.

Macdanel, not only has a wide range of operations across the South East, appears to be familiar with who to fence stolen goods, and where better than Cable Street?:

They sold the Watch for thirty Shillings to Mrs. Weston in Cable Street in the Parish of St George's in the East, she knowing them to be stolen.

However Mad May continues with another adventure only days later, this time down on the river:

...on the sixth or seventh of May. They with John Keeble about twelve at Night broke into a Collier lying in the Thames below Execution Dock

So far we know that Mackdanel has a history of robbery, but on this job, they appear to be trying to find a whole ensemble to wear, with the items being taken including:

...a Grey Suit, a Brown Suit trim'd with Silver, two Great Coats, one Red and one Blue, a Pair of Silver Buckles, a Pair of Shoes, and a Natural Wig, the Captain being all the while a Sleep in the Cabbin; all which ( except the Wig, Buckles and Shoes) they sold to the said Weston.
 

So naughty Mrs Weston appears quite keen to assist with some more stolen goods - I can't help but wonder on what ground the wig, buckles and shoes were declined?

However, the spree continued:

the tenth or eleventh of May, he, Pup's Nose and Matthews, stole out of the Marshes at Gravesend, a Black Gelding and a Brown Mare 

Mackdanel and his boys however head back into London :

returning from Gravesend, they robb'd a Gentleman about seven in the Evening under the Piazzas in Covent Garden of ten Guineas, and ten Shillings six Pence and a French six Pence, a Silver Watch and a Pair of Silver Knee Buckles.

One cannot however not be impressed by their industry, as not only do they head out to Kent to steal some horses, they then come all the way back to London, only then to try and dispose of the horses in Colchester, but what did happen to the horses:

...sold the Mare to Thomas Jones a Butcher in Colchester, and the Horse to a Farrier against the Maidenhead in Colchester, for a Guinea and a half Crown Bowl of Punch.

The big question for me is what purpose the butcher put the horse to use for. However, it's interesting that these horses weren't worth anywhere as much as the horse he tried selling in Coggeshill, settling for guinea and a drink, though maybe having rode all the way from Gravesend to London and out to Colchester, the horses might have been a little tired.

However, even now, the spree doesn't stop!

And that he and Pup's Nose upon their return from selling the aforesaid Horses at Colchester, robb'd a Man in Marybone-Fields of about sixteen Shillings

Finally Mackdanel admits to the crime he is actually on trial for:

And that on Thursday, May the fifteenth, he and Pup's Nose and   Thomas Roden , took out of the Ground of Thomas Webb near St. Georges Church in the East, a Black Gelding and a Brown Mare , on which he and Pup's Nose rode to Halstead where he was Apprehended.
 

Mackdanel's confession did little to help himself - he was sentenced to execution and was hanged a few weeks later at Tyburn on 21st July.