Poaching and Petty Thieving in St Albans

A Talk by Chris Reynolds

The Stratton Family

and I've got him on the list ... James Stratton

[In previous trials the prison governor has produced his little black book, but the most that has been reported was the number of previous offences. In the case of the potato thefts much more detail is recorded in the Herts Advertiser.]

The following list of convictions against the prisoners was read:–

James Stratton – 1842 poaching; 1844, stealing turnips; 1845, ditto; 1847, stealing wood; 1847, assault; 1848, poaching; 1849, poaching; 1850, stealing turnips; 1851, poaching; 1853, night poaching; 1856, felony (3 years penal servitude); 1861, stealing turnips; 1862, stealing turnips and felony (5 years penal servitude); 1868, drunk and riotous and wilful damage; 1869, stealing turnips and damage; 1870, vagrancy, damage, vagrancy and stealing turnips.

Herts Advertiser 17th September 1873
 

See also Theft of Potatoes at St Albans