Newspaper Reports, 1795
HIGHLIGHTS: A Baronet absconds after conviction of having sex with a Guardsman; man sentenced to two years' solitary confinement.
Wednesday 14 January 1795
On Friday last the Grand Jury for Westminster found a true Bill against Sir Charles Price, Bart. and John Jones, a corporal in the First Regiment of Guards, for a misdemeanor of the most unnatural kind. – Jones being in custody, was put on his trial, and after hearing the evidence of John Bowry, who keeps the Castle public house in Chapel-street, Westminster, and three other witnesses, the Jury immediately returned their verdict – Guilty; and the court sentenced the prisoner to two months imprisonment in Tothill-fields Bridewell, and during that time to stand on the pillory. (Hereford Journal)
Saturday 17 January 1795
A bill was found by the Grand Westminster Jury, against Sir Charles Price, Bart. and John Jones, a corporal in the first regiment of foot guards, on a charge of a misdemeanor of the most unnatural kind. Jones was tried, and on the evidence of a publican and three witnesses, was convicted, and sentenced to two months imprisonment, and to stand in the pillory in the Broadway, Westminster. (Staffordshire Advertiser) (The Chester Chronicle for Fri. 30 Jan. 1795 prints the same report, but ends with the observation: “The worthy Baronet is at large.”)
11–13 March 1795
On Wednesday a wretch, of the name of Myers,was committed to theNew Prison,Clerkenwell, by the Magistrates at the Police Office, Marlborough-street, on a charge of assauloting three persons, with intent tocommit an unnaturalcrime;andwhat is strange,the last person on whom he made the attempt, was the watchman into whose care he had been given by the other two. (London Packet or New Evening Post)
Saturday 14 March 1795
There are fifteen prisoners in the castle for trial at the next Thetford assizes, which will commence on Friday next, viz. . . . Henry Printal, for an unnatural crime . . . (Norfolk Chronicle) (See also News Reports for 29 Nov. 1794.)
Saturday 20 June 1795
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Saturday 11 July 1795
On Thursday was tried at the Old Bailey, John Young, a soldier in the Guards, for feloniously stealing on the 4th of June last, from the person of John Richard Frizelli, a metal watch, with a gold chain and seal. The evidence on the part of the prosecution being gone through, and the prisoner called upon for his defence, he shocked the feelings of the whole Court, by attempting to fix on the prosecutor a crime of a detestable nature. His story was, that he observed two gentlemen in the Birdcage Walk, in a position that betrayed they were capable of unnatural practices; that upon his detecting them they ran away, and dropt the watch in question, which the prisoner picked up.
The whole of this story appeared to be a most diabolical fabrication of the prisoner, set up for the first time, to screen himself from punishment.
The Jury found the prisoner guilty. The learned Judge addressed the prisoner, by observing, that it was very fortunate for him that the indictment had not been laid capitally, namely for stealing the watch privately from the person of the prosecutor, which the evidence clearly proved was the fact; for, had it been so laid, the infamous and wicked defence he had set up, would have insured him a public execution. (Staffordshire Advertiser)
Monday, 19 October 1795
SOMERSET QUARTER SESSIONS – Last week, at Taunton, William Teyley, alias Teyler, of Bedminster, cornfactor, between 50 and 60 years of age, and of considerable property, was convicted of attempting to cuddle W. Mason of the same place. Teyley was sentenced to be fined 50l. and two years solitary imprisonment. It is to be lamented his being married to his fourth wife; he has several children and grandchildren in respectable situations in the City of Bristol. (Oracle)
Wednesday 21 October 1795
At the Quarter-Sessions for the county of Somerset, held last week at Taunton, William Teyler, otherwise Tyley, of Bedminster, corn-factor, and a man of considerable property, was convicted on the clearest evidence of an attempt to commit an unnatural crime on William Mason; sentenced to be fined 50l. and to be confined for two years to solitary imprisonment in Ilchester gaol, and until the fine be paid; and the gaoler was strictly charged to see that the imprisonment was quite solitary. The defendant had indicted the prosecutor and another person for a conspiracy in endeavouring to obtain money of him by false pretence of charging him with an unnatural crime, of which he was innocent; this the Court considered as an aggravation of the enormity of his crime. (Hereford Journal)
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Newspaper Reports, 1795",
Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 17 Oct. 2014, updated 5 June 2021
<http://rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/1795news.htm>.
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