That is absolutelly brilliant Merlin,
Two years hard labour for stealing Bagatelle balls
The mind boggles as to why he would steal them, over and above him being drunk which is what got him into trouble in the first place.
This is a transcription of an Essex newspaper describing Johns offence that got him transported
25 11 1834
John Piper, 24, & James Allen, 33, Labourers, were convicted of stealing six shillings in silver and 5 ½ d, in copper, the property of William Argent, of Toppesfield. Prosecutor, who is very old and deaf, stated that on the 1st of November he was in bed and asleep at a lodging-house, kept by John Prior; he was awoke by his clothes being pulled away from under the pillow and saw the prisoners taking them away; he asked what business they had with his clothes, when they replied that if he accused them of taking his clothes and stealing his money, they would pull him out of bed and throw him down stairs; this passed before he accused them of stealing his money; the prisoners then left him; he had 6s 5 ½ d in his pockets, which on examination he found was gone. John Prior, in whose house prosecutor slept, said the prisoners had been drinking with him on the evening in question and they afterwards went up stairs into the prosecutor’s room; after remaining there some time, he heard Argent say that he had lost his money; both prisoners then came down, and Piper stripping himself declared that he had not got the money; Allen said nothing about it, and did not offer to strip. Prior (PIPER) had been twice and Allen once convicted. The Chairman said they had committed a very heinous offence and sentenced them to seven years transportation.
He had twice before been convicted of fighting and riotous assembly when drunk
Definitely a real character
