GEORGE CROXON

Reports from the Windsor & Eton Express

20th August 1842
Thursday [Before John Clode, Esq. (Mayor), Robt.Tebbott, Esq., and Sir John Chapman] George Croxon was charged with picking the pocket of John Winnett, on the preceding day at the Revel. The prosecutor on the preceding evening was in one of the booths in the Acre, where the prisoner also was. The prisoner was seen to slip the prosecutor's handkerchief from his pocket and hand it to another man. The prisoner was immediately given into custody. Simms the gaoler, said he saw the prisoner in the company of two other men, and suspecting them, he kept a good watch upon their movements during the day. He was fully committed for trial.
5th November 1842
Daring Attempt to Rescue Prisoners from Windsor Gaol. On Tuesday week a most audacious attempt was made by a gang of nine ruffians to rescue from the temporary gaol in Sheet-street (formerly the parish workhouse), two prisoners, named, George Croxon alias Jones and Weaver Clayton, who had been convicted and sentenced at the last Borough Sessions, the former for ten years and the latter to seven years transportation. These two prisoners would, it was strongly suspected by Simms the gaoler, from their well known 'previous characters', make every effort to escape, and consequently he adopted the most efficient means in his power to thwart them in any such attempt. He placed them in the strongest room in the gaol, and as a watch placed another prisoner, named Dawson, on whom he could rely for giving an alarm in case any attempt should be made. There is a window to the room, which looks over a passage leading to the back of the Five Bells public-house, secured with iron bars and a wooden shade, and on the above day the gang resolved to attempt a rescue of their two comrades, who were under transportation. Among them was a fellow of known bad character, named Clewse, who was tried at the last sessions for felony but acquitted. This person had been previously confined to the gaol, and had been placed in the strong room, and no doubt guessed that Croxon and Clayton would also be placed there, as he knew it was the strongest place in the building. He was therefore, no doubt, the ringleader of the party. They entered the passage of the Five Bells by the back way, and two or three of them climbed up to the window of the room in which the prisoners were. They were about commencing taking out the window frame when they were fortunately observed by Mr. Parker, the landlord of the public house, who instantly informed Simms, the gaoler, and he proceeded with an assistant to the passage, but the whole party instantly made off. Simms then returned to the gaol and properly secured the prisoners in separate cells. The latter appeared to have been aware of the attempt at their rescue , for they had been overheard by Dawson, their fellow prisoner, whom they supposed to be asleep, to say, "there is but one fellow here, and if he is not quiet we'll soon settle him." On Tuesday last the convicts, Croxon and Clayton, were conveyed from Windsor, without any previous intimation , to Woolwich, where they were placed on board the Warrior, convict ship.