Large George III Parcel-Gilt Silver Tipstaff Constable Maybank The Borough of Chelsea

A large George III parcel-gilt silver Tipstaff, with a silver-gilt crown finial, engraved festoon decoration to the silver and turned wooden body, the silver end mount inscribed - 'Richard Maybank, Constable Chelsea'.

By Joseph Angell, London 1817.

A large and fine quality example belonging to a named Constable and dated prior to the formation of the London Metropolitan Police in 1829.

Constable Richard Maybank gets multiple mentions in the 'Proceedings of the Old Bailey' dating from 1815 to 1829, being involved in Trials for Theft, Grand Larceny, Burglary, Pocketpicking etc etc and including this case of shoplifting Four Handkerchiefs in 1815:-

"131. JOHN KEAF and WILLIAM MURRAY were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 17th of December , four handkerchiefs value 6 s. the property of William Pitt , privately in his shop .

WILLIAM PITT . I am a linen draper , Slone square, chelsea .

RICHARD MAYBANK . I am an officer of Chelsea. I was walking down Sloane-street on Saturday the 17th of December in company with James Cox , as I was going by out of Mr. Pitts shop. I then said if you will stop a minute or two, you will see something done, and before I had done speaking it to Cox, Keaf took the handkerchiefs down, I saw him take them down; Murray was in company with him, they were both together at the time. I apprehended both the prisoners by the assistance of Cox; I took Keaf, Murray stopped at the door untill I came. Keaf got above twenty yards from the door; I apprehended both the prisoners by the assistance of Cox, I took Keaf; Murruy stopped at the door until I came back; I went up with Cox to him and took him to the watchhouse. I observed the two prisoners talking together before they look the handkerchief down.

Q. After you had got Keaf you went up to Murray - A. Yes.

Q. Did you find the handkerchiefs upon Keaf - A. He dropped them down from under his coat.

Q. Were the handkerchiefs hanging inside of the door - A. They were inside of the door upon a rail; I saw Keaf take the handkerchiefs down, Murray had nothing to do with it.

JAMES COX . I was with Maybank on the 17th of December, I saw the two prisoner's standing together. against Mr. Pitts shop window; I saw Keaf take the handkerchiefs down from off the door way, after he had taken it down, he rolled it up, and put it under his jacket. Maybank said to Keaf you have got it; he turned round and dropped the handkerchiefs, Maybank picked them up.

Maybank. These are the handkerchiefs.

Prosecutor. They are my property, they were in my shop when I left it, about nine o'clock on Saturday morning; these very handkerchiefs were in my shop, I value them at ten shillings.

Keaf's Defence. I was coming along at the end of Sloane-street, I saw the handkerchiefs hanging at the door, almost blown off with the wind; I took them off the door and ran away with them, a gentleman stopped me.

Murray's Defence. The constable took the young man, the constable took me, he said I was in company with him.

KEAF GUILTY, aged 17.

MURRAY GUILTY, aged 25.

Or stealing but not privately in the shop .

Confined 1 year and fined 1 s.

First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Baron Wood."

£3,650.00