The malefactor's register; or, the Newgate and Tyburn calendar
Sarah Arment's petition for clemency for the two Thomas Arments, her husband and son, would have you think that the men were innocent dupes unknowingly in the possession of stolen goods. When I first read her plea, I thought that even if the men were guilty of the crime, on the part of the elder Thomas at least, it was one of necessity as he was barely scraping by due to having to work with failing health. Then I did more research on the family.
The first entry found for an Arment on the Old Bailey website seemed innocent enough. In 1828 George Arment, aged 14, was assaulted and robbed of a bundle of clothes that he was delivering. Called as a witness in the trial of John Atridge, George said he lived with his father, a carman, and was employed by Edward Brown to do deliveries. Atridge was found guilty on the evidence of several witnesses and sentenced to death. Atridge was 16. It was a harsh sentence and the trial transcript noted a recommendation of mercy. The sentence was commuted to transportation in 1829.
So far, the Arments seem like fine upstanding citizens but that was to change in 1835. Again, it was George who was called to the Old Bailey but this time he was the accused. He was collecting money for his employer and was charged with pocketing some of the proceeds. He was found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to imprisonment for one year.
Is it just me or does there seem to be a wide variance in sentences? Death for pushing someone own and stealing a bundle of clothes versus a one year sentence for embezzling from your employer feels off. Maybe the light sentence George got encouraged the two Thomases to traffic in stolen goods believing they would get off lightly too. It also makes me wonder whether the Arment family was steeped in crime, although as a crime family they weren't very successful unless they had gotten away with shady dealings for years and were finally caught.
Story to be continued next week
Sources:
The National Archives (UK), reference HO 8/212 petition of Sarah Arment 1849
The Proceedings of the Old Bailey. 1674-1913 https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
Images:
Fleuron
from book: The malefactor's register; or, the Newgate and Tyburn calendar.
Containing the authentic lives, trials, accounts of executions, and dying
speeches, of the most notorious violators of the laws of their country; Who
have Suffered Death, and other exemplary Punishments, in England, Scotland and
Ireland, from the year 1700 to Lady-Day 1779 By Unknown -
https://fleuron.lib.cam.ac.uk/static/ornament_images/084220010400010_0.pngRecord:
https://fleuron.lib.cam.ac.uk/ornament/084220010400010_0, Public Domain,
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