By Isle of Wight Observer
This tale of the exploits of a young man from Ipswich on a trip down to the South coast was published in the Isle of Wight Observer on 21st December, 1889.
County Bench.
Tuesday. — Before Mr. G. Shadden.
EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF A YOUTH.
A young man, apparently about 19 or 20 years of age, who first gave the police the name of George Gibbs, but who (when put into the dock) confessed that his real name was Harry William Roberts, of Sharlsey, Harkstead, near Ipswich, was brought up in custody, charged with stealing from her moorings on the night of Sunday, December 8th, a fishing smack, 25ft. in length, cutter rigged, the property of George Joffery, fisherman, of Oakfield, Ryde.
[…]
[From information we have gleaned from the police, it appears that the lad was on board a vessel in the Newport River. For some reason he ran away, and sought shelter in the Medina Cement Mills. On leaving the mill he helped himself to a watchman’s mackintosh. He then proceeded to Southampton, where he stole a yacht’s boat and a pair of boots. Then he broke into two other yachts and stole a jib, and two mast head lights. Proceeding down the Southampton Water in the stolen boat, he landed somewhere near Netley, broke into a shepherd’s hut, stole a live lamb and a sheep’s skin. These he took on board the boat, and came to Fishbourne. There several yachts are laid up on the mud. He appears to have broken into one of these, and stolen several articles, and then proceeded to Ryde. He put the body of the lamb and other things he had stolen on board Joffery’s fishing smack, which was moored off Ryde, tied the stolen boat to the stern of the smack, and sailed to the eastward as described, till the smack became unmanageable and ran ashore at Portslade, where she became a total wreck. He then rowed himself on shore in the boat he had stolen, and was kindly received by the Coastguard, as he seemed to have suffered from exposure and cold. He told the Coastguard that he hailed from Tynemouth and was going to the north to get a crew. When the Coastguards went on board the smack and discovered the remains of the lamb, &c., on board, they appear to have doubted his statement, and gave him into custody.]
