![Platt, S[amuel], [Barrister]](https://media.app.artisio.co/media/104cbde6-0d38-43cb-9e0f-bb721ef57bcf/inventory/4cd9c70c-ddb6-44ce-bd1c-5ba66d67cc21/a33b100b-c203-431c-8f33-a8c18b4d7bd5/00001_mOpoIr_original.jpeg)
Platt, S[amuel], [Barrister]
'Western Circuit' courtroom character studies
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
41 leaves each with portrait sketches to one side in a small maroon leather album, 19 x 12cm, c.1830, several characters labelled including “blind witness”, “Portsmouth murder. Stacey… tried for murder…”, “Convicted of Housebreaking Salisbury”, “Housebreaker” and “His Prosecutor”, “Portsmouth murder. Stacey the Yo. lived with his father… convicted and executed 3rd August”, “Paris Clerk of St. Martin's Salisbury ” and others, many leaves detached from the album, spine worn, a little spotting to some leaves
Footnote
A fascinating insight into the workings of the ‘Western Circuit’ court - a jurisdiction which covers the area from Guildford to the tip of Cornwall. Inscribed “S. Platt Western Circuit” to free-endpaper, with the following pencil inscription overleaf:
"Sketches from life taken on the Western Circuit
The Artist hopes he shall not surpass upon Politeness by requesting that the heads may be kept (when turning over the book) as free as possible from the friction of the adjoining leaves and particularly from the touch of the finger" [each leaf is protected with a tissue guard].
Two characters illustrated are John Stacey and his father. John Stacey was executed on the 3rd August 1829 for the robbery and murder of Mr. Langtree and his housekeeper, Charity Jolliffe, at their house in Portsmouth. His father was transported to New South Wales in Australia on board the Katherine Stewart Forbes for his part in the crime.