John Harris, 22, was tried and convicted on 16 April 1829 for housebreaking and the theft of 36 yards (33 metres) of trimming, 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of worsted linen, 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of cotton and 32 pieces of ribbon from John Towers of Spitalfields. Although he was initially sentenced to death, seven witnesses gave Harris character references and his sentence was commuted to transportation.