A PAIR of sisters from Colchester paid the high price for their crimes when one was sentenced to death - for pocket- picking.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Mary Davidson was punished for her crime by death - but her sister Frances Smith escaped with her life.

The case is just one of thousands on an amazing new website which lists details of every single case to appear before the Old Bailey from 1674 to 1913.

Highway robbery and stealing animals are among the most common crimes listed among the thousands of crimes documented and while most concern London, Colchester is often mentioned.

Many witnesses and victims are from Colchester, or travelling to and from the town.

The site, complete with everything from the ability to search by family name, to fascinating if distressing reports on executions by vicars (who refused to attend the executions of "papists") is here

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  • More on this story in your Gazette on Thursday.