<text>
<notice>© 2003-2008 Old Bailey Proceedings Online</notice>
<div0 id="17590425" type="sessionsPaper" fragment="yes">
<div1 type="trialAccount" id="t17590425-20">
<xptr type="pageFacsimile" doc="175904250026"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20" type="collection" value="BAILEY"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20" type="year" value="1759"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20" type="uri" value="sessionsPapers/17590425"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20" type="date" value="17590425"/>
<join result="criminalCharge" id="t17590425-20-off114-c149" targOrder="Y" targets="t17590425-20-defend190 t17590425-20-off114 t17590425-20-verdict117"/>
<p>164. (L.)
<persName id="t17590425-20-defend190" type="defendantName"> Joseph Adams
<interp inst="t17590425-20-defend190" type="surname" value="Adams"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-defend190" type="given" value="Joseph"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-defend190" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> was indicted for
<rs id="t17590425-20-off114" type="offenceDescription">
<interp inst="t17590425-20-off114" type="offenceCategory" value="theft"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-off114" type="offenceSubcategory" value="grandLarceny"/> stealing one plaster figure, value 4 s. </rs> the property of
<persName id="t17590425-20-victim192" type="victimName"> Benjamin Rackstrow
<interp inst="t17590425-20-victim192" type="surname" value="Rackstrow"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-victim192" type="given" value="Benjamin"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-victim192" type="gender" value="male"/>
<join result="offenceVictim" targOrder="Y" targets="t17590425-20-off114 t17590425-20-victim192"/> </persName> ,
<rs id="t17590425-20-cd115" type="crimeDate">April 21</rs>
<join result="offenceCrimeDate" targOrder="Y" targets="t17590425-20-off114 t17590425-20-cd115"/>. *</p>
<p>Benjamin Rackstrow. On the 21st of April I was gone out upon business; when I return'd, I was told a person had stolen a little figure of Shakespeare, which I sell for about twelve shillings, and that the man was taken and committed. I went to Guildhall; there I saw part of the figure; I know it to be mine, by the manner of it's being repair'd; I know nothing of the prisoner, but by seeing him at Guildhall.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17590425-20-person193"> Richard Wilkins
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person193" type="surname" value="Wilkins"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person193" type="given" value="Richard"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person193" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> . I was coming through Mr Rackstrow's shop; I saw the prisoner at the bar with his head in the glass case, where this figure stood.</p>
<p>Q. At what time was this?</p>
<p>Wilkins. This was about a quarter of an hour before two in the afternoon, on Saturday last.</p>
<p>
<xptr type="pageFacsimile" doc="175904250027"/>Q. Did not you speak to him?</p>
<p>Wilkins. No.</p>
<p>Q. Why so?</p>
<p>Wilkins. Because I was told there was a man suspected to be upon the same lay on the Friday, and I went on without disturbing him to tell them of this man.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17590425-20-person194"> James Hoskin
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person194" type="surname" value="Hoskin"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person194" type="given" value="James"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person194" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> . On Saturday the 21st of April I saw the prisoner at the bar come out of Mr Rackstrow's shop, with a figure in his hand.</p>
<p>Q. What figure was it?</p>
<p>Hoskins. It was a figure of Shakespeare, about twelve inches high. As I did not know but that he had bought the figure, I did not stop him; I went in and ask'd if that man had bought a figure; they said, no; then I went to pursue him; he went up Flower-de-Luce-court with it in his hand; then I follow'd him, and took him almost at the bottom of Fetter-lane; I did not see him sling the figure away; I brought him back; then the people said there was a figure in an entry belonging to a Corn-chandler's shop; I went and found it, and brought the prisoner and that to Mr Rackstrow's shop; the figure being made of plaster, was broke by the fall; but I knew it again to be the same, and that it was in his shop when I went to dinner that day.</p>
<p>Q. Where is his shop?</p>
<p>Hoskins. In Fleetstreet.</p>
<p>Prisoner's Defence.</p>
<p>I was going to Charing-Cross; I saw some people stop at this shop; I look'd into the shop, but never went in. Then I was thinking to go and see an acquaintance in Holborne, to have a pint of beer; so was running along to go there, when they stopp'd me; I never saw the figure?</p>
<p>For the prisoner.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17590425-20-person195"> Ralph Adams
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person195" type="surname" value="Adams"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person195" type="given" value="Ralph"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person195" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> . I have known the prisoner ever since he was in petticoats.</p>
<p>Q. What is his general character?</p>
<p>Adams. I never heard any thing amiss of him in the whole course of my life before this.</p>
<p>Q. What is his business;</p>
<p>Adams. He is a
<rs id="t17590425-20-deflabel116" type="occupation">bird-cage maker</rs>
<join result="persNameOccupation" targOrder="Y" targets="t17590425-20-defend190 t17590425-20-deflabel116"/>.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17590425-20-person196"> Henry Adams
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person196" type="surname" value="Adams"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person196" type="given" value="Henry"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-person196" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> . The prisoner is my son.</p>
<p>Q. How has he behav'd?</p>
<p>H. Adams. He work'd; but I can't tell how he came to go out at noon-day to do this thing.</p>
<p>
<rs id="t17590425-20-verdict117" type="verdictDescription">
<interp inst="t17590425-20-verdict117" type="verdictCategory" value="guilty"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-verdict117" type="verdictSubcategory" value="theftunder1s"/> Guilty, 10 d </rs>.</p>
<p>
<rs id="t17590425-20-punish118" type="punishmentDescription">
<interp inst="t17590425-20-punish118" type="punishmentCategory" value="corporal"/>
<interp inst="t17590425-20-punish118" type="punishmentSubcategory" value="whipping"/>
<join result="defendantPunishment" targOrder="Y" targets="t17590425-20-defend190 t17590425-20-punish118"/>
<note>[Whipping. See summary.]</note> </rs> </p> </div1></div0></text>