The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

1065.   GEORGE DAVIDSON was indicted for stealing, on the 21st of June , 30lbs. of steel, value 20s. , the goods of   Henry Peto .

BENJAMIN SCADDING. I am clerk to Mr. Peto, who is the contractor for building the New Custom House , the prisoner was foreman of the smith's shop , Wedlock and Butler worked under him - He had the entire controul over them. I did not miss the steel until after he was taken up.

  ROBERT WEDLOCK . I worked at the Custom-House, under the prisoner; about seven week ago, he told me to take a bar of steel from under the bellows, and to follow him, we went out at the north gate, to his house on Tower-hill - He said it was his; we went on until we came to Ratcliff-highway, he then told me to put it into my house and to take care of it until he called or sent for it; it remained there about two weeks, he desired me on the Saturday night, to go home and fetch his bar away, which was at my house - He and Butler fetched it away that night; he told Butler to take it, and said it was his property-they took it.

  JOHN BUTLER . I am a smith, and was employed at the Custom-House; the prisoner discharged several men. Wedlock and him were quarrelling, the prisoner told me to come with him and fetch the bar away. I went to Wedlock's house with him-he told me to take the bar, as it was his property. I followed him until we got to Ratcliff-highway, he said he did not like to go over Tower-hill - We went into Whitechapel, and stopped at a public-house - We got intoxicated, and were taken into custody.

  DANIEL ELLINGHAM . I am a patrol. I took the prisoner, Butler, into custody, about half-past twelve o'clock at night, he had the bar and said it was his, and that he worked at the Custom-House; the prisoner said it was his property, and that he bought it at Messrs. Sparrow and Wright's, in Smithfield, and that he had got the bill and receipt, but he had not; and that he gave 11d. per lb. for it last week. When Mr. Peto asked him about it, he said he bought it of the same people two years ago.

MR.   THOMAS WRIGHT . I am in partnership with Mr. Sparrow, in Smithfield; we are ironmengers; we do not keep that kind of iron.

Prisoner's Defence. It is impossible to go through the gate with property. The men have sworn falsely-it is my steel.

(Property produced and sworn to.)

GUILTY . Aged 33.

Confined Six Months .

Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.