| Reference Number | t16781211e-3 |
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| Verdict | Guilty |
| Sentence | Miscellaneous > branding |
| Related Material |  |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 06 December 2023), December 1678, trial of John Baltee (t16781211e-3). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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3. John Baltee Indicted, for that he, the 3. Decem. 1678. at the Parish of St. Bennet Fink , did steal a Silver Tankard of the value of 5 l. from one Thomas Browning . He pleaded Not Guilty, and put himself upon the Countrey.
Then the Jury were charged to enquire of John Baltee, upon the Indictment before mentioned, whether Guilty or Not Guilty, of stealing the Tankard of Thomas Browning.
To prove the Charge, one Elizabeth Web gave this Evidence, That the Prisoner at the Bar brought the Tankard to her house, and told her, he would either Pawn it, or sell it: And being asked whose it was, he said, It was not his own, but a Gentlemans hard by, who had sent him with it to Pawn or Sell. She looking upon the Tankard, saw the Name of the Owner, and the Sign where he lived, engraven upon it, to whom she sent immediately to know whether he had given the Prisoner Order to Sell it or Pawn it: and kept the Prisoner till he came, which when he did, he owned the Tankard, but denied the Prisoner had it with his Consent, and so they carried him before the Justice.
Browning the Owner of the Tankard deposed that he was a Cook , living behind the Exchange, that the Prisoner, the third of December last, came in there with some other Persons to drink, and stole the Tankard, and confessed the Matter before Sir William Turner .
Sir William Turner's Clerk witnessed his Confession before Sir William, and that he said, he was a poor fellow and in distress, and so took it to relieve his Wants.
The Prisoner being asked what he could now say to it, denied that he took it out of the house; but said that a Man, whose name he could not tell, gave it him to pawn: he confessed his being at that House that day; but was innocent of Stealing the Tankard. But not being able to prove his affirmation, it was left to the Jury to give what Credit they would to them.
That, John Baltee was guilty of the Felony he was indicted for.