The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

458, 459. (M)   Benjamin Frederick and   Robert, otherwise Joseph Lloyd , were indicted, for that they, together with   Thomas Gapney not taken, on the 20th of August, in a certain field and open place near the King's highway, on   George Craggs did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, violently taking from his person a silver watch, value 40 s. a steel chain, value 6 d. a silver seal, value 12 d. a pair of silver shoe buckles, value 20 s. one hat, one handkerchief, half a guinea and 2 s. in money numbered, the property of the said George , August 20 . *

  George Craggs . I keep a chandler's shop and green-stall in Milk-alley, St. George's parish; on the 20th of August, between eleven and twelve at night, I went to ease myself in a ditch in  Stepney-fields ; I saw three men coming before I had done; and before I could button up my breeches, two of them came and stood over me, while the third rummaged my pockets; they had each of them a drawn knife in their hands. I said, I hope, gentlemen, you will not take my watch from me; one of them said, by Jesus I will cut you into crown pieces; after they had got half a guinea and 2 s. in silver they took my watch, silver buckles, hat, and handkerchief.

Q. Was it light or dark?

Craggs. It was a very moon light night.

Q. Was you sober?

Craggs. I was a little in liquor, and they strove to hide my eyes: I cannot swear to neither of the prisoners from any thing I saw that night; they were taken the 25th, and I was sent for to see them in Braybrook's house; Lloyd said when he saw me, I was the man they had robbed; he wanted to be admitted evidence; the Justices refused him; I found my buckles again. by his direction, at Mr. Yarham's, a silversmith in Grace's-alley; (produced and deposed to) one of them has been broke, and I had it soldered; I am certain they are mine; they robbed Mrs. Metcap at the same time.

Mr. Yarhum. To the best of my remembrance, I bought these buckles the morning after the prosecutor was robbed; I think strongly in my own mind I bought them of Frederick, but I do not swear it.

  Anne Metcap . I am a neighbour of Mr. Craggs's: on the 20th of August in the night, Lloyd came up to me in Stepney-fields, and robbed me of a bundle at the same time they robbed the prosecutor; I was very near Mr. Craggs, going home; after the prisoners were taken, Lloyd said they had given my bundle to their women; I knew Lloyd before.

  Rosamond Gregary . The same night when Mr. Craggs was robbed, the two prisoners and Gapney were all together at the Ship, facing Well-street, Rosemary-lane; we hearing they had told of this robbery in an alehouse, we went to Justice Scott, and got a warrant of suspicion, and I was at the taking the prisoners; we took them to Braybrook's house, there Lloyd owned he was one of the men that robbed Mr. Craggs, and told Justice Scott where the buckles were sold; Lloyd used to frequent that neighbourhood.

Frederick's defence.

I am a se man, I never saw the prosecutor in my life, I have been in London but five weeks and two days.

Lloyd's defence.

I know no more of the man than the childrun-horn; I never saw him with my eyes, before I saw him before the Justice; these people that took us do nothing else for their bread but take thieves.

Frederick acquitted .

Lloyd guilty . Death .