| Reference Number | t17670115-23 |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Guilty > theft under 1s; Not Guilty |
| Sentence | Corporal > whipping |
| Related Material |  |
|---|
| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 December 2023), January 1767, trial of Arthur Roan Daniel Archer (t17670115-23). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
|---|---|
| Navigation | < Previous text (trial account) | Next text (trial account) > |
110, 111. (M.) Arthur Roan and Daniel Archer were indicted for stealing four pounds weight of cheese, value 18 d. and six pounds weight of hung beef, value 3 s. 6 d. the property of William Shemills , January 13 . ||
William Shemills . I live in Princes-street, Leicester-fields ; I keep a chandlers-shop : Roan came to offer some cheese to sell; I said I did not want any, and bid him go about his business; this was on Tuesday last; he went away, and in about an hour after, he and the other prisoner came together, they were both in their regimentals; they wanted to buy some herrings; they pulled and houled things about, bought nothing, and went away; and after that they came a third time, that was about 10 at night; I was below; my wife called me up, and said they had taken away half a Gloucester cheese; I went and laid hold of Roan; the other was standing hallooing to him in an odd way; Roan had half a cheese under his coat; he dropped it, and ran away; I took it up, and went and laid hold of Archer, and took him to my shop; then he said he would go and take me to the other; I took him to a night-cellar in the Hay-market; standing there, he gave me the slip; after that I went over to a public-house, there I saw him sitting; I got a watchman to assist me, and took him to the Round-house; he had nothing upon him; I can only say he was at my shop with the other.
Mary Shemills . I am wife to the prosecutor: last Tuesday Archer came to our shop, with a whole Gloucester cheese, and asked me if I would buy it; I said no, and bid him, he gone; in about an hour after he came again, with the other prisoner; they wanted to buy some red herrings; I thought, by their behaviour, they did not want to buy; I would not serve them; with a great deal to do I got them out of the shop; after that I missed a piece of hung-beef; they both came a third time; they were very troublesome; and seemed to sham drunk; I called for my husband; before he came, they both got out of the shop; a woman said they had taken some cheese; I desired my husband to follow them; he went and brought this half of a Gloucester cheese back (produced in court;) we had the other half in the shop; I put them together, and know it to be our property.
Mary M'Farling . I went into the prosecutor's shop for some cheese and beer; the two prisoners came in while I was there; one of them asked for pease-soup; the woman said she sold none, and bid them be gone about their business; they both seemed to be very drunk; I directed them where they might get some soup, in Rupert-street; Roan stood near the counter; while she was serving me he went out of the shop, and I saw the cheese by his side; I told her of it; she called her husband; he followed them, and brought back half a cheese.
Roan's defence.
I went to the shop indeed, and after that I went home to bed; I know nothing of the cheese.
Archer's defence.
I was in company with Roan; we went in to buy a pennyworth of cheese each; I know nothing of the matter.
Roan called John Haswell , a serjeant in the first regiment of guards, to which he belonged, who said Roan had behaved remarkably bad since he had been in the regiment.
Roan guilty 10 d. W .
Archer Acquitted .