The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

188.   JAMES PENN was indicted for stealing, on the 2d of January , two cloth coats, value 30 s. the property of   George Cornford .

(The witnesses examined separate.)

  GEORGE CORNFORD sworn.

I had been absent about three quarters of an hour; I lost the coats mentioned in the indictment from the shelf in the shop; they were there when I went out; I found the prisoner in the Minories, up a little turning, with the coats over his arm; he said, he bought them.

  MARY WILLIAMS sworn.

I am neighbour to the prosecutor; on the 2d of January, about one o'clock, I was standing at my door, and I saw Mr. Penn, the prisoner, come past Mr. Cornford's door; he returned and passed it again; he went into Mr. Cornford's shop, and instantly came out again with two old coats under his arm underneath a piece of old blue jacket; I went to Mr. Cornford's shop, nobody was there; at last a servant came, and the prosecutor came in, in a minute

after to me; I told him which way the man went; he followed him, and I went with him up the lane, and told all the shop keeper s to stop him; I went to Duke's-place, and when I returned he was taken; I swear to the coats, having my own work on one of them.

(The coats deposed to by the Prosecutor, value 30 s.)

Prisoner. I bought them for fifteen shillings of a Jew.

GUILTY .

Transported for seven years .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice ASHURST.