The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

355.   CATHERINE HOUNSUM was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 24th of April , a silver table spoon, value 10 s. the property of   Henry George Little , Baronet .

BENJAMIN NICHOLSON sworn.

I am butler to Sir Henry   George Little ; the prisoner was a servant in the house, assistant to the cook; she was dismissed the 24th of April; I believe the day she went away, I missed two table-spoons.

How soon did you hear of them? - Not till Mr. Muncaster brought them to our house.

  JAMES MUNCASTER sworn.

I am a pawnbroker, in Chandler-street, Grosvenor-square; on the 26th of April, the prisoner brought a silver table-spoon to me to pledge; by some questions I put to her, and her answers, I suspected it was not her own; she said, she bought it of a dustman for seven shillings; upon enquiry, I found she had lived at Sir   Henry Little 's;

I went and found they had lost the spoon.

(The spoon was produced in Court and deposed to by Nicholson.)

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

The spoon fell out of a dust cart; I took it up, and told the dustman of it; he said, I might take it to eat my porridge with.

GUILTY .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

[Transportation. See summary.]