The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

687.   JAMES FLETCHER was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 8th day of August last, a cloth jacket, value 2 s. a pair of linen trowsers, value 2 s. a pair of cotton ditto, value 2 s. a waistcoat, value 9 s. a shirt, value 2 s. a pair of stockings, value 2 s. a pair of shoes, value 12 d. two linen handkerchiefs, value 9 d. one half silk handkerchief, value 3 d. the property of   James Levins .

  JAMES LEVINS sworn.

I lost the things mentioned in the indictment (repeating them) on the 8th of August; I brought them from Croydon on that day, to the  Star in Piccadilly ; it was half past ten at night; I told the servant of the house, I was going to sleep there; and desired her to get the bed ready; I put the bundle down in the parlour, and left it there; and went into the bar, and had a glass of shub; and went into the parlour again, and my bundle was gone; I was not out of the parlour above two or three minutes; I said to the servant, it is very strange, my bundle is gone; you must know something of it; she said she did not; I went from there to Duke-street, to this young man; and said I had been robbed: we went to several pawn-broker's shops; I went to one,

and saw the bundle lay on the counter at the shop; it was past eleven I believe.

Where was that shop? - In Princes'-street; I saw the bundle on the counter; I said, them are my things; one part of the bundle was untied; the prisoner was in the shop; he staggered back; he was much in liquor, and the young man laid hold of him; I said, go out and call the watchman; he brought one; and the prisoner was taken to the watch-house; I kept the bundle myself when I was in town; and when I went out of town, I delivered it to this young man: the prisoner was so drunk, I do not think he knew what he was about.

JOHN COFFEE sworn.

I went with the prosecutor in search of the bundle, to the pawn-broker's; the goods were on the counter; the prisoner was in there with it; the man was very much in liquor; he tumbled about, as we took him along to the watch-house.

  JAMES BIRKHEAD sworn.

I live with Mr.   Parker the pawn-broker; I do not know the person of the prisoner: as soon as he came in, these people came and took him away directly; nobody had spoken to him; when they came in, there were more people in the shop; I do not know who put it on the counter.

NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice WILSON.