The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

41.   THOMAS WHITTLE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 16th of November last, 150 lb. weight of raw cotton, value 11 l. and one linen bag, value 1 d. the property of   Matthew Pickford and   Thomas Pickford .

  JOHN MAKIN sworn.

I am porter to Messrs. Pickford; I know the prisoner at the bar, and have employed him; as I was coming to the warehouse, at the corner of Maiden-lane, about six o'clock, I observed a man resting himself, with a bag of cotton, against the church-yard; he took it up, and went through Bell-square; he stopped there, at the sign of the Bell; I said, Tom, where are you going with this bag of cotton? I turned it, and found it was like some bags we had in the yard; he said he was employed by a man in Watling-street; I said, go and fetch him; I carried him to the watch-house.

Mr. Garrow, Prisoner's Counsel. His business was that of a jobbing porter? - Yes.

  DANIEL IVORY sworn.

I am a watchman; I saw the prisoner pitch the cotton off his shoulder, at the Bell, in Bell-square.

  JOHN JACKSON sworn.

I am clerk to Mr.   Thomas Pickford : on the 14th I entered 12 bags of cotton; they were marked regularly W. from 1 to 12; this bag was No. 12, and corresponded to the loss of one of the twelve; we went after Whittle to his lodging; we were refused admission; we broke open the door.

(The cotton produced, and deposed to by Makin.)

Prisoner. I leave it to my counsel.

  WILLIAM WILLIAMS sworn.

I know the prisoner as a jobbing porter: he is a very honest man.

  CHARLES SCOLDWELL sworn.

I have known the prisoner for the last seven years; his general reputation is that of an honest, hard-working man.

GUILTY .

Fined 1 s. and imprisoned three months .

Tried by the London Jury before Mr. COMMON SERJEANT.