| Reference Number | t17971206-59 |
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| Verdict | Not Guilty |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 26 March 2023), December 1797, trial of JOHN LAPPEW (t17971206-59). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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61. JOHN LAPPEW was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 23d of November , a coil of rope, containing, in length, thirty fathomas, value 5s. the property of Robert Scofield .
ROBERT SCOFIELD sworn. - There were three soldiers at work in my warehouse, I was very ill at the time myself, the prisoner was not one of them; I know nothing of the fact.
JOHN SCOTT sworn. - I was standing at my door; there were three men at work in the warehouse, one of them brought a piece of rope from the middle of the shop, and laid it down by the street-door; after he had laid down the rope, the prisoner was standing outside the door, and he took it up; I followed him about twenty yards, and stopped him; I told him he had stole the rope, I took him by the collar, and he threw the rope down, and then hawled me down; I got up, and took hold of the rope, and called out stop thief, and he was taken. (Produces the rope).
Q. Do you know whose property that rope is? - A. Yes, Mr. Scofield's.
Scofield. This is my rope, to the best of my knowledge, I had cut off several fathom the day before.
Prisoner. Scott was not present when I was taken.
Scott. I was the man that took him, with the rope upon him; only my being in another dress, very likely he does not know me.
Prisoner's defence. The rope was never in my possession; there were two other soldiers ran past me into the Tower, just before I was taken.
The prisoner called his serjeant, who gave him a good character.
NOT GUILTY .
Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron PERRYN.