The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

629.   JOHN WILLIAMS was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of September , twenty eight yards of printed cotton, value 42 s. the property of   Andrew Laurie , upon a certain wharf, adjacent to the navigable river Thames .

  JAMES PATTERSON . I am clerk to   Andrew Laurie . He is a wharfinger , Lower East Smithfield. On Saturday, the 5th of September, we received four bales from the house of Richard James, in Bishopsgate-street. One of them bales, No. 4, was cut open on Saturday night, and two pieces of printed cotton were taken out. On Saturday morning I saw that it had been cut open.

JONATHAN MURRAY. I am a pawnbroker, 99, Upper East Smithfield. On Saturday evening, the 5th of September, about a quarter past eight o'clock, the prisoner offered a piece of cotton to pledge I looked at it, and asked him if it was his own property. He said, it was, and that he had just returned off a voyage. I did not believe him. I detained the property. I am positive he is the man.

  THOMAS JONES . I am a servant to Mr.   Richard James . On Saturday, the 5th of September, I assisted in packing up four bales of cotton, to go to Laurie's wharf.

Q. Look at that cotton that is now before you - A. I am confident of putting a piece of this pattern into the bale. It was sent to Mr. Laurie's wharf, on the side of the river Thames.

Q. What is the value of that piece - A. About two guineas.

Prisoner's Defence. I know nothing about the cotton. I went about with a shipmate of mine. His bed and blanket were in pawn in that shop. I was taken in possession for the cotton.

GUILTY, aged 27,

Of stealing to the value of 39 s. only .

Confined Two Years in the House of Correction , and fined 1 s.

First Middlesex jury, before Mr. justice Gibbs.