| Reference Number | t18140216-63 |
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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, 24 March 2023), February 1814, trial of JOHN WOOLFE (t18140216-63). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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249. JOHN WOOLFE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 14th of January , four hundred and two numbers of Brown's bible, value 10 l. four numbers of Barclay's dictionary, value 2 s. and sixteen, numbers of Watts's World to Come, value 5 s. the property of Thomas Wright .
THOMAS WRIGHT . I live at Tottenham Hale, in the parish of Tottenham.
Q. Did you give any order for any books - A. Yes, of Mr. Kinnersley, No. 3, Kingsland-place, Hackney-road; they were booked to me at eleven pounds two shillings and a penny. I ordered John Abrahams, Mr. Pratt's waggoner, to call for them on the 14th of January. The books never came to hand. John Abrahams came to me in the evening, and told me he had lost them; somebody had stolen them out of the waggon.
JOHN ABRAHAMS . I am waggoner to Mr. Pratt. On the 14th of January I called at Mr. Kinnersley's for the parcel of books for Mr. Wright. The parcel was delivered to me by Walker, Mr. Kinnersley's man. I received them at half after five o'clock; I saw them safe in the waggon. They were in the waggon better than a quarter of an hour before I missed them. They could not have dropped out of the waggon.
HENRY HANCOCK . I am foreman to Mr. Kinnersley. I packed up the numbers for Mr. Wright; the whole of them was five hundred and sixty-three in the gross, of different numbers, Brown's bible, Barclay's dictionary, and Watt's World to Come.
Q. What was the value of them - A. Eleven pound two shillings and a penny. I then directed them for Thomas Wright , Tottenham Hale.
ANDREW WALKER . I am clerk to Mr. Kinnersley. I delivered Mr. Wright's parcel to John Abraham 's, for Mr. Wright.
SAMUEL MILLER . I am an officer. I searched Samuel Jonas 's house in Gravel-lane, Houndsditch; I found these numbers; I asked him where he got them.
SAMUEL JONES . Q. Where did you get these books that Miller took from your house - A. I bought them of Mr. Dukeworth, a master baker, in Somers Town. They were sold to me as waste paper.
THOMAS DUKEWORTH . I am a baker, 67, in Wilson-street, Somers Town. I bought the numbers of Woolfe, the prisoner, as waste paper, on the 16th of January; I sold it to Jonas on the Tuesday following as waste paper.
Miller. I searched Jonas's premises on the 26th. The prisoner is a baker; he lives in Charlotte-street, Hoxton.
Q. to Abrahams. How far from Hoxton was it when you lost this parcel - A. About a mile and a half.
Q. to Dukeworth. On the 14th of January had you a supper with the prisoner - A. I had, with a few friends, at the White Hart, in the Coal-yard, Drury-lane. The prisoner was one of the party. When the prisoner has not work enough to do he goes out to work. He is a baker. I have paid him eleven shillings for jobbing for me. I know of my own knowledge that he was at work for Mr. Gregory on the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of January. The prisoner came to the White Hart, and staid there until half after ten o'clock, and on the 14th of January I saw him about three o'clock working in Mr. Gregory's bakehouse. I went there to invite him to the supper.
Q. to Hancock. Look at the books and see whether they are the same that you packed up - A. Yes, these are the same.
Prisoner's Defence. On the 14th of January, a woman came into my shop, she said she was very poor; her husband was in trouble for debt. She said she had been taking in these numbers of the bible; she could not afford to keep them by her, if I could purchase them of her it would be of great service to her. I offered her four pounds for them. She said she kept a chandler's shop, she would take part in bread. I gave her three pounds fifteen shillings in money, and five quartern loaves. I have some knowledge of the woman, although I cannot say who she is.
JOSEPH GREGORY . I am a baker, in Golden-lane.
Q. Had you a man of the name of Dorsetter that worked for you - A. Yes, he is here; he worked with me. In January last I had an inflammation in my eyes; I applied to Woolfe to assist me; he came and assisted me four days; he came on the 13th of January, 14th and 15th, and on Sunday the 16th, he came and set a batch. On the 14th he came between eleven and twelve o'clock; he dined and drank tea with me; he staid until near a quarter after seven. I was invited to go to a supper at the White Hart in the Coal-yard, Drury-lane; I declined going, my eyes being so bad. The prisoner went about a quarter after seven.
Q. Can you state that the prisoner, Woolfe, was at your house on the 14th of January - A. I have taken my oath he was; he left me a quarter after seven.
JOHN DORSETTER . In January, I was a journeyman with Mr. Gregory, and on the 14th of January John Woolfe came between eleven and twelve, and staid until between seven and eight.
NOT GUILTY .