| Reference Number | t18500204-482 |
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| Verdict | Guilty > unknown |
| Sentence | Imprisonment |
| Related Material |  |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 08 December 2023), February 1850, trial of WILLIAM WEST (t18500204-482). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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482. WILLIAM WEST , stealing 1 shilling, and 2 sixpences, the moneys of Henry Irwin.
JANE IRWIN . I am the wife of Henry Irwin; we keep a general shop at Woolwich. On 22nd Jan., about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, the prisoner, who is a private artilleryman, came into my shop—he asked for half-an-ounce of tobacco—he put down a penny and a halfpenny—I said it was another farthing—he then asked me if there was a lion on a shilling—I said
I never took notice—he asked me to look, as he had laid a wager about it—I took out my silver in my hand—he put his hand in nine, and said, "There is one, there is one"—my money seemed to get less, and I thought he had robbed me, and asked him to open his hand, and a sixpence dropped from it—he then said, "I want the change for my shilling"—I said he gave me no shilling, he gave me a penny and a halfpenny—he said he did, and he would fetch a policeman—he ran out; I and my little boy followed him; he kept putting his hand to the back of his collar—I lost sight of him—he was afterwards brought back by a policeman—I counted my money afterwards, and one shilling and two sixpences were gone from it.
Prisoner. The sixpence in my hand was the sixpence you gave me in part of my change; it would be a very curious thing if I could take a sixpence out of your hand, and you not see it. Witness. You said you would give me your watch to compromise the matter.
ANN M'DONALD . I heard the prisoner ask to look at the shillings—he said, "Here is one, and here is one"—he laid down a penny and a halfpenny—I did not see him give Mrs. Irwin a shilling.
GEORGE COOPER . I saw the prisoner running; some yards behind him a boy was calling, "Stop thief!"—the prisoner turned down an alley—I searched about the place, and could find nobody—at last I found a back-door open—I called, and a woman came with a light—I found the prisoner crouched down in a corner—I told him to come out, and told him what the boy had told me—he said I was a liar—he kicked at me, and called me all the names he could think of—he was taken into custody; I asked if he had any money—he said, "No"—when he was searched a sixpence fell from his stock.
JOHN GRIPFIN (policeman, R 229). I saw the prisoner searched—a six-pence dropped from his stock.
Prisoner. He told me to unhook my stock; I had a sixpence in my hand, and it slipped out. Witness. No, it fell from his collar; he said he had a watch, and he would give it to Mrs. Irwin in place of the 2s., if she would not charge him.
GUILTY . Aged 28.— Confined Eighteen Months.
Before Edward Bullock, Esq.