| Reference Number | t18500708-1339 |
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| Verdict | Not Guilty > unknown |
| Related Material |  |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 26 March 2023), July 1850, trial of HENRY HASEMAN CATHERINE ELIZABETH HASEMAN ELLEN SMITH (t18500708-1339). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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1339. HENRY HASEMAN . CATHERINE ELIZABETH HASEMAN , and ELLEN SMITH , stealing 1 purse, value 6d.; and 5 sovereigns; the property of Charles William, from his person.
CHARLES WILLIAM . I am independent. On 1st July, I was lodging at Jubilee-place, Stepney—on that day I met the female prisoners at the door of No. 12, St. John's-lane—there was another woman with them—it might have been one, or two, or three o'clock in the day, I think—I am quite sure it was not the middle of the night—they asked me to give them some porter—I gave them 4d., and went into the parlour with them—one of the three went for some porter, and I assisted them in drinking it—I afterwards gave them a shilling to get some rum—after that was finished, they asked for more—the two female prisoners were still in the room, and a third, but not the one that was there at first—they kept asking me for rum—I made an excuse, stating I had only sovereigns about me, and appealed to Haseman how follyfull it would be for me to change a sovereign—as I was making the excuse, my hand fell down on my waistcoat pocket where my purse had been safe an hour and a half before, and I found it was gone—I had then been in the house nearly two hours—I had it safe when I went in—it contained five sovereigns—I had pulled my purse out, and showed the two women the five sovereigns—when I missed it, I got up from my chair, and said, "By G—! you have robbed me"—I stood against the door, and said they should not go out, and the male Haseman struck me right and left, and his wife and the younger prisoner all beat me together till they got the door open—I followed the man to the back door—I did not keep hold of him—I caught him again—I had called at the door for the police—Smith assisted in beating me—I did not see her do anything else—after the beating, and before the police came, I saw her come from the back parlour—when the police came they brought the prisoners into the back parlour, and they said, "Search him, he has got the money himself"—while they were saying that, I saw the purse lying in some drawers, and snatched it up, and handed it to the police—I did not do that until they told the policeman to search me—I might have said, "By G—, I have got it"—I examined it, and there were five sovereigns in it—I did not put it where it was found—I cannot say whether the purse was in my pocket after the male prisoner came into the room.
Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Do you live at Jubilee-place? A. Temporarily—I am visiting there—I have been there off and on for a fortnight—I live upon my property—I have no profession at present—I was educated partly to the medical—I never went by the name of M'Kenzie—I pulled my purse out, and showed them that I had sovereigns, and said I did not wish to change them.
JAMES PYE (policeman, K 111). About a quarter past ten o'clock, on the night of 1st July, I heard a cry of "Murder!" and "Police!" from 12, John's-place—I went there, and the door was opened by Smith—I went into the yard, and found the prosecutor on his back, with his head raised, covered with blood—he was calling out for help—the male prisoner was over him, in the act ot striking him—I pushed him away—I saw the female, Huseman, put a pole against the wall—she had it in her hand, as if she was going to
throw it at him—I got the prosecutor up, and he said, "I have been robbed of five sovereigns, and now they are trying to murder me"—a sergeant came—I left him at the house, and I took the male to the station—as I was returning I met the sergeant and the two women on the way to the station—they were not in custody then—it appeared to me that the prosecutor was bothered by the striking he had had, and did not at the time exactly know who had been ill-treating him—when he had recovered a little he recognized the female Haseman, and the next morning he recognized Smith.
WILLIAM SMITH (police-sergeant, K 28). I went to 12, John's-place, on the night of 1st July, and found Pye there, and the three prisoners and the prosecutor in the front parlour—the prosecutor was bleeding from just over the eye, and his waistcoat and handkerchief were covered with blood—I asked him, in the prisoners' hearing, what was the matter—he said he had been assaulted and robbed—I asked who did it—he said, "That man," and pointed to the male prisoner—I asked if he would give him into custody and charge him—he said, "I will"—the other constable then left with him—after that I was searching, and the female Haseman said to the prosecutor, "You had better go to Mr. Cooper's public-house, where you were this afternoon, and see whether you have left it there," and both the females said, "Search him"—27 K asked the prosecutor if he had got it himself, and he said, "I have it," and I saw 27 K take the purse and contents from the prosecutor's left hand—I examined it, and it contained seven sovereigns—the prosecutor was standing near the drawers at the time—Haseman said at the station, "I know nothing about the man."
Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Did not you ask the prosecutor who it was had beat him, and caused him to bleed so? A. Yes, it was then that he said, "That man"—I heard 27 K say, "Are you sure you have not got it yourself?"—it was seven or eight minutes after that, that the prosecutor opened his hand and presented it to us—we were not proceeding to search him—he gave the money up directly they said, "Search him"—he was the worse for liquor, but was quite rational—he was not bothered a great deal—he seemed to know what he was about.
Cross-examined. Q. When was Smith taken? A. The next day—she came to the station the same night, and the prosecutor would not charge her—this is the purse(produced).
CHARLES WILLIAM re-examined. This is my purse, and the one I lost.
MR. O'BRIEN. Q. How many policemen were in the room where this shelf was? A. I cannot remember, I had been so knocked about—before the purse was found, the sergeant said to me, "Are you sure you have not got the purse yourself?"—upon that I put my hand down, took up the purse, and said, "By G—, here it is."
Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. Where do you live when you are not at Jubilee-place? A. I have been pleasuring about—I come from Frome—my brother-in-law is with me—if he has said my name is M'Kenzie, it is not true—I never went by that name—my father's name is William—I have never said I was not sure whether Smith was in the house until after they began to assault me—I have never said she had nothing to do with it—upon my oath she did not come on my crying out—I had a cup of tea that day with Smith and a young man she lives with, on the opposite side of the way—after tea, Mrs. Haseman and her husband came and took us to No. 12—I cannot say whether I was the worse for liquor then—I had been drinking something stronger than tea—I have been there since to get evidence—I saw Smith's young man—I did not tell him that she had nothing to do with it, and was not there at the time—I said I would ask his lordship to be lenient
to her if I dared—I wrote a prescription for one of the prisoners—I do not recollect what letters I signed that with—it had nothing to do with "Charles William" or "M'Kenzie;" it was initials—I first went to No. 12 about twelve o'clock, and drank there—between four and five, or fire and six o'dock, I went to Smith's, and afterwards went back.
NOT GUILTY .