The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

143.   EDWARD TOOMEY (19) , Feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of   Lucy Wootton, and stealing two bottles, 300 cigars, and 1l., her money.

Mr. D'ARCY Prosecuted.

  LUCY WOOTTON . I keep the Lord Nelson, Trafalgar Road, East Greenwich—on the night of 21st Nov. my three daughters, my boy, and Mr. Foy and the potman were in the house—we retired about twenty minutes past 12—I fastened up the house myself—next morning I was aroused about seven—I went downstairs—Mr. Foy and the potman had been first aroused, and they went downstairs—these gloves belonged to Mr. Foy, whom I have known for two years—these three coins were in one vase on the bar parlour mantelpiece, and these five in another vase—this pencil was with the coins—they were taken away—I am certain they are the same coins.

  FRANCIS WOOTTON . I am the daughter of the last witness—I went to bed that night about 20 minutes past 12—as far as I know the house was securely fastened—next morning I was aroused at seven—I found that there had been a breakage in the back window, and that the front door had been opened from the inside, and left open—the fastening of the kitchen window had been wrenched off, and a pane of glass broken—a ladder had been put to the first floor back window—that window swings, and was fastened, by a button, which could be pushed by a knife through the meeting bar—that window had been opened, the drawers in the parlour were all open, a bag of coppers was taken from the drawer, old buttons and coins had been taken from ornaments off the mantelshelf, two bottles of spirits and tobacco were taken, and there were three empty cigar boxes on the counter, and one by a chair—more than a hundred cigars were gone—the bag contained about 1l. worth of coppers, which was taken from the bar parlour—these coins were in the vase on the mantelpiece—these gloves belong to Mr. Foy.

  HENRY PHILLIPS (Inspector R). On Sunday morning, 22nd November, I received information of this robbery about half-past 7—I proceeded to the house—I afterwards met Inspector Robinson, and we went to 10, Marsh Lane, Mrs. Toomey's house, where the prisoner lodges with his mother—in the upstairs room we found his mother, his sister, and the prisoner—he was partly dressed, with only his coat off—I said "Where have you been all night?"—he said "In bed, Sir"—he knew me—I noticed these gloves on the bed, and said "Whose gloves are

these?"—his sister said "They are mine"—Robinson said "They are men's gloves"—she said "Yes, but I wear them"—I put them back on the bed, and we allowed the prisoner to go downstairs—I then noticed that he had gone to the back somewhere, and I took charge of the gloves, which were afterwards identified.

Cross-examined. You took down a pail of water with you, and when I got down the pail was there with the water moving about in it, but you were not there; I followed you immediately you went down the stairs.

  WILLIAM ROBINSON (Policeman R). I was sent for to the Lord Nelson at half-past 7, and examined the premises—I found an entry had apparently been effected by climbing over the outer wall, forcing the latch of the back kitchen window, and entering—the thief apparently could get no farther, and then he obtained a ladder, and got in by the w. c. window on the first floor—that was secured by a button, which was forced back by a knife; from there he could get access to the whole house—he must have passed downstairs into the bar, and then have gone out by the front door—after making an inspection of the house I accompanied Phillips to 10, Marsh Lane—I corroborate what he has said.

  THOMAS SHORT (Police Sergeant R 9). On night of 23rd November I went to Woolwich Lecture Hall, where a boxing match was going on—after some time the prisoner came in—I went behind him, and took hold of his arm—I was accompanied by another officer in plain clothes—we took the prisoner outside, and then he said "What have you got me for?"—I said "You will be taken to Greenwich, and you will be charged with breaking and entering the Lord Nelson public-house"—he said "I know nothing about it"—I said "There was a pair of gloves Inspector Phillips found at your apartments yesterday morning, which have been identified by the landlady of the Lord Nelson"—he said "Anyhow you weren't b——fly enough to catch me"—I took him to Woolwich Police-station, and found on him this chisel, knife, and flask containing whisky—he was charged at Greenwich, and in answer said "I don't know nothing about it"—I searched him in the presence of Inspector Phillips and the landlady, and the coins, buttons, and pencil were identified by her.

  JAMES FOY . I live at the East London Industrial Schools, Lewisham—on the night of 21st November I was staying at the Lord Nelson—this is my coat; it was a uniform coat which I had in Greenwich Schools—I hung it up in the kitchen on the 21st, and these gloves were in the pocket—next morning it was missing.

  JOHN HITCHINS . I live at 24, Old Woolwich Road, and work at a greengrocer's—I found this coat stuffed in some tubs when I went round to our stable on Sunday morning, November 22nd about 12 o'clock—the stable is about two minutes' walk from the Lord Nelson.

  ELLEN TOOMEY . I live at 10, Marsh Lane, East Greenwich, and am the prisoner's sister—on the night of 21st November my brother came home between half-past 12 and I—I said to the Inspector on the 22nd that these were my gloves—I was confused and did not know what I was saying—they are not my gloves—I had not gone to bed when he came home; I stayed up to let him in—we live about 10 minutes' walk from the Lord Nelson—I did not notice if he had anything with him when he came in—he did not go out again till 7 or 8 o'clock.

The pritoner in his statement before the Magistrate and in his defence stated that he picked up the gloves on the Sunday morning, and that the coins, button, and pencil were his own.

GUILTY . He then PLEADED GUILTY ** to a conviction of felony at this Court in May, 1883.— Twelve Months' Hard Labour.