<!-- © 2003-2008 Old Bailey Proceedings Online -->
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<p>685.
<persName id="t17840707-25-defend345" type="defendantName"> WILLIAM PRUDENCE
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-defend345" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> was indicted for
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-off131" type="offenceCategory" value="theft"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-off131" type="offenceSubcategory" value="burglary"/> burglariously and feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of
<persName id="t17840707-25-victim347" type="victimName"> William Penn
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<join result="offenceVictim" targOrder="Y" targets="t17840707-25-off131 t17840707-25-victim347"/> </persName> , at the hour of ten in the night, on the
<rs id="t17840707-25-cd132" type="crimeDate">31st of May</rs>
<join result="offenceCrimeDate" targOrder="Y" targets="t17840707-25-off131 t17840707-25-cd132"/> last, and burglariously stealing therein, one looking-glass set in a walnut tree frame, value 15 s. one linen gown, value 4 s. one cotton counterpane, value 2 s. one camblet gown, value 1 s. one serge coat, value 1 s. one sheet, value 1 s. and four brass candlesticks, value 1 s. his property </rs>.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17840707-25-person348"> WILLIAM PENN
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-person348" type="given" value="WILLIAM"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person348" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I am a
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<p>Who went last to bed in your family the night your house was broke open? - It was broke open a quarter before ten, on a Whitsun Monday, I was out.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17840707-25-person349"> HERBERT POCOCK
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-person349" type="given" value="HERBERT"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person349" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I am a lodger in the prosecutor's house, it is in the broad place; I was at home when the house was broke open, on the 31st of May last, about nine in the evening, I left the house, I left nobody in the house, and I returned about a quarter before ten; when I returned I observed the street door and the kitchen door were both open, and I saw the prisoner in the house.</p>
<p>What was he doing? - He had a brown linen apron on full of things, the property of the prosecutor, he was looking into the drawers belonging to the chest of drawers which stood in the kitchen, I collared him and he run away, I pursued him he was stopped by Hatchman, I never lost sight of him, I saw him drop the things at the door, the things were all taken up afterwards, when he was brought back and carried to the watch-house; they were taken up by Hatchman.</p>
<p>Did you secure the door when you went away? - I latched the door, I only latched it.</p>
<p>Prisoner. Ask him, whether he did not bring a woman before the Justice, that said she knew the man that dropped the things? - I saw the prisoner drop the things.</p>
<p>
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<persName id="t17840707-25-person350"> JAMES HATCHMAN
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person350" type="surname" value="HATCHMAN"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person350" type="given" value="JAMES"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person350" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I apprehended the prisoner, and took up some things which the constable has, to whom I delivered them.</p>
<p>- STUCKER sworn.</p>
<p>I am the constable, (produces the things which had been in his possession ever since.)</p>
<p>(The coat and one of the candlesticks deposed to.)</p>
<p>Court to Pocock. Are you sure you latched the door after you? - Yes, Sir, I am sure of it.</p>
<p>Can you swear to that positively, take care what you swear? - Yes, I can.</p>
<p>When you went out it was not dark enough but what you could distinguish one man from another? - Yes, I could.</p>
<p>Prisoner. Ask him whether he did not come last Saturday and say he was almost starving, and if I could make up half a guinea he would make it up? - I say that is wrong, I went to his wife in this manner, signifying if she could make up the man's property, I should be very loth to take away the man's life.</p>
<p>Court to Hatchman. When you was called did you see the prisoner? - I stopped him, and the prisoner said do not stop me it is only a sight.</p>
<p>Did he give any account of his being there? - No, no further.</p>
<p>PRISONER's DEFENCE.</p>
<p>My Lord I was not in the house, I had been to see my mother who was sick, the woman that belongs to that there gentleman, said she was last out, at the Justices.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17840707-25-person351"> JUDITH PENN
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-person351" type="given" value="JUDITH"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person351" type="gender" value="female"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I am wife to the prosecutor.</p>
<p>Who went out of this house last? - I did out of my own kitchen.</p>
<p>Did you go out after
<persName id="t17840707-25-person352"> Herbert Pocock
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person352" type="surname" value="Pocock"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person352" type="given" value="Herbert"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person352" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> ? - Before him, I went out between five and six to my mother's.</p>
<p>The prisoner called two witnesses who gave him a good character.</p>
<p>Court to Jury. Gentlemen, with respect to the larceny it is very strong evidence, but there is a difficulty about the capital part of the charge, the lodger said it was about nine o'clock, and they do not pretend to any degree of accuracy; therefore it was dark when he returned, yet when he opened the latch, it was sufficiently light to acquit him of the capital part of the charge.</p>
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-verdict135" type="verdictSubcategory" value="lesserOffence"/> GUILTY Of stealing, but not guilty of breaking and entering the dwelling house </rs>.</p>
<p>
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<join result="defendantPunishment" targOrder="Y" targets="t17840707-25-defend345 t17840707-25-punish136"/> Transported for seven years </rs>.</p>
<p>Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH.</p> </div1></div0>
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<p>685.
<persName id="t17840707-25-defend345" type="defendantName"> WILLIAM PRUDENCE
<interp inst="t17840707-25-defend345" type="surname" value="PRUDENCE"/>
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-defend345" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> was indicted for
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-off131" type="offenceCategory" value="theft"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-off131" type="offenceSubcategory" value="burglary"/> burglariously and feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of
<persName id="t17840707-25-victim347" type="victimName"> William Penn
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<join result="offenceVictim" targOrder="Y" targets="t17840707-25-off131 t17840707-25-victim347"/> </persName> , at the hour of ten in the night, on the
<rs id="t17840707-25-cd132" type="crimeDate">31st of May</rs>
<join result="offenceCrimeDate" targOrder="Y" targets="t17840707-25-off131 t17840707-25-cd132"/> last, and burglariously stealing therein, one looking-glass set in a walnut tree frame, value 15 s. one linen gown, value 4 s. one cotton counterpane, value 2 s. one camblet gown, value 1 s. one serge coat, value 1 s. one sheet, value 1 s. and four brass candlesticks, value 1 s. his property </rs>.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17840707-25-person348"> WILLIAM PENN
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-person348" type="given" value="WILLIAM"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person348" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I am a
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<p>Who went last to bed in your family the night your house was broke open? - It was broke open a quarter before ten, on a Whitsun Monday, I was out.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17840707-25-person349"> HERBERT POCOCK
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person349" type="surname" value="POCOCK"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person349" type="given" value="HERBERT"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person349" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I am a lodger in the prosecutor's house, it is in the broad place; I was at home when the house was broke open, on the 31st of May last, about nine in the evening, I left the house, I left nobody in the house, and I returned about a quarter before ten; when I returned I observed the street door and the kitchen door were both open, and I saw the prisoner in the house.</p>
<p>What was he doing? - He had a brown linen apron on full of things, the property of the prosecutor, he was looking into the drawers belonging to the chest of drawers which stood in the kitchen, I collared him and he run away, I pursued him he was stopped by Hatchman, I never lost sight of him, I saw him drop the things at the door, the things were all taken up afterwards, when he was brought back and carried to the watch-house; they were taken up by Hatchman.</p>
<p>Did you secure the door when you went away? - I latched the door, I only latched it.</p>
<p>Prisoner. Ask him, whether he did not bring a woman before the Justice, that said she knew the man that dropped the things? - I saw the prisoner drop the things.</p>
<p>
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<persName id="t17840707-25-person350"> JAMES HATCHMAN
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-person350" type="given" value="JAMES"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person350" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I apprehended the prisoner, and took up some things which the constable has, to whom I delivered them.</p>
<p>- STUCKER sworn.</p>
<p>I am the constable, (produces the things which had been in his possession ever since.)</p>
<p>(The coat and one of the candlesticks deposed to.)</p>
<p>Court to Pocock. Are you sure you latched the door after you? - Yes, Sir, I am sure of it.</p>
<p>Can you swear to that positively, take care what you swear? - Yes, I can.</p>
<p>When you went out it was not dark enough but what you could distinguish one man from another? - Yes, I could.</p>
<p>Prisoner. Ask him whether he did not come last Saturday and say he was almost starving, and if I could make up half a guinea he would make it up? - I say that is wrong, I went to his wife in this manner, signifying if she could make up the man's property, I should be very loth to take away the man's life.</p>
<p>Court to Hatchman. When you was called did you see the prisoner? - I stopped him, and the prisoner said do not stop me it is only a sight.</p>
<p>Did he give any account of his being there? - No, no further.</p>
<p>PRISONER's DEFENCE.</p>
<p>My Lord I was not in the house, I had been to see my mother who was sick, the woman that belongs to that there gentleman, said she was last out, at the Justices.</p>
<p>
<persName id="t17840707-25-person351"> JUDITH PENN
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person351" type="surname" value="PENN"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person351" type="given" value="JUDITH"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person351" type="gender" value="female"/> </persName> sworn.</p>
<p>I am wife to the prosecutor.</p>
<p>Who went out of this house last? - I did out of my own kitchen.</p>
<p>Did you go out after
<persName id="t17840707-25-person352"> Herbert Pocock
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person352" type="surname" value="Pocock"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person352" type="given" value="Herbert"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-person352" type="gender" value="male"/> </persName> ? - Before him, I went out between five and six to my mother's.</p>
<p>The prisoner called two witnesses who gave him a good character.</p>
<p>Court to Jury. Gentlemen, with respect to the larceny it is very strong evidence, but there is a difficulty about the capital part of the charge, the lodger said it was about nine o'clock, and they do not pretend to any degree of accuracy; therefore it was dark when he returned, yet when he opened the latch, it was sufficiently light to acquit him of the capital part of the charge.</p>
<p>
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<interp inst="t17840707-25-verdict135" type="verdictCategory" value="guilty"/>
<interp inst="t17840707-25-verdict135" type="verdictSubcategory" value="lesserOffence"/> GUILTY Of stealing, but not guilty of breaking and entering the dwelling house </rs>.</p>
<p>
<rs id="t17840707-25-punish136" type="punishmentDescription">
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<join result="defendantPunishment" targOrder="Y" targets="t17840707-25-defend345 t17840707-25-punish136"/> Transported for seven years </rs>.</p>
<p>Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice HEATH.</p> </div1></div0>
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