The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

1256.   CHARLES KNIGHT and   JOHN TAYLOR were indicted for stealing, on the 4th of March, 1 gelding, price 6l., the property of   William Prior.

  WILLIAM PRIOR . I live at Battersea. On the 4th of March I had a gelding safe—on the 5th I sent for it, and it was gone—I had turned him out in Battersea Marsh—I found it on the 8th, at Mr. Towell's stables—I know nothing of either of the prisoners.

Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. What sort of place is the Marsh? A. About three hundred acres of land, which is inclosed all round with a large ditch, five or six feet wide, and the stream of a sewer runs round it—I do not know whether the gelding could jump.

COURT. Q. It was of very small value? A. About 6l.—it cost 6l. 5s.—my brother had turned him out.

  ISAAC PRIOR . I am the prosecutor's brother. I turned the horse out on the Marsh, on the 4th of March—I missed him on the 5th, and saw him again on the 8th, at Towell's stables in Clerkenwell—I do not know either of the prisoners.

  HENRY HUSSEY . I lost a horse myself, which was fed with Prior's, my neighbour—I found them both at Towell's on the 7th of March—I never saw the prisoners till they were in custody.

  HENRY TOWELL . I am a horse-slaughterer. Prior's horse was found in my possession, on the 7th of March—it was brought to me by the prisoner Knight, on the 5th of March, about eight o'clock in the morning—there was another horse with it—he offered them both to me—I bought the two for 50s.—he said he had brought them from Mr. Renton's, soap-maker, Park-place, Walworth, and he must see them slaughtered—I told him to bring them down to my premises—this was on Clerkenwell-green—I told him I could not slaughter them then, for my inspector did not come before ten o'clock—I do not slaughter any horses till the inspector has seen them—he brought the horses down to my place, No. 1, Bowling-street, Clerkenwell—I paid him for them—he said he would come in an hour and see them slaughtered—he did not come, and I had suspicion,

and sent over to Mr. Renton to know if he had sent them—I never saw the prisoner again till he was taken, which was three weeks afterwards—Taylor had hold of the horses' heads on Clerkenwell-green—my dealings were with Knight—Prior came and claimed one of the horses on the 8th—Hussey saw them on the 7th—I delivered them to them.

  WILLIAM READ . I am a policeman. I apprehended Knight in James-street, Walworth, on the 27th of March—I told him I took him for horse-stealing—he said nothing.

  WILLIAM LEE . I apprehended the prisoner Taylor at No. 12, James-street, Was worth, on the 27th of March, at the same time as Knight—they were apprehended together—I found a pair of scissors in the house, which I produce.

  EDWARD HUSSEY . I saw Prior's horse at Towell's, and know it to he his—I saw my father's horse there also.

Cross-examined. Q. You were living with your father at the time you turned the horse out? A. Yes—that was not Prior's horse—I know his horse—I have been in prison once, at Brixton, after I had been tried—it was three or four years ago—it was not for horse-stealing—I was in custody for horse-stealing six or seven years ago—I do not know how this horse got away—I am certain of that.

Q. Was it you first discovered the loss? A. My father went out first, and I went out after him—we went found together.

  HENRY HUSSEY re-examined. I know the horse which Towell gave up to be Prior's.

  ISAAC PRIOR re-examined. I am quite sure the horse found at Towell's, is my brother's, which I had turned out.

KNIGHT— GUILTY . Aged 22.

TAYLOR— NOT GUILTY .

Before Mr. Common Sergeant.