The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

  Mary Poole , a Gypsie , of the Parish of  St. Giles in the Fields , was Indicted for Feloniously stealing Seven Pounds Ten Shillings in Monies Numbred, from   Richard Walburton , on the Twelfth of January last . Walburton said, that the Prisoner came to  Powis-Hall, near Lincolns-Inn-Fields , and knock'd at the Door; he opening it, she desired him to cross her hand with some Silver, which he did with a Six-pence; then she told him, that

some of the Servants had a mind to put him out of his place, upon which he seemed to be something concerned. However to encourage him, she desired him to let her have the Six-pence, and she would bring it him again within an Hour, and she would put him in a good way of living, and tell him more; with much Perswasions of her Canting Dialect, he let her have it; then she told him, he must get all his Monies together, against she came, which he did. At the time appointed she came again, and delivering the Six pence, she observed into what Pocket he put it, and immediately conjectured the Money to be there; Then she asked him if he had any Gold, he showed her some; she took it in her hand, and gave it a fill-up, and 'twas gone, but at length she gave it him again; he put it into his Pocket as before, She showed him some Juggling Tricks, till she had Juggled away his Money; Then she wanted to be gone; and told him, that some People that lived there formerly had hid some Treasure in such a place under the Earth, and if he would go, he should immediately find it; upon which he went to search for his supposed Treasure; in the mean while the Prisoner was gone.

Another Gentleman that happened to be in the Court, said, that some time since, the Prisoner was telling his Daughter some Story, who had a little Money lying by her upon the Counter; he mistrusted that she would cheat his Daughter of it, and was resolved to prevent it, and took it up and held it in his Hand; but the Prisoner seeing that, desired him to cross her hand with a piece of Silver, which he did, and said, that on a sudden the Money was gone out of his Hand, which put him in such a Consternation, that he had not power to cry out or stop her, but let her go away with the Money.

Another Gentleman said, that about seven Years since, he was Riding on a Hand-Gallop, upon Sutors-Hill, between Graves-end and Rochester he met the Prisoner; she said, that for all he rode so fast, he was but going a Wenching, and she would soon over take him; with that he turned back and gave her a Cut with his Whip, and Rode away as fast as he could, but had not gone Forty yards from her, but his Horse fell down, and she overtook him; with that he said, he thought she was a  Witch, and had bewitched him and his Horse. There was divers other People who said they had been Juggled out of their Money by her. She had little to say for her self, the Jury found her Guilty .

[Branding. See summary.]