The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

290. (M.)   John Ives , and   Richard Gray , were indicted, for that they, on the 24th of March , about the hour of nine at night, the dwelling house of   George Rice , Esq ; did break and enter, and stealing one pair of pistols, value 12 s. the property of the said George; four woollen cloth coats, value 40 s. five woollen waistcoats, value 20 s. three linen waistcoats, value 15 s. three pair of cloth breeches, the property of   William Thomas ; one woollen cloth coat, one woollen cloth waistcoat, one pair of leather breeches, one

man's hat, the property of   James Eaton ; one black silk cloak, one linen apron, one silk handkerchief. three linen shifts, three shift sleeves, four gowns, the property of   Anne Brown , spinster ; one linen pocket, one worsted pocket, two shifts, two aprons, one pair of stays, a cotton handkerchief, a silk handkerchief, three other handkerchiefs, a sattin hat, a pair of ruffles, the property of   Anne Robinson , spinster ; one long lawn gown, two cotton gowns, one callimancoe petticoat, one silk petticoat, four dimmity petticoats, twelve linen shifts, three pair of ruffles, three linen aprons, four linen caps, two linen handkerchiefs, one pair of silver shoe buckles, and other things, and one guinea and a half in money, the property of   Jane Mitchel , spinster , in the dwelling house of the said   George Rice , Esq ; *

  John Barnes . The two prisoners and I were all together; we broke open the house of Mr. Rice, and took out a pair of pistols, some cloaths, coats and waistcoats, and women's apparel. There were a great many things.

Q. How did you get in?

Barnes. We got into an uninhabited house that was a building. Ives sold the things to a cloaths-man in Holborn; I can't tell his name. The money was shared between us three. There were three packs of cards; we cut for the pistols and the hat. I and   Richard Gray stood on the outside the house, and Ives got in, and came down and opened the window; we went in at it; then he bid us go round with him. The first things we saw were the pistols.

Q. What are you?

Barnes. I am a clockmaker by trade.

Q. How came you acquainted with Ives?

Barnes. I was in Wood-street compter when he was there before; there we got acquainted.

Ives. Barnes has been tried here before.

See No. 379, in last mayoralty.

Q. Did you agree together to go a robbing?

Barnes. We did; Ives, Gray, and I.

James Eaton. On Saturday, the 24th of March, about nine o'clock, our nurse came down stairs, and said, the wind blowed her candle out, and she supposed the windows were not shut down, for the wind came down stairs; she went up, and returned down again, and said to me, your room is broke open, and your cloaths taken away. I went to the public house, and alarmed the people, in order to stop the thieves, but they had made their escape; then we went up, and found the boxes broke open, and cloaths taken out. They left a turn-screw behind them. (Produced in court.)

  Anne Brown . I fastened the window at which they came in, before it was dark that night, about seven o'clock. The house-keeper came and told me there was a great wind that blew out the candle; we went up stairs, and found the window open; and the things mentioned in the indictment were missing.

Mr. Kirby. I am the keeper of Wood-street compter. Ives came to the compter to see some prisoners there; I had an account from Sir   John Fielding that he had done some robbery; I charged a constable with him, and took him to Sir John; there Ives imagined he might be admitted an evidence again; he there told all the houses he had broke open, and mentioned his confederates; this was in the evening. I went to see if we could find the goods. He said he lodged in Cross-lane, Newtoner's-lane; then he said, the goods he stole were in Gray's lodgings, in Shoemaker-row; we went there, and found Gray and Barnes, and three girls, all in bed together; and there we found these goods. (A large parcel of wearing apparel produced in court, and a pair of pistols, and a dark lanthorn; the goods deposed to were taken out of Mr. Rice's house, the property of the several owners.)

Ives's Defence.

There was nothing found upon me, is all I have to say.

Gray's Defence.

I own I was in the room where the goods were, but I never went out with them. I know nothing of taking them.

Both Guilty . Death .

There was another indictment against them for another burglary and robbery.

See   Ives an evidence against Nokes and Brown, on three indictments, (No. 111, 112, 113, in last mayoralty.)