The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

341. (M.)   John Hatton , was indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling house of   Joseph Sureties on the 10th of April, about the hour of eleven in the night, and stealing one metal watch, the outside case covered with fish-skin, value 4 l. two silver salt sellers, value 10 s. one silver milk pot, value 10 s. one silver punch ladle with a whalebone handle, value 5 s. seven silver tea spoons, value 7 s. two large silver spoons, value 8 s. two silver salt spoons, value 2 s. four silver castor tops, value 2 s. one pair of silver spoons, value 20 s. two pair of silver shoe buckles, value 20 s. one silver buckle, value 2 s. one pair of leather boots, value 10 s. one man's hat, value 5 s. one peruke, value 1 s. one silk handkerchief, value 1 s. one linen handkerchief, value 6 d. one linen shift body, value 2 s. one laced linen cap, value 2 s. and one cane with a metal head, value 5 s. the property of the said Joseph in his dwelling house . *

  Sarah Sureties . I am wife to   Joseph Sureties ; I live at  Hackney . Our house was broke open on the 10th of April. When I came down stairs between eleven and twelve at night, I found my parlour window broke open. I was in the room several times that day; the shutters had not been opened several days. When I went to bed about eight o'clock, they were fast.

Q. What caused you to come down stairs?

Sureties. We heard somebody in the house.

Q. What did you find missing?

Sureties. Some table linen and other things. I lost something from every room below stairs.

Q. You are not sure that you was in this room at eight o'clock?

Sureties. I am not sure that I was in that room.

Q. Do you know any thing of a metal watch that was lost?

Sureties. Yes; and the other articles mentioned in the indictment. (repeating them.)

Q. Did you ever get any of them again?

Sureties. No; only the watch; (takes it in her hand.) This is the watch, I wear it myself; it was hanging in the room in which I generally sit.

Cross Examination.

Q. Are you sure that room was fast over night?

Sureties. No.

  Joseph Sureties . My house was broke open on the tenth of April, about half after eleven and the things taken out my wife has described. I found this chissel and another, and two hats, ( producing them) the outside of the window was fast over night.

Q. Do you know who they belong to?

Sureties. No; I found this pick-lock lay near the same place.

Court. Is there any body here can prove who those things belong to?

Sureties. No.

Cross Examination.

Q. You said you saw the outside of the window was fast?

Sureties. Yes.

Q. How do you know that?

Sureties. If you had been there you might have seen the next morning it was wrenched open with this chissel, not the hinges wrenched but the hanging style that the hinges are fastened to.

  William Hatebet . I am a constable. I keep a shop in Gravel lane Houndsditch. I was in my shop last Friday, and heard the alarm of stop thief. I ran out and saw the prisoner running, and several people running after him last Friday afternoon. I pursued him; he ran down Gravel-lane, as hard as he could, and several people after him; a man came out of the Black Moor's Head, when the prisoner was spent with running, and he was taken. I was present; he had this knife in his hand (produced a clasp knife) we carried him to the Poultry Compter, and there searched him we found this pocket pistol loaded with two slugs, and this watch we found in his breeches pocket ( producing them.) I ask'd him how he came by the watch; he said he bought it of a man in London. I took the watch to Sir   John Fielding 's house that same evening; there was an advertisement there concerning that and divers other things.

Q. Do you know what occasioned the cry of Stop thief?

Hatchet. He was then pursued for another robbery, but was cleared by Mr. Wilkes.

  Moses Levi I am a poulterer. Last Friday I heard a cry of Stop thief in Gravel lane; I pursued the prisoner, and took him with the knife in his hand. We took the loaded pistol and the watch out of his pocket.

Prisoner's Defence.

The reason of my having the pistol is, some time ago three fellows attacked me; I swore against them; they threatened my life. Here is the warrant I had against them. I bought the watch; I have people to prove it.

- Levi. He said before Sir   John Fielding what he was a traveller round the country, and he had that pistol for his own safety.

For the Prisoner.

  Eleanor Wakesmith . I was at the prisoner's lodgings on the fifth or sixth of May; I went to buy a ring; he had not got one.

Q. What day of the week was that?

Wakesmith. On Monday: he said he had not got a ring that would fit me; so he took me to Duke's place, where I might have choice; the man brought up a good many.

Q. Do you know that man?

Wakesmith. I never saw him before; a good many people asked him if he wanted goods in their way.

Q. What is that man?

Wakesmith. I can't tell; I never saw him before.

Q. They did not call one another by name?

Wakesmith. No, he spoke broken English; he spoke to a little black man in a beard, in Hebrew, to know what his name was; he gave a receipt.

Q. Have you that receipt.

Wakesmith. No; Hatton had that for a watch he bought of him; I looked at the watch, and in opening it I slit my thumb nail.

Q. Did you take any notice of of it?

Wakesmith. It was a green watch with spots in it, like the heads of pins; Hatton opened it.

Q. What did he pay for it?

Wakesmith. Fifty shillings; the man asked three pounds I think; Mr. Hatton went to drink with him at some publick house; the watch looked quite yellow and new inside.

Q. Did you see any thing wrote or engraven upon it.

Wakesmith. No, I can neither read nor write.

  Richard Gulley . I gave the prisoner a watch to clean about four months ago; he delivered it safe again to me.

Prisoner's Defence.

Here is the receipt for the watch.

Guilty , Death .

Note. The receipt was attempted to be wrote in Hebrew.