The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, (M.)   JANE ROBINSON ,   WILLIAM DICKENSON ,   SAMUEL DIZZEY ,   DANIEL LAREMORE ,   JAMES GARTH ,   ELIZABETH NORBURY , and   ESTHER SMITH , were indicted, the four first for stealing one pair of plated spurs, value 2 s. eight linen shirts, value 40 s. a pair of Japan snuffers, value 6 d. a powder horn, value 6 d. a cane, value 3 s. two silver table spoons, value 8 s. five silver teaspoons, value 3 s. a silk waistcoat, value 3 s. four pair of silver sugar-tongs, value 2 s. a pair of linen sheets, value 4 s. a china pot, value 6 d. a china pint bason, value 6 d. two china saucers,

value 1 s. a china milk pot, value 3 d. six drinking glasses, value 1 s. a swing looking glass, value 2 s. a linen table cloth, value 1 s. two tin cannisters, value 1 d. three linen towels, value 6 d. a linen handkerchief, value 6 d. two china punch bowls, value 3 s. a cutlass mounted with silver, value 5 s. the property of   John Stone , Esq ; one silk gown, value 24 s. a pair of plated buckles, value 3 s. a pearl necklace, value 3 s. a pair of steel buckles, value 2 s. aworked ruffle, value 1 s. a muff, value 3 s. a black silk cloak, value 11 s. a pair of muslin ruffles, value 5 s. a white dimity petticoat, value 3 s. a piece of flannel, value 1 s. a silk purse, value 6 d. a nankeen riding habit, value 10 s. a woman's beaver hat, value 2 s. the property of   Ann Brown spinster .   JAMES GARTH for receiving five small silver tea-spoons, two silver table spoons, one pair of silver tea-tongs, a cutlass mounted with silver, two china punch bowls, three linen shirts, part of the above goods, knowing them to have been stolen, against the statute.   ELIZABETH NORBURY , for receiving a silk gown, a nankeen riding habit, and a womans beaver hat, being part of the above goods, knowing them to have been stolen against the statute.   ESTHER SMITH , for receiving a muff, being part of the above goods, knowing it to have been stolen, against the statute , Jan. 22d . ||

  John Stone , Esq; About three weeks or a month ago I was out of town; I have a house in  Naked Boy Court in the Strand . During the time I was out of town, but what particular time I cannot tell, my house was robbed: I had left no one in the house, so I cannot give any account how it was done; for it was a considerable time after before I came to town and missed my things; the sash of the window was wrenched open; I apprehend they came in that way: the things were in the house when I went out of town; ( a waistcoat, two table spoons, five tea spoons, and some sugar tongs produced by   Barnard Barnard ) I believe they are mine, I had such; I am more sure as to the sugar tongs than the other things that they are mine.

  Barnard Barnard . I had these things of one of the accomplices; I was from home once or twice when they came; I saw them there when I came home. Garth asked 8 s. for the waistcoat; I understood him that he bought it for 6 s. he asked me 5 s. or 5 s. 6 d. an ounce for the plate; I agreed to give him 4 s. 6 d. I did not pay them, for I pretended I had no scales; suspecting the things were stole I went to Sir   John Fielding 's, and the men came there and took two of the prisoners.

Mr. Stone. The handkerchief, the cane, and the spoons, were in the parlour, and two punch bowls.

Blanchard Clarke. (produces the two punch bowls, three shirts, a silk neckcloth, and a hanger) I found these things in Garth's Lodgings.

  William Halliburton . I took the powder flask out of Dizzey's pocket; the snuffers were in   Elizabeth Norbury 's, the necklace in   Jane Robinson 's; I took Dickinson, Dizzey, and Laremore together: I took the cane away, I think, from Laremore, but I am not certain: I took the two women in Shire Lane.

Blanchard Clarke. I had been there before and could not find them there, but they were expected to come there again; I took a worked man's ruffle out of   Jane Robinson 's pocket; these two women were up two pair of stairs in a house in Shire Lane; they were not there when Halliburton came, but came there afterward.

  William Taylor . (produces a pair of sheets and two tea-pots) I had them in a room up two pair of stairs forward in Shire Lane; I and Clark were there before Halliburton: the room belonged to   Jane Robinson and   Elizabeth Norbury ;   Elizabeth Norbury told me where the sheets were, and likewise a table cloth, that they were gone to be washed; I went to the washerwoman's, and there they were found. I found there a silk cloak, two cannisters, and a pair of silk shoe patterns worked with gold; there was likewise a pair of double ruffles, three towels, and some shirts. I took one of the shirts off   John Walker the witness's back; and all these things ( producing them) were in this room.

Mr. Stone. I cannot speak positively to the shirts; mine were marked, these are not; I don't see any place where the marks have been picked out.

  Thomas Jordain . I keep the Red Lion in Charles-street Long Acre;   Jane Robinson and   John Walker took lodgings of me; Walker then went by the name of Robinson, and they past as husband and wife; they took a room of me about five weeks since, but I turned them out the 25th January; in their lodgings were found a pair of spurs and a lanthorn, (producing them) the lodging was in a house that belonged to me opposite my dwelling house.

Mr. Stone . I had such a lanthorn; I believe it to be mine, I cannot be positive.

  Matthew Fox . I am son-in-law to Mr. Jordain;

I found the spurs and lanthorn in Robinson and Walker's lodging.

  John Clark . I found a muss in the room where the three men were taken.

  Hector Essex . I am a pawn-broker: I have a gown which I received of   Elizabeth Norbury and   Jane Robinson :   Jane Robinson pawned it in the name of   Mary Wright for 1 l. 4 s.

  Thomas Brown . I am a pawnbroker: I took in the riding habit, the hat, and some silk, of   Elizabeth Norbury and   Jane Robinson ; they both came together: I had seen   Jane Robinson before, but   Elizabeth Norbury pawned the things in the name of   Mary Jones , and Miss Green; she said she lived with Miss Green, and these were some of her things.

  Robert Blair . I know Dizzey and Dickinson very well; Dizzey is a jeweller, and Dickenson is a printer: I have been five years with Mr. Adam in Durham-yard, the great builder; I lived with him as an apprentice in the capacity of a plumber; I was not present at the time of the robbery myself, that was on Saturday night about six weeks since; I was not there. On the Sunday night   Daniel Laremore went with me to Mr. Stone's house; we had a key that opened the latch of the door; the lock was undone before, I apprehend, on Saturday night: we went up one pair of stairs; there we got a pair of sheets, two shirts, a riding habit, a man's hat, two large china bowls, a large china tea-pot, a muff, a coat, and a powder-horn; we took them to the room where the three men and Walker lodged in Long-Acre; we went a second time on Sunday night; then Dizzey went with us; I do not know whether these things particularly mentioned were taken the first time or the second time; Laremore came home that night, and lay with me in Chancery Lane , in White's Alley, at Dr. Scot's; my mother takes care of his house. On Monday Laremore went to this room ; I went after him; Laremore had the waistcoat, two table spoons and six tea spoons, and he sent them to Garth's; two punch bowls were likewise at Garth's, and the hanger; there we found some rings and a gold watch and chain put into a check case ; we took them to Long Acre, and Garth told us that he knew a Jew that lived in some square, I do not exactly recollect the name, that would buy them; Garth and I went there; he was not at home the first time ; we went a second time, and then we were bid to come again in the dusk; Laremore and I went to Garth's, and Garth and I went to the room in Long Acre; we met Laremore and Walker there;   Jane Robinson , Norbury, and Smith, carried the bowls and the hanger to Garth; we were to meet at the Elephant and Castle after we came from the Jew's;   James Garth went to the Jew's at dusk; we had the waistcoat, the spoons, the tea tongs, the watch and chain, but did not offer them to sale; we offered the waistcoat, we asked 8 s. for it, he bid us 6 s. we would not let him have it; afterwards he gave us 8 s. we asked 5 s. 9 d. an ounce for the silver; the Jew proposed 4 s. 6 d. we did not shew the watch and chain to the Jew; he asked for silver and when we produced it he said he wanted scales; he went with a pretence to fetch scales; staying a great while we suspected he was gone upon no good respecting us; we went therefore and found the watch, chain, and silver things in the dunghill; there was not the breadth of my hand distance between them: when we had done that the man came from Sir   John Fielding 's and searched us, and found nothing but the waistcoat; Garth said he had bought the waistcoat of a man in the street but did not know his name; the dunghill where we hid the things was opposite the Jew's room. Dizzey and Laremore waited near the church, about three hundred yards distance from the Jew's house.

  John Walker .   William Dickenson and   Samuel Dizzey and myself met on the Saturday evening; we went to a public house and drank there till between twelve and one, then we came home to Charles-street in Long Acre; I saw   Elizabeth Norbury and   Esther Smith ; I asked them where   Jane Robinson and Laremore were gone, and they seemed dubious of telling me; upon which I said I was sure they were gone to Mr. Stone's, for there had been conversation before about Mr Stone's;   Jane Robinson had told me of it; they attempted to get in a day or two before but could not, but thinking that   Jane Robinson and Laremore were there we went down and saw a light; I knocked at the door:   Jane Robinson came and enquired who was there, upon which I said it was I; then she asked me to explain myself; at last I said Jack; upon which we were admitted; as soon as I came in I saw a bundle of things by the fire place; I asked how they got in;   Jane Robinson told me they got in by the window, which was broke open, or wrenched open, with a chissel , in this

bundle there was a silk gown, some dirty shirts, a table cloth, and some new cloth;   Daniel Laremore pulled the shirts out of his pocket, and a pair of paste buckles and knee buckles; there were some ear-rings too, and some small rings; there were six tea spoons, tea tongs, and two table spoons; the small rings were paste; there was likewise a gold watch and chain, a riding habit, a black silk cloak, a white dimity petticoat, a gold band and hat, a button and loop for a hat, some china cups and saucers, a bead necklace, and a silk neckcloth or two. Dickenson was going up stairs, but Robinson and Laremore said he need not go up, for they had been up stairs already.   Robert Blair and   Samuel Dizzey went a second night, but I was not there; there was a man's hat and a woman's habit hat, a looking glass, a coat, a pair of shoes, and a table cloth were brought to our lodgings: there were seven of us lay together that night, four men and the three women at the bar. Dickenson and Dizzey had a room one night in the Fleet-market; the landlord came up on Monday, and said he did not like our going on; that was the second night after the robbery: then Garth said, let us move some of the things, for the landlord will get a search warrant; upon which they took the two punch bowls and the hanger to Garth's lodgings; and Garth had the tea spoons and the other spoons and the silver; and Blair and Garth went to the Jew's to sell them; the riding habit was pawned by   Elizabeth Norbury and   Jane Robinson ; they went to pawn the sheets, but they would not take them in being dirty; on which they went to get them washed, and they were left at the washerwoman's; and they pawned the silk gown.

Garth's Defence.

I am a breeches maker. Blair asked me to take a walk with him; I did do so; we went to the Jew's; there were some silver things carried; I know nothing of the matter, for Blair had them and produced them; I was ignorant of the whole affair.

Norbury's Defence.

I know nothing at all about it; I am quite innocent.

Smith's Defence.

I know nothing about it; I am innocent of it.

For Dizzey .

  John Clinton . I am a jeweller; Dizzey was apprentice to me; I had a handsome premium with him; he behaved very well , very honest: I have often trusted him with money to the amount of 100 l. and not a fortnight before he was charged with this I had trusted him with 60 l. he was always in the shop; he had opportunities of taking gold and silver and diamonds, but he never did: was I satisfied that his morals were not corrupted by the sad place he has been in lately, I would take him again if he was discharged.

  John Tonson , Esq; I have known him ten years; I know his father and mother; he was a very dutiful child as I understood; I never heard any harm of him till this; I cannot help thinking that if he is guilty of this he must have been intoxicated and drawn into it; I cannot think he could be capable in his senses of doing such an act.

  George Garrick , Esq; I have known him five years; he used to come to my house often; I admitted him into the parlour; I looked upon him to be a diligent lad, and had no scruple to think him a proper companion for my children; he is about fourteen years old.

Mr. Asbridge. I have known him from his birth; I looked upon him to be one of the best of boys; I have trusted him with money and goods.

For Robinson.

- Dodd. I have known her four years: her father was a smith, and lived in good credit; his widow now lives in great credit: I looked upon the girl to be a sober girl; she has been in my house months together.

- Creamer. I have known her five years; I have often trusted her; she had a very good character, and I would now take her again.

  Richard Frazier . I am a taylor; I have known her some time; she has a very good character.

  John Farewell . I have known her nine or ten years; she is an honest girl.

  James Ould . I always understood she had a good character.

  George Blunt . I have known her ever since she was born; she has a very good character.

- Blow. I have known her from her birth; I always thought her an honest sober girl.

For Dickenson.

- Wilkinson. I am a printer: Dickenson was apprentice to me; he behaved extremely well; he had a very good character, and was extremely useful; he acted so politely and civilly to all the customers , that they all spoke of him with very great commendation. I was in the country for four months together, on account of my illness, and he had the principal management of my business, and behaved vastly well to the customers; he had not been absent but about six days during the time of this unfortunate accident.

- Nowell. I have known him five years, he always behaved well, and had a good character.

For Laremore.

- Madden. I have known him from his infancy; he was an honest sober lad.

  John Prior . I live at Uxbridge ; I have known his father and him three or four years; he had always a good character.

For Smith.

  Richard Bream . Smith lodged with me three years together; she always had a good character.

  Susannah Smith . She lodged with me half a year; she has a very good character; her mother goes out to nurse people in their illness, or lying-in, and she has an extraordinary character.

For Garth.

- Powell. I have known him some time, but his brother is more particularly my acquaintance; he had that opinion of him that he set him up in his business.

For Norbury.

  Thomas Nowell . I have known her four or five years; I thought her a diligent honest girl; I never heard of any reflection upon her.

- Norbury. I am her father; she never offended me before in her life; I wonder how she could be so deluded.

DICKENSON, Acquitted .

DIZZEY, Acquitted .

SMITH, Acquitted .

LAREMORE, Guilty T .

ROBINSON, Guilty . T 14 .

GARTH, Guilty T 14 .

NORBURY, Guilty T 14 .