The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

748.   THOMAS RUSSELL was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 27th of July , a gallon of brandy, value 10s. twenty glass phials, value 10s. and a wooden box, value 6d. the property of our Lord   the King .

Second Count. Charging it to be the property of the   Commissioners of Excise .

Third Count. Charging it to be the property of   Joseph Chipperfield .

Fourth Count. Charging it to be the property of   John  Chatfield and   William  Chatfield .(The case was opened by Mr. Knowlys).

JOHN HEARN sworn. - Examined by Mr. Jackson. I am an assistant employed in the Excise warehouse, at  Porter's Quay , for receiving condemned goods: On the 27th of July last, Mr. Keylock left the warehouse for a few minutes; the door was chained within side when he and I were together; he went out, and the door was pulled to, only I did not follow him to fasten the door, as I expected him back every minute; after he was gone, I heard the door go all of a sudden against a cask; it was a noise I was not accustomed to hear; I turned round, and saw a man dressed in soldier's clothes go out of the warehouse with a box under his arm; I went after him, and he dropped the box, which split the bottom right in half; the box contained twenty samples of brandy, marked C in a diamond; they were in half-pint phials.

Q. What had the prisoner to do in the ware

house? - A. He had no sort of business there.

Q. Where was the box taken from? - A. From a bench about a yard and a half, or two yards, from the door.

Q. Do you know to whom it belonged? - A. Yes, Messrs. John and   William  Chatfield .

Mr. Knapp. Q.Was not the prisoner very drunk at the time? - A. He was.

Prisoner's defence. I was very much in liquor.

The prisoner called Mr. William Crowther, a goldsmith, in Bunhill-row, who had known him nine years, and gave him a good character.

GUILTY , aged 24.

Confined one month in Newgate , and delivered to his serjeant.

London Jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.