The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

485.   GEORGE FREAK and   JOHN RICHARDSON were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 10th of July , a saddle, value 6 s. a bridle, value 5 s. two cloths, value 1 s. and a set of harness for a single horse-chaise, value 20 s. the property of   Samuel Yockney .

  SAMUEL YOCKNEY sworn. - I was awaked at four o'clock in the morning on the 10th of July, and was informed of the transaction.

- VEVER sworn. - I am a watchman of  St. Martin in the Fields : On the 10th of July, about twenty minutes past four o'clock, I was sitting in my box, and thought I heard somebody stepping in the hop-garden were these stables are; I turned my eye on one side, and saw a man coming peeping to see whether the watchman was in his box; I went out of the box, and saw Richardson and Freak; Freak had got the saddle on his shoulder, and Richardson had got a wrapper with the harness in it; I went up to them, and said, where are you going with this; Freak said, where we like, what is that to you; I said, I will know who you are, and then I sprung my rattle, and they threw down the bundles, and away they ran; I ran after them a great way, and then they were stopped.

Q. Did you know them before? - A. No.

Q. Did you lose sight of them? - A. Yes, but I know they are the same men; I should know

Freak amongst five thousand men; I was close to them, they were stopped in about ten minutes.

Q. Are you sure that these two men that were stopped, were the two men that came out of the hop-garden? - A. I am.

  GEORGE COOPER sworn. - I am porter to Mr. Yockney; it is Mr. Yockney's property, and I can swear to it.

  JOHN STEEL sworn. - I am a watchman: I saw Richardson run, I sprang the rattle, and my brother watchman stopped him, and held him fast.

  RICHARD LEWIS sworn. - I am one of the constables of St. Martin's; I searched both the prisoners when they were brought to the watch-house; on Freak I found a bottle of phosphorous, and a bunch of matches; on  Richardson I found nothing; I produce the property, they have been in my possession ever since.

Q.(To Vever.) Is that the saddle you saw on Freak? - A. I can swear to the saddle; I ran after him first, and then came back, and saw the saddle, and carried it to the watch-house.

Q.(To Cooper.) Look at these things? - A. They are all Mr. Yockney's.

Freak's defence. I work for Mr. Mason, in Drury-lane; I was going to work, and as I was coming up George-alley, I was taken by a watchman (not here) to St. Martin's watch-house.

Richardson's defence. I work for Mr. Middlemoor; as I was going to work, I stood at a court in St. Martin's-lane having a pennyworth of saloop; they took me away to the watch-house; I did not know Freak before, which he said before the Magistrate.

Freak, GUILTY , aged 31.

Richardson, GUILTY , aged 39.

Confined six months in the House of Correction , and fined 1 s .

Third Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.