| Reference Number | t18110710-102 |
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| Verdict | Guilty |
| Sentence | No Punishment > sentence respited |
| Related Material |  |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 03 May 2022), July 1811, trial of JOSEPH LONG (t18110710-102). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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| Navigation | < Previous text (trial account) |
621. JOSEPH LONG was indicted for that he, on the 1st of June , did falsely pretend to John Edmonds , that he came from William Stroud , for the tea-pot which the boy had brought there, by which means he obtained from John Edmonds, the said tea-pot, value 10 l. whereas, in truth and fact the said William Stroud had not sent him for the said tea-pot .
JOHN EDMONDS . I am a tea-pot-handle maker , I live at No. 4, Monkwell-street, near Falcon-square .
Q. Had you a silver tea-pot from a man of the name of Stroud to put a handle - A. I had, on the 1st of June, about half past three o'clock, a boy brought it in the service of Mr. William Stroud , he is a silversmith.
Q. He brought a silver tea-pot to have a new handle put to it - A. Yes; I received it of the boy. About five o'clock the prisoner, Joseph Long came to my house, he said he came for a tea-pot, I asked him what tea-pot; he said a silver, tea-pot; I asked him who brought the pot, he said a boy left it, commonly called cribbage face; I asked him the reason why he called him cribbage face; he said, because he was pitted with the small pox, which the boy is certainly pitted with the small pox; I asked him the dress the boy was in, he said a brown jacket, which he certainly had on; I asked him if he could describe the nature of the pot; he said, certainly, he could a shopmate of his a polisher, gave the boy the pot, he described the pot very exact.
Q. Did he say whose boy had left it - A. Yes, he said Mr. Stroud's, he said he came from Mr. Stroud as Mr. Stroud's servant, and as he was able to describe the pot so accurately I believed he did come from Mr. Stroud; I asked the reason he came so early for the pot, as it was promised on Monday; he said, that the people came from Mr. Ellis in Oxford-street, and Mr. Ellis's customer would not wait untill Monday for it, and therefore he came from Mr. Stroud for the tea-pot.
Q. This appeared to you to be a very probable story - A. Yes, and upon which I delivered him the tea-pot in consequence of his story, believing what he said to be true.
Q. What is the worth of the tea-pot - A. Ten or twelve pounds. The prisoner took the tea-pot away with him. After I delivered their tea-pot, before the prisoner could turn the corner of Monkwell-street, my wife looked out of the window and saw the prisoner, and in consequence of what my wife said, I went up to Mr. Stroud, he lives in Burleigh-street, Exeter Change. I told him what I had done with the tea-pot.
Q. In consequence of what Mr. Stroud told you did you look after the man - A. Yes, I did not see the prisoner untill the 6th. I saw him in Featherstone Street, Bunhill Row. I had an officer with me, and took him at a chandler's shop, in Featherstone-street.
Q. Did you ever find the pot again - A. No, when the officer called me up stairs I gave charge of him. I told the prisoner that Mr. Stroud had not given him authority to come for the tea-pot; he said he was very sorry, he had known me some years. He did not deny the charge.
WILLIAM STROUD . I am a silversmith.
Q. Do you know the prisoner - A. I never knew him before this transaction, he never was in my employ.
Q. Had you sent the tea-pot by a boy to have a handle put in it - A. Yes, I did, I value the tea-pot at ten pounds, it cost fourteen pounds. I sent it to Mr. Edmonds to have a handle put in, by a lad of mine.
Q. Did you ever send the prisoner to Mr. Edmonds for this tea-pot - A. I did not; I did not know him I could not.
Q. Have you ever recovered the pot since - A. No.
WILLIAM KEITH . I am fourteen next September
Q. Do you know the prisoner - A. No.
Q. Did you take a silver tea-pot to Mr. Edmonds to have a handle put in it - A. Yes. I was to fetch it again on the Monday following.
Q. Do you know whether the prisoner saw you taking it - A. Yes, he joined company with me. I told him I was going to leave this tea pot for a handle, and was to call for it on the Monday.
Q. Did you ever tell him to get it from Mr. Edmonds and to pretend that he came from your master - A. No, he said he meant to apply to Mr. Stroud for a job.
JURY. Did the prisoner see the shape and appearance of the tea-pot - A. No, he felt the tea-pot in the bag; he asked me if it was silver, I told him yes; he said is it one of these squab things; I told him it was; he asked me if it was a silver button, I said no.
ANTHONY HARRISON . On the 2d of June, I recieved a description of the prisoner; I went in search of him; Edmonds was with me. On Thursday morning I went up stairs first, the prisoner was in bed when I entered the room. I told him I was coming to take him in charge; I called Edmonds, he came up, and the prisoner said he was sorry for it. Going to the Compter he confessed that he had sold it; I said what have you done with the tea-pot; he said I do not want the people of the house to know. He told me coming along, that a young man had sold the pot to Mrs. Lack, in Long Lane, for five pounds; the man made him drunk and robbed him of the money. He had about two-pence half-penny when I took him.
Prisoner's Defence. I was very much intoxicated at the time, I do not remember seeing the boy or going to Mr. Edmonds.
Mr. Edmonds. He was perfectly sober as I am now, and I am a man that never drinks a pint of beer from one week's end to another.
GUILTY , aged 22.
Judgement respited .
London jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.