| Reference Number | t18470705-1608 |
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| Verdict | Not Guilty > unknown |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 02 December 2023), July 1847, trial of THOMAS ROBERTS JAMES CLAYTON (t18470705-1608). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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1608. THOMAS ROBERTS and JAMES CLAYTON were indicted for stealing 1 purse, value 1s. 6d.; 1 seal, 6d.; 2s. and 1 halfpenny; the property of Hannah Marks, from her person.
WILLIAM STEWART. I live in Trinity-lane, Queenhithe—on the 15th of June, at half-past nine o'clock at night, I was in Guildford-street—I saw the prisoner's walking—I followed them to Gray's-inn-road—I had known one of them for five years, the other, twelve months—they stopped in Gray's Inn-road, and went into Guildford-street—I saw Mrs. Marks walking up Guild-ford-street, towards the Foundling—the prisoner's got to her near the Foundling, just by the cab-stand; Roberts got by the side of Mrs. Marks—there was a female in company with the prisoner's, she fell behind Roberts—Clayton was on in front—I got as close to Roberts as I could get, nearly arm-in-arm with the female—Roberts was on the right side of Mrs. Marks—he put his left hand into her pocket—he drew his hand out and made a stop—he pretended to blow his nose—Mrs. Marks went on—Clayton made a stop—he turned round, and the prisoners, and the female with them, walked down Guildford-street, towards Gray's Inn-road—I followed the prisoners to a public-house—the female left them, and went down a street—I looked about and saw a policeman in conversation with the prosecutrix—I said there were two of the swell-mob—the prisoner's were taken—I heard something fall from Clayton—I supposed it was a shilling—I looked but could not find it.
Cross-examined by MR. BALLANTINE. Q. What is your profession? A. A cheesemonger's porter—I drive a horse and cart, and do portering work for Mr. Whitfield, in Lamb's Conduit-street, facing the Foundling—I was in his employ at that time, and am up to the present time—I was not portering at the time I saw this—I was doing some business of my own—I have to go home at night and go to bed—we shut up at half-past nine—I allow myself ten minutes to go to the Foundling, and to light my pipe—that was not my way home, but there is a young person that I pay my respects to who lives in Wells-street—I have been a porter five years, in two situations—I was in the police for two years and nine months—I left between five and six years ago—I left of my own accord, by giving a month's notice—it was very much against our superintendent's wish that I should leave—I did make application to get into the police again, some time ago—it was through a misunderstanding—I believe it was through the ill-will of the superintendent at my leaving them that I did not get in again—I have been employed since by inspector Shackell and Colonel Rowan, to go into the country to find out incendiary fires—I have been in Lamb's Conduit-street a year and nine months—I have not been employed to search out criminals—I am not a spy in the pay of the police—I was not in the employ of the police at the time this happened—I was not connected with any policeman at that time—I was employed by Shackell and Colonel Rowan about six weeks—the job turned
out very well—I got plenty of people convicted, on clear evidence; not on my evidence—I did not get into the box.
Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. What might you make of this job? A. Very little; not more than I get by my cheesemongering—I got 30s. a-week, and no expenses for pipes and ale—that made me minus—I cannot tell how many persons I convicted—I decline to tell—I was out six weeks—I got six cases—I did not get up witness against them, the inspector did—I did not disguise myself—I went in the same dress that I work in—I got hold of the persons by going round and hearing one thing and hearing another—I did not get people into conversation—they got into conversation with me—when the job was over, I was put off with 30s. a-week—I had no sum in a lump—I know nothing of any rewards being offered, I got none—when I left the police I went to work with my father, who is a carpenter—I worked with him about fifteen months—his work fell off, and I then attempted to get into the City police—I cannot tell whether that is better than the Metropolitan police—when this happened it was about twenty minutes before ten o'clock—I had got a pipe—I never knew the witness Davis—I never saw her till I was at the station.
ELIZA DAVIS. I am the wife of William Davis—I did live in Manchester-terrace—about ten o'clock at night, on the 15th of June, I saw the prosecutrix in Guildford-street, by the foundling—I saw the prisoners and a female near her—the female was walking about half a yard in front—Roberts was on the right side of Mrs. Marks, and Clayton was about a yard behind—(I had seen Roberts about two months before—I had not seen him on that evening)—I saw Roberts make a stop, and so did Clayton and the female—Mrs. Marks walked on—the prisoners and the female walked back towards Gray's Inn-road—they stopped at a lamp-post, and they looked to me as if they were sharing something—I was on the opposite side—I saw them move their hands to one another—they appeared to me as if they had robbed Mrs. Marks—I crossed the road, and went after Mrs. Marks and spoke to her—I do not know where the prisoners were then—I left them about twenty yards off—my back was turned towards them—they were not near enough to hear what I said to Mrs. Marks.
Cross-examined by MR. BALLANTINE. Q. You say they appeared to be sharing something—tell us exactly what you saw done? A. I saw them with their hands together—one appeared to be taking something out of the hands of the other—I do not know whether there was a purse or not, or whether there was any money taken from any purse—I knew Roberts before—I had never spoken to him—I saw him follow a lady in black and rob her—I did not give information to anybody—I knew him to be a thief—when I saw him in Lamb's Conduit-street I recognized him as the person I had seen before—I had never seen Stewart before this time—he spoke to me, and said there were two of the swell-mob gone into the public-house—I was coming from Mrs. Leggs, in Great Carter-lane—she is a person I work for—her husband is a solicitor—I was coming along Gray's Inn-road, saw the prisoners turn up Guildford-street, and I followed them—I did not Know Mrs. Marks, she was a perfect stranger to me—I have seen Stewart at the office, and I saw him yesterday.
HANNAH MARKS. I was going along Guildford-street about a quarter before ten o'clock that night—I received information, examined my pocket, and missed my purse from my right hand pocket—there were two shillings in it, a small seal, and a halfpenny—I have not seen any of them since.
THOMAS WITHAM (police-constable E 137.) The two prisoners were given into my custody in the Calthorp Arms, Gray's Inn-road—as we were going
to the station, Clayton dropped something that sounded like a shilling—I searched the prisoners—I found on Clayton 2s. 4 1/2d. and a knife, and on Roberts a handkerchief and a key—I told them what they were charged with, they each said they were respectable persons.
NOT GUILTY.