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				<div style="font-family:serif;"><i>Old Bailey Proceedings Online</i> (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 22 March 2023), September 1771, trial of                      James                      Allen                                                                               (t17710911-8).<hr/><h2>James Allen, Theft &gt; theft from a specified place, 11th September 1771. </h2>                                                                                                   <p>544. (L.)                                                       James                      Allen                                                                                                          was indicted for                                                          stealing a watch the inside case gold, the outside metal covered with shagreen, value 16 l. a gold watch chain, value 7 l. a gold watch, value 6 l. a watch, inside case metal, the outside metal covered with fish-skin, value 20 s. a steel watch chain, value 4 s. a silver watch, value 30 s. a cornelian seal set in gold, value 4 s. a gold watch key, value 30 s. and a stone seal set in gold, value 3 l. the property of                                                                         Sarah                            Webster                                                                                                                                    , widow                     , and                                                                         William                            Webster                                                                                                                                    , in their dwelling house            , July 17th                  . ++</p>               <p>                                                William                   Webster                                                                                       . I am in partnership with my mother: we are watch-makers                                    , in Change-alley                                                      ; we have a house and shop there. On the 17th of July, about a quarter before four, I went up to dinner, and left the prisoner in the care of the shop, who was my servant                  . When I came down I miss'd the prisoner, and the watches that are mentioned in the indictment. He never came back again. He had lived with me not quite three weeks. I employed him to go on errands.</p>               <p>                                                Richard                   Smith                                                                                       . I attend the rotation office at Shadwell. I took the prisoner at a house in Buckle-street, White-chapel. A woman of the town had picked him up, and seeing him pull it out thought he stole it. I asked him how he came by it; he said it was his wife's. I told him I thought he did not look like a person whose wife wore a watch. I took him to the Compter. The next morning he confessed he had robbed his master of four watches; he gave me a direction where to find his master. I went to his master. He said he had sold one at Inglestone, another at Eastham, and the other he had sold to a travelling Jew.</p>               <p>(Producing the watch.)</p>               <p>Prosecutor. I can swear to this watch and the trinkets; they were stolen out of my shop.</p>               <p>- Moody. I live at Inglestone; my husband keeps the Blue Anchor. On Saturday, I don't remember the day of the month, I bought this watch of the prisoner; I gave him 20 s. for it. I had it valued before I bought it.</p>               <p>Q. How was he dress'd?</p>               <p>Moody. Much as he is now.</p>               <p>Prosecutor. This is my property.</p>               <p>                                                Martha                   Winck                                                                                       . I live at Eastham. I keep a public house. The prisoner brought this watch into my house. I thought it to be pinchbeck; a man at my house bought it. I gave two guineas and a half for it.</p>               <p>Q. What did you think it was?</p>               <p>                                                Martha                   Winck                                                                                       . Pinchbeeck; I shewed it the people in the house.</p>               <p>Prisoner's Defence.</p>               <p>I told them I came from sea when I sold the watches. I lie at the mercy of the court. I lived at the Pewter Platter.</p>               <p>                                                      Guilty            ,                                                          Death            .</p>            </div>
				
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