Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 06 December 2023), October 1780, trial of MARY the wife of John COWEL (t17801018-19).

MARY John COWEL, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th October 1780.

580. MARY the wife of John COWEL was indicted for stealing a silver cream-pot, value 15 s. a silver punch-ladle with a whalebone handle, value 4 s. a stone ring set round with garnets and set in gold, value 6 s. two cotton window curtains, value 16 s. a silver table-spoon, balue 5 s. two crown-pieces, seven hundred and forty-four farthings and five shillings in monies, numbered, the property of John Austin in the dwelling house of the said John , July 31st .

JOHN AUSTIN sworn.

I am a victualler in Little Suffolk-street . The prisoner and her husband lodged with me six or seven months in a one-pair-of-stairs front room; there was a chest of mine in the room which was locked, I had the key of it. On the 6th of October I asked her to pay her rent? She cried and said her husband had left her. I said, as she could not pay four-shillings a week she must get a cheaper lodging; she begged I would not take away the few things she had. I said I would not; she must pay me as soon as she could. I went out and returned in about half an hour; then my wife informed me the prisoner had taken away her things and was gone. I took her afterwards at Lambeth-Marsh , and she told me where the things were pawned; she never let me know that her husband was gone till I asked her for the money.

Are you able to prove she took any of the things away after her husband was gone? - No.

JAMES GATTY sworn.

I am a pawnbroker in Tooley-street. I have a silver milk-pot I took in of John Cowell, the husband of the prisoner, the 1st of July (producing it.)

ABRAHAM DRY sworn.

I am a pawnbroker in St. Martin's-lane. I have two curtains I took in, one the 15th, the other the 31st of July; a ring on the 24th, a table-spoon on the 15th, they were all pawned by John Cowell .

To the prosecutor. When did John Cowell leave the lodging? - Six weeks before the woman left the lodging.

(There being no evidence to bring the charge home to the prisoner she was not put on her defence.)

NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron EYRE .