Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 08 December 2023), February 1807, trial of JAMES WRIGHT (t18070218-6).

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JAMES WRIGHT, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th February 1807.

176. JAMES WRIGHT was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 4th of January , two silver watches, value 6 l. a gilt medal, value 2 s. a gold seal, value 10 s. a gold key, value 10 s. and a metal chain, value 10 d. the property of William Eustace , in his dwelling house .

WILLIAM EUSTACE . I live in Old street , I am a publican ; the prisoner at the bar lodged in my house five weeks; he left my house on the 4th of January at three o'clock in the afternoon, he told me he was going as far as Hackney; he never came to my house afterwards.

Q. How long was it before you saw him again. - A. On the 17th of January.

Q. When did you miss any property. - A. On the day he went, about three quarters of an hour afterwards, I missed two watches and a medal, they were in a looking glass case drawer in my bed room. At the time when the prisoner went out I was at my dinner, he borrowed eighteen pence of me, he said he was going to see some friends. I went up stairs to put on my great coat, and I went to the drawer to get my watch to put in my pocket; I missed it then, it was gone; I saw it in the drawer at eight o'clock in the morning.

SAMUEL SIKES . I live at Brentford, I am a victualler. The prisoner came to my house on the 10th of January, between five and six o'clock at night; he was in my tap room offering a watch to sell, I bought it of him, I gave him two guineas for it; I gave the watch to the constable on the 17th of January.

SUSANNAH POTTER . I live at Brentford. About two months ago the prisoner come to my house, and asked for a lodging; he lodged at my house one night, he took a watch out of his pocket, and said he had broke the glass, he asked me to hang it up till the morning; I hung it up. He went away without asking for the watch. I gave the watch to the constable.

Q. Are you sure the prisoner was the man. - A. Yes.

JAMES MERCHANT . I am a constable, I apprehended the prisoner on the 16th of January at the Waterman's Arms, Isleworth. I sent a letter to Mr. Eustace that night, he came down the next day. We found the medal in the prisoner's stocking; he owned to where the watches were. They were delivered to me by Potter and Sikes.

(The property produced and identified.)

Prisoner's Defence. He told me that if I would tell him where the property was, he would pay the expences, and freely forgive me, and let me go about my business.

GUILTY, aged 31.

Of stealing to the value of thirty-nine shillings .

Transported for Seven Years .

First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Justice Le Blanc.