Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 01 June 2023), May 1845, trial of FERDINAND GRANDY FREDERICK ROFFEY (t18450512-1116).

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FERDINAND GRANDY, FREDERICK ROFFEY, Theft > simple larceny, 12th May 1845.

1116. FERDINAND GRANDY and FREDERICK ROFFEY were indicted for stealing 1 sack, value 1s. 6d.; and 4 bushels of oats, value 10s.; the goods of Walter Powell; to which

GRANDY pleaded GUILTY . Aged 33, and received a good character.

Confined Six Months.

WALTER POWELL . I lire in Leather-lane, and a corn-chandler—Grandy was in my service for about two years and a half. On the 9th of May I sent him to Mr. Muggeridge's, in Earl-street, for seventeen quarters of oats—I afterwards gave him into custody, and in consequence of a conversation I had with him, I went with an officer to the corner of Portpool-lane, where I took Roffey—I told him it was for buying a sack of oats of my man for 5s.—(they were worth 10s. a sack)—he did not deny buying them, but he said he had not given him any money—we took him to the station—he told us where he lived—we searched his house in Half Moon-street, and found the sack of oats lying down by the bedside—I have a sampie of oats out of the seven sacks which Grandy brought home, and a sample from the sack we found at Roffey's—Grandy wai to bring four quarters home, and to take thirteen out.

JOSEPH HUDSON . I am in the employ of Mr. Muggeridge, corn mer-chant, of Upper Thames-street. Grandy came there on the 9th of May, about half-past six o'clock, and loaded his van—he had thirty-four lacks of oats given to him—I assisted in loading the van, and I counted the sacks—there were four bushels of oats in each sack, worth 10s. or 11s.—I have seen the sack of oats which was found at Roffey's—I cannot say who the sack belonged to—Mr. Powell furnished the sacks—I have seen

this sample of the oats which were found in the sack at Roffey's—I produce a sample of the bulk from which I loaded the thirty-four sacks of oats—they correspond with each other, and I have not a doubt of their being the same.

Cross-examined by MR. PAYNE. Q. How much of this kind of oati had your employer? A. We had then about eight quarters left—we had not sold any to anybody else.

GEORGE SMITH . I am a cow-keeper, and live in Robin Hood-court, Shoe-lane. On the 9th of May, a little before eight o'clock in the morning, I saw Mr. Powell's van in New-street-square—I saw a man take a sack from the van, and place it in a cart, but I could not swear it was either of the prisoners—the cart went into Dean-street, and into Fetter-lane.

Cross-examined. Q. What were you about? A. Serving my milk—I saw the van against Messrs. Whitefield and Hughes's factory—I did not speak to either of the persons.

THOMAS LOWE (police-constable G 84.) I went to No. 4, Half Moon-street, Portpool-lane—Roffey lived there—I searched his room, and found a sack of oats lying on the floor—I took a sample out of that sack, which I produced to Mr. Hudson—this is the Magistrate's handwriting to thii deposition—it was taken in the prisoner's presence, and signed by Mr. Alderman Wood.

Cross-examined. Q. Did you ever see him write? A. I have seen him writing when I was at Guildhall, but I was too low to see what be wrote—I saw him writing, and he gave the paper back to the clerk who had handed it to him.

COURT. Q. Have you seen and acted on his writing? A. Yes—I saw his pen move when he wrote this, and was watching him the whole time—I was too low to see what came from his pen—the deposition was handed to him, written, and then I saw his pen move—I saw the prisoner Roffey sign his name—I was in the witness-box—this is my name, which I put to the same paper.

MR. PAYNE. Q. Did you look at Roffey, and see what he was writing? A. Yes—I could see what he was doing—the clerk handed this paper to him—(read)—"The prisoner Roffey says, voluntarily, 'Grandy not offer it to me for sale at no price whatever; I expected him to fetch it from my place after I had taken it home; before he came the officer took me in charge.'"

RICHARD BAYLIS . I am an officer of the Police-court, Clerkenwell. I know Roffey, and was present at his former trial—I produce the certificate of his conviction—(read—Convicted 16th Feb., and confined three months—he is the person.

ROFFEY— GUILTY . Aged 50.— Confined Six Months.