Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials
10th December 1712
Margaret
Atkins
proceedingsdefend
of the Parish of St. Dunstan in the West
, was indicted for
stealing 13 Pound of Coffee
from
George
Henshaw
proceedingsvictim
on the first instant. Mr. Henshaw swore, that the Prisoner came into his Shop under pretence to buy some Aniseeds; and while he was weighing of them, he heard something rattle on the Floor; and coming to search her, found she had the Paper Bag it was in, and some of the Coffee in her Apron, the rest being scatter'd on the Ground. She had Witnesses to her Reputation; one of whom was her Mistress, who said she had liv'd with her several Years, and been trusted with great Sums of Money, and always been very Honest: Which weighing much with the Jury, she was
acquitted
.