90, 91. Thomas Davis proceedingsdefend and * Samuel Piper proceedingsdefend were indicted for stealing nine Silver Buckles, val. 35 s. the Goods of John Martin proceedingsvictim , Nov. 26 . Both Guilty .

* Piper, was try'd in December, Sessions 1737, with William Hardesty, for robbing Charles Clark < no role > on the High-way, and was acquitted. See Sessions Book, No. I. page 10.

They were a second Time indicted for stealing a Silver Watch, val. 4 l. and a Silver Chain, val. 7 s and 6 d. the Goods of Abraham Poteira proceedingsvictim , from his Person, Octo. 30 .

Abraham Poteira. I lost my Watch last Lord Mayor's Day; it was pull'd out of my Pocket in the Street, over against the great Toy-Shop at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-yard ; I don't know who did it, but I felt it go, and somebody push'd me at the same Time. When I got home, I told a Chair-woman that works in my Master's House the Story, she went home, and came again in the Afternoon, and inform'd me, that a Man who sold Rabbets in the Streets had seen a Watch, which was taken out of a Frenchman's Pocket, sold that Morning. The Constable has got it in his Possession.

Tho Sutherland < no role > . Tom Davis < no role > , Piper and I, went out last Lord Mayor's Day, with a Design to get what we could in the Crowd, and met this Frenchman. We were all as close together as we could be, Piper took the Watch out of his Pocket, and drop'd it, and Tom Davis < no role > pick'd it up: The Gentleman miss'd it in a Minute, and turn'd about; which was the Reason that Piper dropp'd it, lest it should be taken upon him; but when Davis had taken it up, he went off, and we follow'd him, and overtook him. Then we went all together into Chick Lane, where we met John Miller < no role > , who offer'd us 25 s. for it at an Ale-house in the Lane, but we wanted more Money for it: At last we all went to the Angel in Holborn, and there we took his Money for it, and had about six Shillings a-piece in Money, beside Liquor. I can't say I saw Piper take it, but I saw Davis pick it up, and I took particular Notice of the Frenchman; he had a Livery Frock on, and the Watch had a String, and a flat Sort of a Chain to it. The Watch is in Court, but I can't take upon me to swear 'tis the same, because one Watch may be very much like another.

Poteira. This is the Watch I lost, and this Chain was hanging to it, and a blue String besides.

Piper. Where was the Money spent?

Sutherland. I can't tell exactly.

Piper. From whence did we set out?

Sutherland. From Westminster. I had dropp'd them once, but I met with them again just by where the Gentlemen go down to take Water; where there was the greatest Crowd of People, there we were. Piper said, when he came out, that he would not go on a pitiful Story, - for Handkerchiefs, - but for Watches; he said, he would either get something, or nothing.

John Briggs < no role > , Constable. I took this Watch from Mary Miller < no role > ; we heard of it by a Man who sells Rabbets in the Streets: He inform'd the Chairwoman, that a Watch which had been pick'd out of a Frenchman's Pocket, had been sold to one Miller, who lives by Holywell-Mount; so we got a Warrant to take up Miller, and we went to a publick House to see for him, but his Wife brought it to us, and said, she must have 45 s. for it, for he had paid 40 s. for it, and had spent a Crown upon the Persons he bought it of. I lent the Man a Guinea to make his Money up 45 s. that he might make her a Tender, and the Money was laid down upon the Table; then Miller's Wife ask'd me, if I thought her such a foolish B - ch, as to take the Money before Witness? So she beckon'd the Frenchman out into the Yard, and he followed her; when he came back, I ask'd him, whether he had got the Watch? he told me, no, and said, she insisted upon having the Money first; upon this he charged me with her, and while we were waiting for Justice Chandler's coming home, a Woman advised her to deliver the Watch, and take no Money. I have seen this Miller (the Husband) since this Accident; I us'd often to see him before, - he's a Sort of Gambler, and sells Rabbets about the Streets. Both Guilty , Death .