450. Edward Knight proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing Half a Guinea, and 6 l. 4 s. in Silver , the Money of John Bromley proceedingsvictim , August 5 .

John Williams < no role > . As I was going up Cheapside the 5th of August, near the Old Jewry , I was stopped all on a sudden by some Fellows, some behind and some before me; I felt a Man push me on the left Side, and immediately I felt his Hand at my Pocket, part of his Hand was in my Pocket; I felt a Purse drawn out of my Pocket as if it had been done by a Hook, (I had another Purse that lay lower in my Pocket, in which was Forty Guineas) just after the Purse was gone out of my Pocket, I saw it in the Prisoner's Hand; I clapped my Hand upon it, and took it from him, and laid hold of his Arm, and he drew me cross the Street, and endeavoured to get away. - The Purse was not concealed, it was open in his Hand, and he said he picked it off the Ground; when I took hold of it he said, Here's your Money again, I was not going to rob you. - I am sure it was less than a Minute after I felt it drawn out, that I saw it in the Prisoner's Hand: - I think, he had not Time to take it off the Ground; I am sure the Purse never was upon the Ground, and that he did not stoop to take any Thing up.

Walter Durant < no role > . I was carrying some Cloth into Gracechurch street; there was a stop at the Corner of the Old Jewry, and seeing a squabble, I stopped, and saw the Prisoner hold a Purse up in his Hand above his Head, and the Prosecutor seized his Hand, and said, This is my Purse; and the Prisoner said, in Case it is your's 'tis at your Service.

Richard Chamberlain < no role > . There was a stop by a Coach at the Corner of the Old Jewry, and I saw the Prisoner take a Purse off the Ground, and hold it up before the other Person made any Clamour about it. - I am a Carpenter, and lodge at Mrs Stevens's in Shorts-Gardens, she is a Printer, I was carrying some Papers for her to the Green-Dragon, in Bishopsgate street.

Catherine Stevens < no role > deposed, that Chamberlain was carrying some Mathematical Schemes for her, that were to go to Cambridge and that she saw the Prisoner take the Purse off the Ground; she said, she never saw the Prisoner before then in her Life.

James Lewis < no role > . I keep a Publick House at the Three Tuns, at Billingsgate, the Prisoner belonged to a Club at my House; he sold Linnen about Town, and sold a good deal of Cloth among the Gentlemen of the Club, they were People of Reputation, and all of them Housekeepers.

Joseph Day < no role > , who lives at the Swan at Tottenham-Court, saw the Prisoner take up the Purse.

- Clark. I am what you call a Lighter of Lamps. - I agree with People to furnish them with Lamps: - I am a Housekeeper, and live in St Giles's, I let him a House, and when he lived there he bore a good Character.

David Dalton < no role > , Mary Pepper < no role > , and George Story < no role > , gave the Prisoner the Character of an honest, sober, well behaved Man. Acquitted .