16. + Mary Burn proceedingsdefend was indicted for privately stealing, out of the Shop of Philip Rainaud proceedingsvictim , twenty-four Silver Salt Shovels, value 30 s. the 6th of November .

Philip Rainaud < no role > . On Thursday the 6th or Friday the 7th, they took out my Shovels, two Dozen Silver Salt Shovels. I missed them on Friday Morning, I was to deliver them the next Morning to a Gentle men that was to have them.

Q. How came you to charge that Woman with them?

Rainaud Part of them were offered to pawn to Stringer in Drury lane.

Q. Do you know they are your's?

Rainaud. They are, my Lord, the Marks are P. R.

Q. What is your Business?

Rainaud A Silver smith.

Q. When did you first see them again?

Rainaud My Lord, they were advertised the Monday following, and that Night the Pawnbroker came and let me know that they were stopp'd. There was half a Dozen.

Court. Upon your advertising, Mr Stringer informed you of them?

Rainaud. Yes, my Lord.

Q. What is the Prisoner? Do you know any thing of her Business?

Rainaud. No, my Lord.

Q. Did you ever say, you believed the Boy in the Shop had stolen them?

Rainaud. There was a Boy in the Shop that Day that I suspected he might take them?

Ann Stringer < no role > . Mary Burn < no role > brought the Spoons to pledge to me I think the 6th of November.

Q. What did you lend upon them?

Stringer. I lent her no Money upon them, I stopp'd them, she lived but a little Way from me; she said she would fetch a Gentleman from her House that they belonged to, but she returned no more.

Q. How long was it before she was taken up?

Stringer. I believe two or three Days, the Advertisement was not till the 10th; I cannot tell directly the Day of the Month.

Q. Have you known the Prisoner long? What was your Opinion of her as to her Character?

Stringer. I never knew any thing of her before, but I saw they were new Goods that I had a Suspicion of.

Sophia Wilson < no role > . I live in Russel street.

Q. What is your Business?

Wilson. I take in Plain-work.

Q. Do you know any thing of the Spoons that Mary Burn < no role > had?

Wilson. Yes, my Lord. I went into the Prisoner's House on Monday, I think about three Weeks ago.

Q. What Time of the Day, or the Night?

Wilson. About 12 o'Clock in the Day, and she was at Dinner. I brought her some Cloaths to wash of my own.

Q. Do not you wash your own Cloaths?

Wilson. No, my Lord; when I came in, she desired me to dine with her, but I refused, but she desired I would; so I sat down, so in comes a Woman that she called Mrs Stiff; it was that Woman that gave her these Things to pawn. I do not know that these are they, but Mrs Stiff desired her to pawn half a Dozen of Spoons.

Q. Did you see them?

Wilson. No, my Lord, I did not see them, she pulled them out of her Bosom; she said they were Salt-Shovels. I was for going away, but she desired I might stay till she returned; when she came back, she said the Things were stopp'd, she carried them she said to one Mrs Stringer. The Prisoner desired she would go along with her to Mrs Stringer, and let her know how she came by them. Mrs Stiff was very angry that they should stop the Things, and asked Mrs Burn if she knew any Ill of her; Mrs Burn said, no; with that she went out and said, she would fetch the Person she had them of, and would come back again and fetch them.

Q. Where is Mrs Stiff?

Wilson. That I cannot tell, my Lord; I staid almost an Hour, and the Woman did not return.

Q. How came you so to remember this Woman's Name?

Wilson. Mrs Burn came to me again, and said she had been looking for her; Mrs Stringer told me in her Shop, that she knew Mrs Burn to be an honest Woman, and she would not stop her, but desired she might see and get the Person that gave her the Shovels. I returned and told Mrs Burn what she said; that is all I know of the Matter.

Richard Dannily < no role > . I am a Gunsmith, the Prisoner has often been at my House. I have entrusted her with many Things; I believe she is an honest Woman, she never defrauded me.

Court to Ann Stringer < no role > . This Woman ( Sophia Wilson < no role > ) says, that you said the Prisoner was a very honest Woman, that you had known her a great many Years.

Stringer. I never knew any thing amiss of her, but I never said such a Word to her.

Court. She said she would bring a Gentleman that owned them. Did she say Gentlewoman, or Gentleman?

Stringer. A Gentleman, Sir.

Guilty 4 s. 10 d.

[Branding. See summary.]