393. (M.) Hannah Wilson proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3547. , widow , was indicted for that she on the king's highway, on Elizabeth Tottey proceedingsvictim , spinster , did make an assault, putting her in corporal fear and danger of her life, one camblet skirt of a coat, val. 12 d. and 3 qrs. of a yard of ribbon, val. 6 d. the goods of the said Elizabeth, did steal , &c. August 21 . ++.

Elizabeth Southen < no role > . I live in Whitechapel road, my husband is a shoemaker. I saw the prisoner go by without a child, and after that I saw her with a child crying very much; she was telling the child she had brought her up to good manners, and she said she should use such; then she call'd to some soldiers to take her. This was at the great garden gate; the child cry'd in the road. Then I went home after that. I saw her again and observ'd her; this was about half an hour after nine in the morning; the child was sitting her crying, I said, child, do you know that woman? the child said no: I said where do you live? she said at a baker's shop: I asked the child if she'd go with me, a woman coming by said it was Mrs. Tottey's child. I took it by the hand, then the child cry'd for its skirt, saying, O! my skirt, my skirt; then I took it from under the prisoner's arm.

Q. What is the child's name?

E. Southen. Elizabeth Tottey < no role > : I took her to her mother, there was no ribbon on her head; then her mother said there was one on her head when she went out.

Mary Hall < no role > . I live in the Dog-Row, Bethlem-Green ; that day I saw the prisoner whipping the child and take a ribbon off her head, and put it down her own bosom. She took her cap off and rowl'd it up in her hand, and put it on again. The child had no skirt on. I asked the prisoner what she whipped the child for, she said she might do what she pleased with her own; I said it is none of your child, it is a neighbour's child, (but I could not think of the name then,) but I knew it before, this is the same child that is here.

Mary Tottey < no role > . This is my child, it was in coats, about 4 years old : I live in Whitechapel, next door to the Children-in-the-wood, between the church and the turnpike. On the 21st of August, the neighbours came and told me my child was stripp'd between 9 and 10 o'clock in the morning. I went and took my child from Mrs. Southen.

Q. How was your child dressed that morning.

M. Tottey. She had that skirt on, and a ribbon of about 3 qrs. of a yard on her head. I dressed her myself that morning; but when she was brought back she had neither the skirt nor the ribbon on. I had sent this and another to school together that morning.

Prisoner's Defence.

As I was coming by the almshouses, I pick'd up that skirt in the street; coming along I met that woman, she said whose skirt it that, I said I did not know; she said here is a child has no skirt on, and I'll hang you for the reward. I never saw the child.

Guilty , Death .