186. (M.) John Hall proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing nine silk handkerchiefs, value 25 s. the goods of George Minnell proceedingsvictim , March 14 . +

George Minnell < no role > . I live at the corner of New-street, Shadwel-dock , on Friday the 14th or 15th of March, between seven and eight o'clock at night, my wife and maid were very busy in the shop, with about fourteen or fifteen Danes that came over to serve in the Greenland ships, they were buying cloaths to be fitted out; my wife was close to the window of the shop, and the maid next to her, and I was in the back-parlour serving these people; my wife called me, and said, she heard the windows break, and saw some silk handkerchiefs go out, raking against the glass as they went; I ran to the door, there I saw the prisoner at the bar, and another man just by the window that was broke; they ran away, one went one way and the other another; I followed the prisoner, and in about two or three hundred yards running I seized him, and told him he should give an account of himself, and brought him back; I searched and found I had lost nine silk handkerchiefs; I told him if he would go on board one of his majesty's ships I would not prosecute him, and I would provide him with a good ship; he said he would not; I carried him before justice Berry, the justice said he knew the prisoner well, and that he had been twice an evidence; he committed him to Clerkenwel-bridewel.

Barbara Minnell < no role > . I am wife to the prosecutor; I was standing behind the counter in the shop, and my maid at the side of me. I heard something breaking the window, and the handkerchiefs grate against the glass as they were drawing out. I called out and my husband ran and brought the prisoner back; after which, upon searching, we missed nine silk handkerchiefs all of one piece; I believe the handkerchiefs were drawing out for the space of three minutes after I called out, had I not been in a fright I might have catched the person that drew them by the hand.

Acquitted .