215. (M. 2 d.) William Woodward proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing a saddle, value 2 s. two girths, value 1 s. and two stirrups, value 1 s. the property of John Waters proceedingsvictim , Feb. 12 .

John Waters < no role > . I live at Hoxton, and keep a public house . On the 12th of February I had been at Chelsea upon some business, and coming home by Cold-bath-fields , I called at the house of Mr. George Stocking < no role > . A boy was shutting up the window. I got off my horse, and went into the parlour, and staid about a minute and a half. It was dark.

Q. What time of the evening?

Waters. It was about half an hour after seven. I put my hand on my horse, which was at the door; I missed my saddle. I saw nobody there. The boy said. There has nobody gone along the street; whoever took it must be gone over the bank. We went over the bank; there the prisoner was lying. We took him before Justice Girdler, and he was committed.

Feadrick Lewis Gibson < no role > . After the saddle was missing, I went and looked over the bank, and found the prisoner stooping down in the grass. We secured him, and he was committed.

Thomas Fryer < no role > . On the 12th of this instant I had a basket of oysters on my head. Going by I saw a man take the saddle from the horse, and fling it over the bank, and jump over after it. I will not undertake to say the prisoner is the man; he is much like him. It was dark. I observed he had a handkerchief on his neck, and his knee-strings untyed, and his hat stapped.

George Stocking < no role > . I found the saddle that night, between eleven and twelve; after the moon got up, about twelve yards from where we found the prisoner. There were the girls and stirrups on it.

Prisoner's Defence.

I am as innocent as the child unborn. I got over the bank in order to save my life. I never saw the saddle with my eyes.

Acquitted .