231. 232. (2d M.) JAMES STANTON proceedingsdefend and PHENIX JONES GRANT proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing sixteen men's hats, value twenty shillings , the property of John Davis proceedingsvictim , January 23 . *

John Davis < no role > . I am a hat maker ; I keep a shop near the Gate-House, Westminster . My shop was broke open, on the 23d of January about eleven at night; and I lost sixteen hats; three were new ones; they were what we make for coachmen; the rest were old ones. At about half after eleven, I was called by a watchman, from Old Palace Yard: he shewed me some hats. I knew the first I looked at to be mine.

James Hastem < no role > . I am a watchman. About half after eleven o'clock, on the 23d of January as I was walking backwards and forwards at my stand, which is about a quarter of a mile from Mr. Davis's shop, a man ran by me as fast as he could, wit h a black bundle under his arm: another fellow ran full against me. I saw that he had hats under his arm: he gave me a fall into the kennel upon my right knee, and threw the hats behind him. I picked them up. Mr. Davis was sought for. I and the constable went to search Leg Court. Coming by the Star and Garter, the next door but one to my box, the two prisoners came out, each with a pot of beer in his hand: we followed them into Leg Court; at a particular house in the court. The constable bid me get before them into the middle of the court. I did, and lifted up my lanthorn, and said, this is the man I had the hats from; that was Stanton; I had a sufficient sight of him when he ran by me, and knew him again. As to the other, I am not positive about him. I took him by the collar, and struggled with him for a minute and a half.

Stanton's Defence.

I am innocent of this matter; I have no witnesses.

There being no evidence to affect Grant, he was not put upon his defence.

Stanton Guilty .

[Transportation. See summary.]

Grant Acquitted .