41. ANN FAIRBANK otherwise GRANT proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing one pair of silver shoe-buckles, value 18 s. the property of William Allen proceedingsvictim , Nov. 13th .

WILLIAM ALLEN < no role > sworn.

I keep a silversmith's shop in Duke's-court St. Martin's-lane : upon Wednesday the 13th of November, about four in the afternoon, the prisoner came to my shop for a pair of earrings; the boy only was in the shop, my wife and I were in the parlour; my wife went out to serve her: not having any that she liked, my wife sent the boy out for some; before they were brought she threw down half a guinea to pay for a pair, and took the change; I thought it a little odd, and went into the shop: when she had got the ear-rings she said she wanted a pair of buckles; she looked at several pair, none of them pleased her: she then pretended she would go home and fetch a pattern buckle; she went out, but did not return. I had some suspicion of her all along, and in about twenty minutes after she was gone, I missed a pair of buckles; I found them that evening at a pawnbroker's: I saw them about five minutes before she came into the shop; there had been no one in the shop after she went away before I missed them.

JAMES SMITH < no role > sworn.

I am a pawnbroker, I live in Vine-street, Chandos-street: the prisoner pawned a pair of buckles with me on the 13th of November, about six in the evening; I lent her 8 s. upon them; she has been a customer to our shop some time.

What way of life is she in? - I am not certain.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I don't know that they are the buckles I pawned; I had the buckles I pawned of a midshipman: I went to buy a pair of earrings; I did not take the buckles.

GUILTY .

Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron HOTHAM < no role > .

[Branding. See summary.]