350. SARAH ARMSTRONG otherwise BLACKBURN proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing nine muslin handkerchiefs, value 40 s. the property of Matthew Helmer proceedingsvictim privately, in the shop of the said Matthew , May 5th .

JOHN PERCIVAL < no role > sworn;

I am servant to Mr. Helmer, a linen-dradraper : the prisoner came into our shop, and wanted to see some things; I saw her take up some handkerchiefs, and conceal them under her cloaths; she afterwards bought some other handkerchiefs, and paid for them; she did attempt to take some others, which I took from her; at last I searched her, and found these handkerchiefs upon her.

[They were produced in Court, and Percival deposed that they were his master's property.]

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

As I have no counsel, will your lordship please to hear what I have to say? I went into this shop by order of a lady to buy two yards and three quarters of cotton and a handkerchief, which I bought and paid for; this piece of handkerchiefs, that I never knew any thing of, nor had any thought to take, I never touched it as I know of, but the corner of my cloak, I suppose, threw it down off the counter; I did not know that he meant to do me any harm; I begged his pardon; he said, it was a very bad thing, and looked suspicious; he let me go; I came back again; they searched me; there was nothing to be found; they searched my apartments where I live, and found nothing but what was my own property; I have a witness, and the people can tell in what manner I live; I never was guilty of any such thing in my life.

FOR THE PRISONER.

MARY PEAKE < no role > sworn.

The prisoner lodged in my house ten weeks; I never saw any harm by her in my life; I have trusted her in my rooms, with my drawers unlocked, to make my beds, and do things about the house; I have examined every thing since she has been in prison; I cannot find any thing missing; I never saw her keep any bad company; she did not keep any bad hours; she was not extravagant; she has many times sat down to dinner upon a penny worth of potatoes; I recommended her to work; she always did it very honestly and well: I have here the things she bought that day at the linen-draper's, which she paid for.

PROSECUTOR. I do not doubt but these are the things she paid for.

- PEAKE. My husband is a peruke-maker and hair-dresser in Little Drury-lane; he has kept house there fourteen years; his name is Charles Peake < no role > .

JURY. What rent do you pay? - Fourteen pounds a year; I have a lease for twenty-one years.

COURT. What business does the prisoner follow? - She has taken in washing and plain-work .

SARAH ROBINSON < no role > sworn.

My husband is a cooper in Drury-lane: I have known the prisoner two years; I never knew any thing that was bad of her.

GUILTY of stealing to the value of four shillings and ten pence .

Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

[Imprisonment. See summary.]