774, 775. MARY LIGHTBURN proceedingsdefend , and MARIA GROVES, otherwise PENTECROSS proceedingsdefend , were indicted, for that they in a certain field and open place, near the king's highway, in and upon Anne Rawlinson proceedingsvictim , spinster , feloniously did make an assault, putting her in corporal fear and danger of her life, and stealing from her person ten bobbins of silk, value 30 s. eight ounces of silk coloured warp, value 10 s. the property of Samuel Cluen proceedingsvictim ; and a silk cloak, value 20 s. the property of Elizabeth Rawlinson proceedingsvictim , Sept. 19th .

ANNE RAWLINSON < no role > sworn.

How old are you? - Going in my nine.

Do you know what you came here for? - To swear to the women.

Do you know what swearing is? - Yes.

What is it? - To take my oath.

If you take a false oath, what is the consequence of that? - To go to the place of torment.

If you tell a lie, is that a good thing or a bad one? - A bad one.

If you tell a lie upon your oath, is that worse or better? - Worse.

(She is sworn.)

I am sister to Elizabeth Rawlinson < no role > . My sister winds silk; I live with her; she sent me to a silk-man in Wood-street, in order to bring some silk for her to weave ribbands with; this was on a Saturday about a month ago. I was to bring them from Wood-street to my sister's house, which is in Cock-lane, Shoreditch; this happened about eleven o'clock in the forenoon. I was bringing it, and walking by myself along Aldersgate-street, which is my way from Wood-street to Cock-lane, Shoreditch; the two prisoners and another woman followed me there; they began to talk to me, by asking how my sister and my mammy did. After talking some time with me, they asked whether I would go with them to a place called the Bull-in-the-pound, near Bagnigge-wells , for they wanted to call upon a woman next door to that House, that owed them a crown. I agreed to go with them; they took me across the fields. When they were in the fields they asked me for my bundle; I told them I had rather carry it myself; they said I was not able to carry it; that I could not, and should not carry it. It was about fifteen ounces of silk wound upon bobbins; upon my refusing to give it to them they took it away by force and ran away; I was left alone; I did not know my way home; I fell a crying; a gentleman came up and asked me what was the matter; I told him some women had taken away my things and left me there; I told him where I belonged to, he carried me home to my sister's house. I saw the prisoners afterwards in Charterhouse-street, near Charterhouse-square; I was along with my sister; the moment I saw them I knew them again; I said then that I was positive these two were the two women, and I challenged them, and I am very positive the two prisoners were the persons that robbed me in the fields. It was white silk wound upon bobbins, and a long end row with all sorts of colours upon it.

JOHN PRINCE < no role > sworn.

I am a sawyer. I was at dinner at the Black Horse in Barbican; the two prisoners came by while I was at dinner there; it was on a Saturday about three or four weeks ago; it was about a quarter after two, they seemed a little in liquor. We had a few words; during the time of the quarrel they dropped some bobbins of white silk.

JOHN UNDERHILL < no role > sworn.

I was with Prince at the Black Horse in Barbican at the time. It is about a month ago; it was on a Saturday. I was standing at the door; the prisoners had some words with Prince; they had taken an apple as they went by from Prince's child, upon which there were some words passed between them; and during that time they dropped these bobbins; they had white silk wound upon them; upon their dropping, one of the women picked them up, and said, come away do not let us stay here, and they went away.

SAMUEL CLUEN < no role > , sworn.

I am a weaver ; I am master of these two sisters; the girl was sent, by my orders, to fetch this silk from Wood-street. It is a month ago last Saturday; I met the girl coming home crying; she then said the same that she has said now; that some women had taken it from her, and a silk cloak.

To Anne Rawlinson < no role > ? Did you lose a cloak? - Yes; a black sattin cloak out of my lap which belonged to my sister. My sister told me to call upon a gentlewoman to whom she had lent it, and bring it home; I did call and put it in my lap.

ELIZABETH RAWLINSON < no role > sworn.

I am sister to Anne Rawlinson < no role > ; I was in St. John's-street, very near Charterhouse-lane, with my sister Anne Rawlinson < no role > when we met the two prisoners; my sister said those were the two women that robbed her; she was as positive at that time as she is at present; upon that they were taken hold of. The cloak that was lost was my own property. I sent her the morning she was robbed, by Mr. Cluen's direction, to fetch this silk, and to bring home this cloak.

LIGHTBURN's DEFENCE.

Coming along Charterhouse-square I met this young woman. I have known her many years. Walking along and talking with her this gentlewoman, and a little girl coming along, she cried out stop thief! she stopped us, and sent for a constable directly; that is all that I know of it.

GROVES's DEFENCE.

I can say no other but the same; they met us, and laid hold of us, and said we were the two women that were concerned in the robbery.

BOTH GUILTY Death .

Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice BLACKSTONE.