276, 277. WRIGHT STAGG proceedingsdefend and THOMAS GROVES proceedingsdefend were indicted for stealing a piece of woollen cloth, containing seventeen yards, value 14 l. the property of Lloyd Beale proceedingsvictim , in his dwelling-house , May 15th .

ELISABETH DICKINS < no role > sworn.

I live at Islington. On the 15th of May, as I was going by Mr. Lloyd's, to market, I saw the two prisoners walking by his house; I watched them, and saw Groves go in and bring out a piece of black cloth and give it to Stagg; I informed a person of it who stood at the corner of the court and they were taken.

JOHN PANTRY < no role > sworn.

I was standing at the corner of Dove-court , where Mr. Beale lives; Dickins came up to me and said two fellows had robbed that house, pointing to Mr. Beale's; I saw the prisoners at the door, I went up towards them, and they both ran away; Stagg had a piece of cloth under his arm, Grove looked back, and Stagg dropped the cloth. I called for assistance, and they were both secured; there was nobody in the street from one end to the other but the two prisoners. I am positive Stagg had the cloth; I took it up.

Stagg. Did you see me chuck the cloth down? - No. He chucked it down immediately as he turned the corner; I saw it in his hand.

(The cloth was produced in court by the constable and deposed to by the prosecutor.)

LLOYD BEALE < no role > sworn.

The cloth was brought to be pressed; I had it in my hand about five minutes before Pantry brought it to me; we had a countryman at our house, and were observing how pretty the mark was; it was taken out of the work-shop in the house.

What is the value of it? - About ten pounds.

STAGG's DEFENCE.

I am as innocent of it as the child unborn; I never had the cloth under my arm.

GROVES's DEFENCE.

As I was coming along I heard the cry of stop thief! I ran, and the gentleman laid hold of me.

BOTH GUILTY of stealing to the value of 39 s.

Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

[Imprisonment. See summary.]