187. THOMAS WELCH proceedingsdefend was indicted (with JAMES BIRNE < no role > , not in custody) for feloniously stealing on the 28th of November last, one metal watch, value 40 s. two gold watch cases, value 7 l. the property of Thomas More proceedingsvictim , privily in his shop ; and WILLIAM HARDING proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously receiving two gold watch-cases, part of the said goods, knowing them to be stolen .

THOMAS MORE sworn.

I am a watch-maker in Moorfields , the prisoner Welch, and another man came to my shop to buy a watch, it was about six weeks ago, I cannot particularly recollect the day, I took no memorandum of it, I think it was the 28th of November, I shewed them several watches, they went away and bought none; one of the watches which I shewed him, which was a metal watch, I missed about four minutes after they were gone, and two gold watch cases. Justice Wright sent for me, and the metal watch was produced.

Did you know the prisoner Welch before? - No, I had my eyes constantly upon him while he was in my shop, I suppose he was in my shop ten minutes, the other man I could not positively swear to, but I am sure this prisoner was one; when I went to Bow-street the prisoner was there, I said he was the man that was in my shop at the time, I knew him directly.

Was your watch there at Bow-street. - Yes, not the cases, only the metal watch, I knew the watch.

Was Harding < no role > the other prisoner there. - I do not know any thing of Harding.

Was Welch examined in your presence before the justice? - I do not remember that he was.

You did not hear him say any thing? - I said he was the man that was in my shop, and I said he had a mark on his hand, it was an anchor done with blue, which I took particular notice of when he was in my shop, it was a stain, I told the justice so, the justice desired me to look at his hand, I looked, and saw that anchor upon his hand.

THOMAS CAREY sworn.

Welch, me and Birne went into a shop in Moorfields, I do not know whose shop it was, it was a watch-maker's shop, we went in under pretence to buy a second hand watch, and while I was looking at the watch, Welch says to me, come along, never mind the watch, it is too dear; so he went out before me, I offered two guineas for the watch and he would not take it, so I came away, and went down a lane, and met him in another street, and he shewed me a metal watch and two gold cases, so we took a coach and went to Harding's to sell it, and we sold two cases to him for four guineas.

Mr. Silvester, Councel for Prisoner Harding. That is not evidence against Harding.

Court. What became of the other man? - We lost him when we came out of the shop.

Did you know their intention when you went into the shop? - Yes, we went out with that intention.

To steal? - Yes.

Did the other man go into the shop? - No, he stood without; then we brought the metal watch home, and he sent Mary Boyne < no role > out with it, and she pawned it for a guinea.

How came you and he to be taken up? - It was Daly and me were taken up.

Who is Daly? - Morris Daly < no role > , he had nothing to do concerning this, it is concering another affair.

Then how came this business out against Welch? - Why Daly was going to begin first.

Begin what? - To speak about it, he was taken once before with Welch.

How came Welch to be taken up upon this business? - Because he was concerned in something before.

How did this come out against him at all; you understand the question well enough if you chuse to answer it? - Because he owed me money, and he would not pay it me, it was concerning a robbery that he had done at Hounslow heath.

Did you inform against him for this? - No, not for this only.

I am not asking you that, and you know it; did you give information against him for this fact? - Yes.

Who did you give the information to? - To a justice in the Borough.

How came he to Bow-street? - We were taken from the Borough, to be carried up to Bow-street the next day; the justice desired me to speak all I knew. I did not like that way of living, I wanted to drop it if once I got out of it.

It does not seem to be much, because you did not like the way of living, but because this man would not pay you the money; on your information he was taken up? - Yes.

Do you know any thing more of this indictment? - No, not this indictment.

Prisoner Welch. It is of no use to speak to him, he bears a very bad character, he was cast for death down at Plymouth, he was in gaol at Bristol; and I never was tried before a judge or jury before.

Mr. Silvester to Carey. Was you tried to the well country? - No.

You turned evidence instead of Daley? - Yes.

How many robberies have you been concerned in, do you recollect the number? - No.

Why to be sure a man must have a good memory for that? - The Justice wrote them down.

How many, above a score? - I cannot tell.

MARY BOYNE < no role > sworn.

Thomas Welch < no role > gave me that watch to pawn, which I pawned immediately at Mr. Matthews's in Old Gravel Lane, I cannot recollect the day of the month.

JONATHAN MATTHEWS < no role > sworn.

On the 29th of November, I received this watch of Mary Boyne < no role > .

(The things deposed to)

Prosecutor. When I went to Sir Sampson Wright's, this watch was shewn, I enquired after my gold cases and Carey told me they were at Harding.

Court. Did you get any warrant to search Harding's house? - No.

Why did not you? - I did not understand it.

Carpmeal. My Lord, his house was searched and nothing found.

PRISONER WELCH's DEFENCE.

I know nothing about what that man talks about, he wanted me to swear to a good many people never knew before, he wanted me to swear that I knew Harding, and I never saw the man before.

Court to Prisoner Welch. Have you any witnesses? - No, not that I know of, I thought there was no occasion for it.

Court to Prosecutor. What was the value of the watch? - I valued it at forty shillings.

THOMAS WELCH < no role > , GUILTY , Death .

WILLIAM HARDING < no role > , NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.