519. JOHN RICHARDS proceedingsdefend and MOSES BUTLER proceedingsdefend were indicted for burglariously and feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of George Dodgson proceedingsvictim , about the hour of three in the night, on the 9th of April last, and feloniously stealing therein, two silver table spoons, value 20 s. one metal candlestick, value 2 s. 6 d. one yard of silk ribbon, value 2 d. one canvas bag, value 1 s. an iron key, value 2 d. one linen table cloth, value 2 s. the property of the said George; one muslin apron, value 2 s. one cotton gown, value 4 s. two aprons, value 2 s. one pair of stockings, value 6 d. a bed gown, value 1 s. two aprons, value 8 d. one handkerchief, value 1 s. 6 d. one half linen handkerchief, value 6 d. one cap, value 6 d. one yard of silk ribbon, value 6 d. one shift, value 2 s. the property of Sarah Preston proceedingsvictim , spinster; four linen shirts, value 8 s. one silk handkerchief, value 1 s. 6 d. one velveret waistcoat, value 3 s. the property of George Martin Hoggard proceedingsvictim ; one gown, value 8 s. one pair of shoes, value 3 s. three handkerchiefs, value 3 s. four caps, value 1 s. 6 d. three shifts, value 4 s. two aprons, value 5 s. two cloaks, value 8 s. and one linen handkerchief, value 1 s. the property of Sarah Olier proceedingsvictim , spinster .

GEORGE DODGSON < no role > sworn.

I live in St. Martin's-le-grand , I am a house-keeper , on the 9th of April my house was broke open, two iron bars were taken out of the back part of the house from over the area, it is a place where I put my cloth; they got into the house, and got off unperceived, the door was not broke open, they got in at the kitchen window, there is no other fastening to the cellar window, but the iron bars which were gone.

Had you observed this area, and the cellar window the night preceeding the robbery? - I saw them there the evening before, between five and six, I lost the things mentioned in the indictment, there was a small piece of ribbon which was wove on purpose for a brother of mine, which came from the East-Indies.

Court. What were the value of these things? - The silver spoons were valued at 2 guinea, the other things that were taken away, were not my property, they were my servants, they took away every thing belonging to to the two maids, except what they had on the bed with them, I was not alarmed at all, the property was put in a canvas bag, which was in my house.

SAMUEL ROBERTS < no role > sworn.

On the 9th of April, between five and six, I and two of the patrols were watching about Fleet-lane, about the houses of the receivers of stolen goods, the two prisoners came to Mr. Small's house, and rung at the bell; I suspected they had something about them they should not have, and in about eight minutes Mr. Small opened the door, and I went in directly after them, and the patrols followed me, I brought them into the street, I secured their hands and searched the prisoner Richards, in his left hand breeches pocket, I found this flint and steel, and these two keys, one of which is the prosecutor's key of the street-door, in his right hand breeches pocket, I found these two silver table spoons, these things have been in my custody ever since. I took one to one Compter, and the other to the other; there was nothing found on the other but a brass castor, which does not belong to this prosecutor; I asked the prisoner Richards where his father-in-law lived, he told me in Blue-court, Saffron-hill; he did not lodge there; I heard him say to Butler, let my father know, and he said he lodged in Long-lane, his name is Dennison, a taylor; I went and searched there, and under the table I found all the property which is in the indictment, they were in a bag, and I divided them for each of the owners to own their property; they are the same that were found in the apartments, (the things produced and deposed to) belonging to the prosecutor.

EDWARD RYLAND < no role > sworn.

I am one of the patrol; I went into Small's house, in company with Mr. Roberts and Mr. Trew; I saw Roberts take the two silver spoons, and the flint and steel, and the two keys from his pocket; on the 9th of April, between five and six, we went into Fleet-lane, on purpose to look after some suspicious persons that we had seen there; I saw the two prisoners go to Small's house and ring the bell, they went in, and we went after them; Roberts searched them, and found these things.

Jury. What is Small? - He keeps an old iron shop in Fleet-lane; I went to search the lodgings of the father-in-law, and found this bag full of all this property.

WILLIAM TREW < no role > sworn.

I am one of the patrol; on the 9th of April I was with Mr. Roberts and Ryland in Fleet-lane, in order to apprehend any person or persons that should bring stolen goods, as we had information; between five and six in the morning, I saw the two prisoners come to the house of Mr. Small and ring the bell, I believe in about eight or ten minutes the door was opened, the two prisoners went into the house, and we pursued them; Roberts went into the house first, we brought out the prisoners and searched them; Roberts took the two silver spoons, the flint and steel, and two keys out of the pocket of Richards, we then took them to the two Compters, and as they parted, Richards said to Butler, let my father-in-law know; we returned to Butler to enquire who the father-in-law was, he told us Mr. Dennis, who lived in a court in Long-lane; we went there, and in his house we found this bag with this property, which is owned by the prosecutor and his servants.

SARAH PRESTON < no role > sworn.

I am servant to the prosecutor; on the 9th of April, I lost the things mentioned in the indictment, the things were in a drawer in the kitchen.

Can you form any judgment of the value of them? - Ten shillings I believe.

Who was the last person up in the house? - The young girl.

(The things deposed to belonging to her.)

SARAH OLIER < no role > sworn.

How old are you? - Fourteen; I am a servant to the prosecutor; I went to bed at on the 8th of April, the bars were about nine all safe; I lost the things mentioned in the indictment.

Court. What is the reasonable value of all these things? - Twenty shillings.

(The things deposed to belonging to her.)

GEORGE BARKER < no role > sworn.

I fastened up the front door of the house the night before the robbery; I slept in the house that night, I had the key of the door, and I went in and fastened it after me.

PRISONER RICHARDS's DEFENCE.

I never saw the bundle before I saw it at Guildhall; I had the spoons in my pocket; I was going to work, and I found these two spoons and two keys at the end of Jewin-street, laid at the edge of the curve stones; I went into Long-lane, and I met the prisoner Butler, who was going to Fleet-lane, and we rung at Small's door, and we were taken; my father's is a lodging house, and any body else might put the things there as well as me; my goods were seized the day before, and I put this flint and steel in my pocket.

PRISONER BUTLER's DEFENCE.

I was in Long-lane, and I knew the prisoner, and I met him and went with him.

The prisoner Butler called four witnesses, who gave him a good character.

JOHN RICHARDS < no role > , GUILTY Death .

MOSES BUTLER < no role > , NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron PERRYN < no role > .