571. MARY PIERSON proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 7th day of May , one diamond pin, value 20 s. the property of Henry James Pye proceedingsvictim , Esq .

Mrs. PYE sworn.

This diamond pin is my property, I missed it on Saturday morning, I know nothing of the prisoner, the pawnbroker brought it me.

HENRY MARK < no role > sworn.

I am a pawnbroker, in Hyde-street, St. Giles's; this bit of paper contains the address, which the prisoner gave to me, where she lived; she came to my shop, and offered a diamond pin for sale, I was not at home when she came, I came in directly, she was in the shop; this was last Wednesday, the address was Mary Jones < no role > , servant to Mrs. Ring, No. 23, or 25, New Compton-street; I asked her whose property it was, she said a gentlewoman died and left it her, I asked her the lady's name that left it her, she told me her name was Mrs. Robson, of Cockspur-street; I told her I would go and enquire, whether it was her property or not according to her address, she said, I might go, for she was going to Paddington, and would call as she came back; I told her it was just by, I would go in a minute, she persisted very much to get the pin and go, I told her to go and sit herself down in the parlour, till I came back again, I should soon be back; she still persisted to go, I told her to be quiet or I should get a constable and carry her before a Justice; then she told me she would tell me the whole truth, that one Mrs. Parry, No. 7, New Palace Yard, gave it her to pawn or sell, I asked her how she came to give me first one direction and then another, she said, Mrs. Parry told her to say so; I said, I will go with you to Mrs. Parry, we went there, says she, I do not think this is the house, says I, I think it is very odd you should not know the house, she said, she met a woman in Parliament-street, and she told me she lived here, but it may very likely be Old Palace-yard, I went there with her and there she began to run away, I ran after her, and laid hold of her arm, I took her before a Justice, the clerk asked her name, she said Mary Jones < no role > , she acknowledged that she found this pin in Mrs. Pye's house, in sweeping the room.

Was there any thing said to induce her or frighten her at the Justice's? - Nothing at all in my hearing, Mr. and Mrs. Pye were sent for and swore to the property; at first the prisoner said it is my property, I do not know the value of it, she said, the money was better to her than the pin, she asked no price at all; it is the custom of our shop, first to agree for an article in order to get the address to know whether they come honestly by them.

(The pin shewn to Mrs. Pye and deposed to.)

Prisoner. I entirely throw myself upon the mercy of the Court, I am hardly sixteen.

EDWARD WEBSTER < no role > sworn.

I have known the prisoner from a child, her father and mother, and all her family; and it afflicts me to see them in the situation they are; I believe them to be the honestest and best people that can be, and what has induced her to take this step, I cannot say: she has been decently and pleasantly educated.

What has been her general character? - One of the best girls till this time.

Mr. Garrow. There are twenty people more that know her character that will speak for her.

GUILTY .

Fined 1 s. and discharged.

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron PERRYN.