826. THOMAS PARKER proceedingsdefend , THOMAS BROWN proceedingsdefend , and JAMES BROWN proceedingsdefend , were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of October , four napkins, value 4s. and a table cloth, value 5s. the property of George Scales proceedingsvictim .

(The case was stated by Mr. Knowlys).

MARY SCALES < no role > sworn. - Examined by Mr. Knowlys. Q. Are you the wife of George Scales < no role > ? - A. Yes; I live at Homerton , the second door from the Adam and Eve: I saw the prisoner before I lost the things, in the gateway which adjoins my wash-houses, for two hours.

Q. Were they at work? - A. No; they said they were standing up for the rain; about two o'clock. I was in the kitchen, which overlooks the wash-house, and saw Tho. Brown< no role > come out of the wash-house; I ran to the fore door, and said, you villain, what business have you in that wash-house; Parker was with him under the gateway, but James Brown < no role > was gone; Thomas Brown answered, he had not been there; I said, how can you tell me such an infamous lie, when I saw you come out; he denied it, I said you have been there a thieving; he said, I went to get a pot to get some water; the person who worked for me said the things were all down, and some gone; I made an alarm, and called out, stop thief; Parker and Thomas Brown run away, and all three met at the bottom of the town, about a quarter of a mile; when I returned, the tablecloth was down upon the ground, close to the door; it had been at the further part of the washhouse, upon a stool; four napkins were carried away entirely, which were laying with the tablecloth, wet, upon a stool; I had seen them not ten minutes before; the napkins were brought back in about ten minutes.

Mr. Alley, Counsel for Parker. Q. You did not see Parker in the wash-house? - A. No.

Q. It was a very wet day? - A. Yes.

Q. And a number of people under the gate-way? - A. No, only them.

WILLIAM CLARKE < no role > sworn. - I live at Homerton, next door but one to Mrs. Scales; I heard he cry of stop thief, and pursued the prisoner at the bar running down the hill all altogether, about a quarter of a mile from Mrs. Scales's; they contiued running down towards Hackney Marsh; I went into Wick field, and saw them in the Marsh running; I made away towards the ofier-bed by the side of the Marsh, where Thomas Brown < no role > made a jump at the ditch, and jumped in; he came out, and I took him; I said he had been thieving from the laundress, upon which he fell crying; the other two kept running on.

Mr. Alley. Q. You did not see the faces of the others? - A. No, they were all running.

THOMAS DORE < no role > , sen. sworn. - I live at Homerton, about 20 yards from the prosecutor's house; I was coming from my own-door, and saw the prosecutrix and a woman or two at the door; I heard she was robbed by some boys, and pointed the way they had taken; while I was talking; James Brown and Parker came out of a gateway; about sixty yards from the prosecutor's house, and Mrs. Scales said, they are the boys; they run, and I followed them to Hackney-Wicks; I saw them before me, and Clarke with Thomas Brown in custody; my son run, and a neighbour had Parker, and delivered him to me; Mrs. Scales said he was one; he was delivered to the constable; while I had him, John Emmelt came up with four napkins, which he said he had found on Mr. Beausoy's wall, in the lane.

THOMAS DORE < no role > , jun. sworn. - When I got into the lane, as I was turning the corner. Parker and James Brown were about thirty yards from me; I pursued them, and took Parker and James Brown < no role > in about three minutes.

JOHN EMMETT < no role > sworn. - I was running down to the Wick alane, hearing the cry of stop thief, and saw the napkins on Mr. Beausoy's wall; I took them, and gave them to Mrs. Scales. - (The napkins produced, and identified.)

James Brown's defence. Parker and I took a walk to Hackney new church; it rained hard, and we stopped under this place for shelter about a quarter of an hour, and Thomas Brown < no role > came and stood under with us; Parker and me went away, and the woman came out, and charged Thomas Brown < no role > with stealing something; I walked on, and took no notice; it then began to rain very hard again, and Parker and I run.

Parker. I leave my defence to my counsel.

Thomas Brown < no role > 's defence. I had been to work with my father all the week, and on Saturday, about twelve o'clock, I took a walk from home towards Hackney, to get a few blackberies to make a dumplin; it began to rain very hard, and I was very dry, and went under this arch-way to the pump to drink; I could not drink, because there was no ladle; I went to the wash-house door to ask for a pot, and as I saw no body there, I was going away, and the gentlewoman asked me whatI did in the wash-house; I said I had been there for a pot for some water, but as I saw nobody I went away, and run, because it rained hard, and going across the field I happened to fall into a ditch, and the man took me.

Parker called three witnesses, who gave him a good character.

Thomas Brown < no role > , GUILTY , aged 12.

Thomas Parker < no role > , GUILTY , aged 15.

James Brown < no role > , GUILTY , aged 16.

Confined six months in the House of Correction .

First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Thompson.