<div1 type="trialAccount" id="t17770514-4"> <interp inst="t17770514-4" type="collection" value="BAILEY"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4" type="uri" value="sessionsPapers/17770514"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4" type="after" value="17770514"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4" type="before" value="17770514"></interp>
<join result="criminalCharge" id="t17770514-4-off16-c57" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-defend63 t17770514-4-off16 t17770514-4-verdict20"></join>
<p>350. <rs type="persName" id="t17770514-4-defend63"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-defend63" type="role" value="proceedingsdefend"></interp>
SARAH ARMSTRONG otherwise <rs id="t17770514-4-alias-1" type="alias"> <join result="nameAlias" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-defend63 t17770514-4-alias-1"></join>
BLACKBURN</rs>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-defend63" type="surname" value="ARMSTRONG"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-defend63" type="given" value="SARAH"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-defend63" type="gender" value="female"></interp>
</rs>
was indicted for <rs id="t17770514-4-off16" type="offenceDescription"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-off16" type="offenceCategory" value="theft"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-off16" type="offenceSubcategory" value="shoplifting"></interp>
stealing nine muslin handkerchiefs, value 40 s. the property of <rs type="persName" id="t17770514-4-victim66"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-victim66" type="role" value="proceedingsvictim"></interp>
Matthew Helmer <interp inst="t17770514-4-victim66" type="surname" value="Helmer"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-victim66" type="given" value="Matthew"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-victim66" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
<join result="offenceVictim" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-off16 t17770514-4-victim66"></join>
</rs>
privately, in the shop of the said Matthew </rs>
, <rs id="t17770514-4-cd17" type="crimeDate">May 5th</rs>
<join result="offenceCrimeDate" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-off16 t17770514-4-cd17"></join>
.</p>
<p> <rs type="persName" id="t17770514-4-person67"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-person67" type="role" value=""></interp>
JOHN PERCIVAL <interp inst="t17770514-4-person67" type="surname" value="PERCIVAL"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person67" type="given" value="JOHN"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person67" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
</rs>
sworn;</p>
<p>I am servant to Mr. Helmer, a <rs id="t17770514-4-viclabel18" type="occupation">linen-dradraper</rs>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-viclabel18" type="occupation" value="linen-dradraper"></interp>
<join result="persNameOccupation" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-victim66 t17770514-4-viclabel18"></join>
: the prisoner came into our shop, and wanted to see some things; I saw her take up some handkerchiefs, and conceal them under her cloaths; she afterwards bought some other handkerchiefs, and paid for them; she did attempt to take some others, which I<xptr type="pageFacsimile" doc="177705140005"></xptr>
took from her; at last I searched her, and found these handkerchiefs upon her.</p>
<p>[They were produced in Court, and Percival deposed that they were his master's property.]</p>
<p>PRISONER's DEFENCE.</p>
<p>As I have no counsel, will your lordship please to hear what I have to say? I went into this shop by order of a lady to buy two yards and three quarters of cotton and a handkerchief, which I bought and paid for; this piece of handkerchiefs, that I never knew any thing of, nor had any thought to take, I never touched it as I know of, but the corner of my cloak, I suppose, threw it down off the counter; I did not know that he meant to do me any harm; I begged his pardon; he said, it was a very bad thing, and looked suspicious; he let me go; I came back again; they searched me; there was nothing to be found; they searched my apartments where I live, and found nothing but what was my own property; I have a witness, and the people can tell in what manner I live; I never was guilty of any such thing in my life.</p>
<p>FOR THE PRISONER.</p>
<p> <rs type="persName" id="t17770514-4-person68"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-person68" type="role" value=""></interp>
MARY PEAKE <interp inst="t17770514-4-person68" type="surname" value="PEAKE"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person68" type="given" value="MARY"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person68" type="gender" value="female"></interp>
</rs>
sworn.</p>
<p>The prisoner lodged in my house ten weeks; I never saw any harm by her in my life; I have trusted her in my rooms, with my drawers unlocked, to make my beds, and do things about the house; I have examined every thing since she has been in prison; I cannot find any thing missing; I never saw her keep any bad company; she did not keep any bad hours; she was not extravagant; she has many times sat down to dinner upon a penny worth of potatoes; I recommended her to work; she always did it very honestly and well: I have here the things she bought that day at the linen-draper's, which she paid for.</p>
<p>PROSECUTOR. I do not doubt but these are the things she paid for.</p>
<p>- PEAKE. My husband is a peruke-maker and hair-dresser in Little Drury-lane; he has kept house there fourteen years; his name is <rs type="persName" id="t17770514-4-person69"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-person69" type="role" value=""></interp>
Charles Peake <interp inst="t17770514-4-person69" type="surname" value="Peake"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person69" type="given" value="Charles"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person69" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
</rs>
.</p>
<p>JURY. What rent do you pay? - Fourteen pounds a year; I have a lease for twenty-one years.</p>
<p>COURT. What business does the prisoner follow? - She has <rs id="t17770514-4-deflabel19" type="occupation">taken in washing and plain-work</rs>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-deflabel19" type="occupation" value="taken in washing and plain-work"></interp>
<join result="persNameOccupation" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-defend63 t17770514-4-deflabel19"></join>
.</p>
<p> <rs type="persName" id="t17770514-4-person70"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-person70" type="role" value=""></interp>
SARAH ROBINSON <interp inst="t17770514-4-person70" type="surname" value="ROBINSON"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person70" type="given" value="SARAH"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-person70" type="gender" value="female"></interp>
</rs>
sworn.</p>
<p>My husband is a cooper in Drury-lane: I have known the prisoner two years; I never knew any thing that was bad of her.</p>
<p> <rs id="t17770514-4-verdict20" type="verdictDescription"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-verdict20" type="verdictCategory" value="guilty"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-verdict20" type="verdictSubcategory" value="theftunder5s"></interp>
GUILTY of stealing to the value of four shillings and ten pence </rs>
.</p>
<p>Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.</p>
<p> <rs id="t17770514-4-punish21" type="punishmentDescription"> <interp inst="t17770514-4-punish21" type="punishmentCategory" value="imprison"></interp>
<interp inst="t17770514-4-punish21" type="punishmentSubcategory" value="houseOfCorrection"></interp>
<join result="defendantPunishment" targOrder="Y" targets="t17770514-4-defend63 t17770514-4-punish21"></join>
<note>[Imprisonment. See summary.]</note>
</rs>
</p>
</div1>

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