Joseph Sheppard proceedingsdefend , of the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields , was indicted for breaking the House of William Philips proceedingsvictim , and stealing divers Goods , the 14th of February last. But there not being sufficient Evidence against the Prisoner, he was acquitted .

He was also indicted a Second Time, of St. Clement Danes , for breaking the House of Mary Cook proceedingsvictim This name instance is in set 41. , the 9th of February last, and stealing divers Goods : But the Evidence against the Prisoner being deficient as to this Indictment also, he was acquitted .

He was also indicted the Third Time, of St. Mary Savoy , for breaking the House of Williams Kneebone proceedingsvictim , in the Night-Time, and stealing 118 Yards of Woollen Cloth , the 12th of June last. The Prosecutor depos'd, That the Prisoner had some Time since been his Servant , and when he went to Bed, the Time mention'd in the Indictment, about 11 a-Clock at Night, he saw all the Doors and Windows fast; but was call'd up about 4 in the Morning, and found his House broken open, the Bar of a Cellar-Window having been cut, and the Bolts of the Door that comes up Stairs drawn, and the Padlock wrench'd off, and his Shutter in the Shop broken, and his Goods gone; whereupon suspecting the Prisoner, he having committed ill Actions thereabouts before, he acquainted Jonathan Wild < no role > This name instance is in set 3033. with it, and he procured him to be apprehended. That he went to the Prisoner in new prison, and asking how he could be so ungrateful to rob him, after he had shown him so much Kindness? The Prisoner owned he had been ungrateful in doing so, informing him of several Circumstances as to the Manner of Committing the Fact, but said he had been drawn into it by ill Company. Jonathan Wild depos'd, The Prosecutor came to him, and desir'd him to inquire after his Goods that had been stolen, telling him he suspected the Prisoner to have been concern'd in the Robbery, he having before committed some Robberies in the Neighbourhood. That inquiring after him, and having heard of him before, he was informed that he was an Acquaintance of Joseph Blake, alias Blueskin < no role > This name instance is in set 30914032. , and William Field < no role > : Whereupon he sent for William Field, who came to him; upon which he told him, If he would make an ingenuous Confession, he believ'd he could prevail with the Court to make him an Evidence. That he did make a Discovery of the Prisoner, upon which he was apprehended, and also of others since convicted, and gave an Account of some Parcels of the Cloth, which were found accordingly. William Field depos'd, That the Prisoner told him, and Joseph Blake, that he knew a Ken where they might get something of Worth: That they went to take a View of the Prosecutor's House, but disapprov'd of the Attempt, as not thinking it easy to be performed: But the Prisoner perswaded them that it might be easily done, he knowing the House, having liv'd with the Prosecutor. That thereupon he cut the Cellar Bar went into the Cellar, got into the Shop, and brought out three Parcels of Cloth, which they carried away. The Prisoner had also confest the Fact when he was apprehended, and before the Justice. The Fact being plainly prov'd, the Jury found him guilty of the Indictment. Death .