Thomas Bambridge proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3125. , Esq ; of St. Brides, London , was indicted for feloniously stealing 1 Feather Bed, a Bolster, 2 Pillows, 2 Blankets, 1 Quilt, 2 Cane-Chairs, 1 Easy-Chair and Cushion, 2 Stuff Chairs, 2 Tables, a Looking-Glass, Fire Shovel and Tongs, Gridiron, 1 pair of Bellows, 3 pair of Window-Curtains, China Ware, Value 5 l. a Head of Mecclin Lace, Value 10 l. a Head of Flanders Lace, Value 6 l. 6 Silver handled Knives, Value 3 l. 6 Silver Forks, Value 40 s. 2 Tea Spoons, Strainer and Tongs, 4 Ounces of Gold Lace, Value 10 l. 2 Gold Seals, 1 Emerald, Value 3 l. 5 Diaper Napkins, 1 piece of Dimity, a Sable Typet, Value 3 l. a piece of blew and white Sattin, Value 7 l. 2 Stone Seals, set in Gold, Value 3 l. 3 Silk Gowns, Value 6 l. 2 pieces of Sarcenet, Value 55 s. 1 Garnet Ring, with other things of considerable Value , the Goods of Elizabeth Barkley proceedingsvictim , on the 31st of October 1727 .

John Turner < no role > depos'd to this Effect, I was Prisoner in the Fleet, October 1727, Mrs. Barkley lodg'd within 3 Rooms of me, I am an Upholder by Trade, and was call'd into Mrs. Barkly's Room by Mr. Pindar, to appraise her Goods, I took an Inventory of what appear'd, the Boxes were mentioned in gross, and not opened; there was a Person they call'd Constable, after they said the Door was broke open, I went in again, and Mr. Bambridge sent to Mrs. Barkley for her Keys, she refus'd to send them, whereupon Mr. Bambridge broke open the Boxes, and wrote the Title of an Inventory on loose Paper, and order'd I should Copy it on the Head of my Inventory, which was to this Effect, An Inventory of the Goods of Elizabeth Berkley < no role > , for 56 l. Rent, due to Mr. Huggins, October 23d, 1 Bedstead with Sacking Bottom, &c. I gave Mr. Bambridge a particular Account of the Value, in order for his disposing of them, the 2d Inventory consisted of the Plate, China, Rings, &c. with precious Stones and wearing Apparel, which was all made up, Mr. Bambridge being told by me, that it was not usual to Distrain necessary wearing Apparel, he said, set down such and such things sufficient to do so: I brought them in at first 30 l. Mr. Bambridge thought that too much, alledging there was Charges attending the Appraisement, and so I brought it in at 27 l. 16 s. 9 d. It is customary to have two Appraisors, but there was none but my self - after the Appraisement, I saw Mr. Bambridge put some of the things in his Pocket, as the Silver Tea Spoons, Rings, and small things, the rest, wearing Apparel, &c. into a Portmantua; there was a Brush found which is used for cleaning of Diamonds, upon which Mr. Bambridge said he believ'd there must be Diamonds, after that, looking every where, found the Rings, Mrs. Barkley look'd very Chagrin during this Rifling, and was turn'd on the Common-Side, without a Bed to lie on, and had not a Bed all the time of my Imprisonment, she was afterwards very much out of Order, talked wildly, would assert that the Lord Harcourt was not Dead, but would punish such Rogues as robb'd her.

Mr. Bambridge, desir'd this Evidence to tell the Court if he did not order him to put every thing down, who answer'd, he did, but added, that if he had had Money, he would have given 30 l. for the Goods himself, because he knew them to be worth so much, that he lower'd the price to 27 l. at Bambridges's desire; being ask'd what Conversation he heard at that time, he answer'd, Mr. Bambridge told Mrs. Berkley, that it was a Shame she should have there and not pay her Rent, for she had good comings In, Mrs. Berkley said, the House was the King's, and if the King sent her there she would pay no Rent; Turner said, that he had made several Distresses before, with Pindar, the Chamberlain, who Mr. Bambridge said was indicted that he might not be an Evidence for him, but was told that he was a Principal concern'd.

This Evidence being ask'd what Trade Pindar was of, he answer'd a Distiller, and that there was one they call'd Constable at both Seizures, but Pindar knew nothing of the Value of Household Goods.

Then Mr. Bambridge desir'd this Evidence might be ask'd if he did not propose to Barkley to send to some Friend to pay her Rent, and save her Goods, who answer'd, he did.

Thomas Wilkinson < no role > depos'd to this Effect, (N. B. But before Thomas Wilkinson < no role > could enter upon his Evidence, Mr. Bambridge desir'd he might be ask'd what Money he receiv'd, and how long he had been maintain'd to be an Evidence against him, but was told by the Court that such a Question was not proper to be ask'd, if he could prove it, he might.)

I was a Prisoner in the Fleet on the Common Side, and saw the prisoner at the Bar at Mrs. Barkelys Door, about 6 o'Clock at Night, the latter end of October, I believe it might be the 27th. (there was 2 Padlocks on the Door, Pindar had the Key of one, and Mrs. Barkely the Key of the other; Barns, by order, fetched a Hammer to break it off; Bambridge gave orders to Pindar to unlock the Door. There was Turner, Barns, Bambridge, my self, Pindar, and a Constable, as they called him, (he had a short Staff) but I never saw him before, nor since. Mrs. Barkley was fetched up from the Common Side to open the Door, but she refusing it, they broke her Door open with a Poker, (Mrs. Barkley said it was a Robbery, and hoped Bambridge would be brought to Justice for it) when they got in, they took an Account of a few Goods when required Mrs. Barkley to open her Boxes (2 of which were locked, the other nailed) Bambridge broke them open himself, and some of the Goods were taken out by Mr. Turner, as Appraiser, and the other part by Bambridge: When the Goods were Appraised, they were all carried away by order of Mr. Bambridge; I carried the Bed into the Lumber Room, and afterwards carried it to Dorset-Stairs, to go to Wandsworth - the Rings, Bambridge put into his Pocket, for fear they should be lost in the Boxes, the wearing Apparel, &c. Was put up into a Portmantua, Mrs. Barkely was by, and Scolded all the while, and said it was a Robbery, (being asked what he see Bambridge put in his Pocket) said, 2 Gold Seals, an Emrald, some Stones, a Garnet, 2 Gold Rings, one a Stone Ring, but never saw any of them afterwards; Bambridge found a little Brush, and said, he believed there must be Diamonds, at first he said the Goods were going to a Sale, and bid me go to the Wandsworth Waterman, the Easy-chair was left with Mr. Turner to clean, and then I carried it to Wills Coffee-House: (Mr. Bambridge desired that this Evidence might be asked, if there was no talk about Rent) he said there was; (desired be might be asked when the Goods were carried out) answered, about 6 Days after they had been in the Lumber Room, but they were locked up, and Bambridge kept the Key, asked if he did not send the Goods out of the Prison publickly, said, he did, asked if Mrs. Barkley was not the Room all the while, answer'd, I am not positive, for after Mrs. Barkley's Bed was carried out, you sent me to fetch a nasty Bed that Mrs. Barkley would not lye upon, there were better in the Room, which you sent away afterwards.

Ambrose Burgiss < no role > depos'd to this effect, I was in the Fleet, but not by, when the Door was broke open, but afterwards (in October) I went into the Room, and there were Mr. Bambridge, Barns, Pindar, Mr. Dowglass, and Mr. Turner; I see the Boxes broke, and there were abundance of good Things, as Cloaths, China, Orrice Lace, Pearl, Emrald or Ruby, which Mr. Bambridge put into his Pocket (as he said) for fear they should be lost: Mr. Turner weighed the Gold Lace 20 Ounces and a half; during the time the 3 Boxes were opened I was there, and Mrs. Barkley was there too.

Mr. John Savage < no role > depos'd to this Effect, I was going by the end of the Gallery when the last Inventory was taken, and observing a Number of People at Mrs. Barkley's Door, went out of Curiosity to see what was the Matter, and I found Mr. Bambridge and Mr. Dowglass were got into her Room and Mr. Bambridge demanded Mrs. Barkley's Keys, she reply'd, she would give him none, he had no Authority to have them, Mr. Bambridge said he had, and that she should see presently, then broke open the Boxes where was very good wearing Apparel fit for a Gentlewoman, and other rich Goods; in a draw, there was a Box wherein was 4 Rings, I think one had some small Diamonds round it, the middle out, 2 Seals set in Gold I believe one to be an Amathis, a Siver handled Knife and Fork in a Shagreen Case, which I think Bambridge put into his Pocket, an did not pull them out again there; the other valuable Goods were collected into a Portmantua - I was present when the Inventory of all the Cloaths were taken, and Mr. Turner telling Mr. Bambridge, that it was not usual to distrain necessary wearing Apparel, he ordered him to put down the Quantities they contained as if not made up. Mr. Bambridge asked, if the Rings, &c. were not shown in the Coffee-Room afterwards, Mr. Savage said, they were? but added that it was in a private Room, and none but his own Company there.

Mr. Mendez Soles < no role > depos'd to this Effect, Capt. Dowglass brought a Ring to know the Value, desired I would pull the Stone out and weigh the Gold, I told him it was an Amathis he said it came from Mr. Bambridge; after that Mr. Bambridge came himself; and asked me if it was an Amathis, I told him I was sure it was, then Mr. Bambridge ordered it to be cut, and afterwards told me he had it from Mrs. Barkely, and I set it for him, I set 2 Rings for Mr. Bambridge, one the value of about 30 s.

Dr. Coletheart brought a Garnet with a Brillant from Mr. Bambridge, sometime after Dr. Coletheart and the Person that keeps Wills Coffee-house, brought a Ring to know the Value of it, worth about 14 l. a Diamond in the middle. Mr. Bambridge asked if he knew the Ring, Mr. Mendez Soles, said he believed he did, Mr. Bambridge show'd him a Ring and asked him if that was it? Mr. Mendez upon looking upon it, said, he believ'd it might.

Mr. Howard depos'd to this Effect, Mr. Bambridge lodg'd at Wills Coffee-house about a Year together - it is now 12 Months since he went away - there were some things brought there - I don't know what - there were things Sold to Mr. West - a Gown and Petticoat - I don't know if there were more - I did not mind what sort of Goods - I heard and Mr. West say they came to about 14 or 15 Pounds - know nothing but what Mr West told me - I see Goods came in - I don't know what sort - I know they were Silk - I see some Gold lace about 2 Years ago - I see Mr. Bambridge have it - he Sold it to Mr. Harris - Mr. Harris paid Mr. Bambridge Money - I don't know the Sum - there was Gold and Silver - I know it was for Lace - Mr. Bambridge Sold him Lace - about November was two Years - I saw a or 3 small Tea Spoons in Mr. Bambridge's Possession - 3 or 4, I don't know they were Sold, or that Mrs. Corbett bought any.

Mrs. Howard depos'd to this Effect, I can't tell particularly (when Mr. Bambridge lodged there) some Womens Cloaths were brought there and Sold to Mr. Thomas West < no role > , and a Gold Watch was given in Exchange for them - there was a Satten Flowered blue and white Gown, a work'd Gown, I don't know what ground, whether Silk or Holland, a scarf and Hood, laced with black Lace, a Sable Tipper, all sold to Mr. West, who gave him a Gold Watch for them - I know of nothing else that was given - there were some Tea Spoons, Mr. Bambridge offered them to me but I would not buy them, there was some Silver Lace sold to Mr. Harris - about 4 Ponds worth, he paid Mr. Bambridge for it at my House - he sold the Goods for his Wife's Cloaths. Mr. Bambridge being called on by the Court to make his Defence, spoke to this Effect, That there was not any thing came up to the point, nor had the Gentlemen proved any thing Criminal, upon him; That he had Records to prove, he had acted according to Law, but left it to the Court and the Jury, requesting, that if any Point of Law should arise, his Counsel might speak to it.

The Jury acquitted him.