350. John Read proceedingsdefend , of London , was indicted for stealing two Pair of Chints Window Curtains, and forty Yards of Chints, value 6 l. and three Yards of Damask, value 6 s. the Goods of John Jenkins proceedingsvictim , Feb. 9 . last. And

351. Rachel Joseph , otherwise Elizabeth Bayley proceedingsdefend , for receiving the same knowing them to be stole .

John Jenkins < no role > . I live in Great Queen-street , by Lincoln's-Inn Fields. On the 9th of February last, I lost seven Pieces of Chints Hangings, and two Pair of Chints Window Curtains, and part of a Silk Damask Gown, and a Counterpane, the same as the Chints: I had an Information of them the 22d of February, and found them at one Mr Boyreas, or Boyers, in Dukes-Place; and they said, they bought them of Jonas and Bayley; I found several Pieces of Chints in Boyreas's Lodging; Bayley at first denied it, but afterwards owned she had Part of the Goods.

Jacob Mendoz < no role > . John Read < no role > , with two more who are not taken, and myself, went to Mr Jenkin's House, in Great-Queen street, about four Months ago, about six o'Clock in the Evening; we saw a great Bundle lying upon the Counter, and took it away, and carried it into Dukes-Place, to one Rachel Jonas < no role > , or Joseph, - but it is not that Gentlewoman (the Prisoner); I do not know any any Thing of her; I never sold her any Thing: I delivered them into Rachel Jonas < no role > 's Hand, she lives up three Pair of Stairs in a little Room. I carried them up into the Room, and delivered them to her; - the Prisoner was in the Room at the same Time. Thomas Smith < no role > and William Dawson < no role > were with me; I asked her whether she would buy them, she said, she did not care to buy them then; she (that is Rachel Joseph < no role > 's Sister) would send for her Son; she looked on them, and counted them over; - they were fine Hangings; they were all made like Curtains. I left them there to be sold. - I used to follow the Tripe-houses, but then I followed wicked Ways. - I knew that she knew what I was, because I went with two or three Lads there before. - She does not keep a Shop, but she buys them when I have any to carry to her; I had 19 s. for them; I was to have had 30 s. in all, but she flung me out of all the rest, because I did not go along with her Son to fetch the Money for the Goods, but staid at her House while her Son went for the Money. - There was a handsome Bundle, they looked fine and fresh.

Jenkins. They are valued at about 9 l.

Rachel Joseph < no role > . Is that young Man you speak of my Son?

Mendez. I never sold any Thing to the Prisoner, it is the Prisoner's Sister I sold them to.

William Day < no role > . On the 22d or 29th, two or three Gentlemen sent for me to the Blue Boar in Whitechapel, (that is Mr Hallet and Mr Jenkins,) and showed me a Warrant to search. I went to the House of one Boyreas, in Dukes-Place; I have got several Things which were found in that House.

Jenkins. They are not my own Goods they belong to Miss Vernon of Twickenham; I had them of Mr Hallet.

William Day < no role > . I said to the Woman at Boyreas's House, you must give me an Account how you came by these Goods; she said, she had them of her Husband, and he was not in the Way. When I got hold of the Man there were several Jews who said, it it a Pity he should suffer, we can help you to the right Person they had them of, and they told me, that the Woman was the Person, and afterwards the woman said, that she had them of the Evidence, and that they sold them to this Boyreas. I went to Boyreas House yesterday, and told them there was a fresh * Bill preferred, and would have had them come here, but they would not come.

* Rachel Joseph was committed to Newgate on the 7th of May for this Fact, and was discharged at the last Sessions for want of Prosecution.

Jenkins. I have not made Satisfaction for the Goods yet, but I am to do it.

Prisoner Read. I never saw the Prisoner in my Life, before I came before the Justice of the Peace.

William Hailet < no role > . I am an Upholster, I had these Goods at Miss Vernon's, and gave them to Jenkins, the Dyer, to clean; on the 11th or 12th of April, he came to me, and told me he had been robbed of all the Chints, and other Goods; I told him it was proper to advertise them, and they were advertised with two Guineas Reward. I waited on Miss Vernon after I found I could not get them, and told her, I would make up any Bed for her, till I saw whether I could get them again. Mr Jenkins came afterwards, and told me he had got Intelligence of the Chints. I went to the Sitting Alderman at Guildhall, and got a Warrant to search Daniel Levi Boyreas < no role > 's House, and there was that Woman (the Prisoner) and Benjamin Jonas < no role > , and we found some of the Goods there; and the Prisoner took upon her to say it was Furniture of her own. When I found that they endeavoured to baffle and out swear me, I was resolved to make an End of it: I was very positive as to the Goods, because I had kept some Pieces of them back that I did not send to Mr Jenkins. She told my Lord Mayor, if he would excuse her she would tell the Truth, and then she said, that she had them of Jonas, who was then by; and Jonas told the Names of four Persons who were concerned in stealing them : This Mendez was fetched to Justice Devil's, to swear to this Read. I went to this Bayley.

Prisoner. My Name is Rachel Joseph < no role > .

Hallet. I went to her, and she told me, she had sold several Pieces of the Chints, and had sold a Counterpane for nine Shillings, to a Gentleman who is in Court; she said his Name was Simon Moses < no role > ; I find he is the principal Evidence against this Woman, so I have summoned him. - I found a Quit in his House which is covered with Part of the Chints: He refused to deliver it without I gave him nine Shillings.

[Mr Moses was unwilling to produce the Counterpane, but being ordered by the Court he fetched it, and produced a Quilt, the Covering of which was sworn to by Jenkins and Hallet, to be Part of the Goods that were lost.] - The Prisoner said, she had it from her Sister, and that she was to sell it for 18 s.

Simon Jacobus < no role > Moses, sworn.

Q. Who had you that Chints from?

S. J. Moses. These People are entire Strangers to me, I have known the Woman (Joseph,) some Time, she used to bring Usquebaugh and strong Liquors to my House, and my Wife has sometimes bought of her; she said her Husband was a Distiller: One Day I was in my Compting-House, doing Business with my Clerk, and saw her with my Wife, said she, here's a Bit of Chints she has to sell. I was not for her buying it, because I thought it was rotten; my Wife said she would put a Linning to it, and it would serve for the Nursery, and she gave her 9 s. for it. She said her Husband was dead, and she was going to sell off all her Things; that Quilt stands me in 30 s. and I can buy a new one cheaper; that Man in the Blue Coat said, he wanted to say something to my Wife in private, he went to Alderman Heathcote for a Warrant, and he knowing me to be a Man of Credit, he would not allow it, (grant it.) I said to the Man, Sir, you are a Stranger to me, if you will give me the Charge I have been at, you shall have it.

James Bowen < no role > . I was a Prisoner confined along with this Jacob Mendez < no role > ; John Read < no role > 's Mother came to Clerkenwell-Bridewell, and Jacob said if she would give him a Guinea, and a Coat and Breeches, he would not swear against her Son, but against one Theophilus Watson < no role > This name instance is in set 3519. .

Mendez. It is not true, I never said such a Thing in my Life; his Mother told me she would make me a Present if I cleared her Son; I told her I would endeavour to do it, if I got any more of those that were in my Information taken up.

Elizabeth Murphy < no role > . I heard Mendez say, in Clerkenwell Bridewell, to Read's Mother, that if she would give him a Guinea and a Coat, that he would say her Son was not guilty of the Fact; and, his Mother said, that to have her Son's Life she would give him a Guinea and a Coat, and he jumped up in the Goal, and laughed, and said, he would clear him.

Isabella Oates. I have known Read; he has been many a Time in my Lodging by himself, and I never lost any Thing; I never heard any Thing but what was good of him; I lived nine Years in the House with him.

Edward Thomas < no role > . I have known Read between six and seven Years; his Father is a Cabinet-Maker, and works for me; I never heard any Body say a hurtful Word of him; he has done Work at Home with his Father within these ten Weeks for me.

William Marsh < no role > . I have known the unfortunate Lad twenty Years, but within these twelve Years I have been very intimate with him; and about five or six Weeks ago I employed him for a Fortnight together; I never heard any ill of him, but always the contrary.

Ann Thomas < no role > . I have known Read from the Time he was born, his Behaviour is good, and his Character is that of a very honest sober Lad. Both Acquitted .