320. Samuel Mecum proceedingsdefend and Eleanor Mecum proceedingsdefend were indicted for stealing out of the Dwelling-House of John Kent proceedingsvictim , two Silk Handkerchiefs, three Dozen of Worsted Stockings, four Pair of Thread, and four Pair of Cotton, one Pair of Sky-blue, six Pewter Plates, a large Pewter Dish, &c. the Goods of the said John Kent < no role > , the 20th of April .

Q. < no role > (to John Kent < no role > ) Where do you live?

Kent. In Shoreditch . I am a Stocking-frame Knitter .

Q. Do you know either of the Prisoners at the Bar?

Kent. I did not know them, Sir, 'till after I was robb'd; there is one Nathaniel Harris < no role > This name instance is in a workspace. a particular Evidence, and he is a Debtor here in Niwgate

Q. Was your House at any Time robbed?

Kent. The 20th of April I got up and found my House robbed.

Q. Did you leave all your Doors fast?

Kent. The last Thing I did I went and boked the Window and Doors, and every Thing myself: I thought I heard something in the Night, but I thought it was one of my Children.

Q. What Time did you get up in the Morning?

Kent. Between Five and Six o'Clock my Wife and I got up; my Wife came down first, and as she was coming down, says she our Windows are open; I said it might be my Boy that is gone to School, but says she here is your Chest gone; then I said I am ruin'd for ever, for there were 29 Pair of Hose, that were none of my own.

Q. Did you miss any other Things?

Kent. Yes, six Pewter Plates, a large Pewter Dish: There were in the Chest two Silk Handkercheif; there was my Pocket Book, but it was not put into the Indictment, nor a Quarter of the Things; there were three Dozen of Worsted Stockings, four Pair of Cotton, and four Pair of Thread, all these were in the Chest locked up; there was a five Pant Copper Sauce-Pan, and a very particular Pair of Hose, Sky-colour'd blue.

Q. Where did you find your House broke open?

Kent. In the Window; there was a Plate of Iron a with seven Nails. This Plate of Iron was wrenched of; they endeavoured to take down the whole Frame of the Window; the next Day after I advertised, I found one of the particular Sky-coloured Stockings that were in my Chest.

Q. What Clocks had they ?

Kent. Gold-coloured Silk Clocks.

Court. You say you met with one Stocking again.

Q. What do you know of the Prisoner at the Bar?

Kent. Mr. Archer Petcht < no role > and Mr. Body went to search Mecum's House, and there they found this Stocking; Mr. Body has this Stocking.

Court. Then you know nothing more than what they told you?

Kent. Please you, my Lord, I had a Jealousy of this Man by the Intelligence that was given me of his being in Disguise Dresses, and carrying Goods by my House, &c. by Reason of which I had a Warrant. My Lord, I have liv'd 26 Years in the Parish, and served an Apprenticeship in the Parish.

Court. You appear to be a very honest Man, and need mention nothing of this to support it.

Q. < no role > (to William Thomson < no role > ) What are you?

Thomson. A Frame-work Knitter.

Q. What do you know of the Prisoner at the Bar?

Thomson. I am a Servant to Mr. Kent; that particular Pair of Sky-blue I made for Mr. Kent about last March; they were to be embroider'd with Gold Clocks afterwards.

Q. Did you see them after the Gold Clocks were put in ?

Thomson. Yes, I am sure 'tis the same, Mr. Body has it ?

Q. < no role > (to William Body < no role > This name instance is in set 3514. ) What have you to say against the Prisoner with Respect to this particular Fact ?

Body. My Lord, I have nothing to say any more but this, that this John Kent < no role > came to Justice Hole for a Search Warrant, upon which I got two or three Friends with me, and beset the House of the Prisoner at the Bar; it was between Eight and Nine o'Clock on Sunday Morning: When we had beset the House, one Harris, a Prisoner now for Debt in Newgate, got over the Wall, and collar'd the Prisoner; we were forced to break the Windows and Shutters to come to his Assistance, for the Man and Woman were both upon him. When we got in I told them we had a Search Warrant. Harris got this Stocking, which he deliver'd to me, and He believed the Woman put the Fellow to it down the Va; this one Stocking he found in the one Pair of Stairs Room.

Q. Had you any Thing more?

Body. We took a great many more Things, which by the Justice's Order are secur'd in a Trunk at Bridewell, but none of the Things are yet own'd, except this particular Stocking.

Q. < no role > (to John Kent < no role > .) Is this one of your Stockings?

Kent. My Lord it is; I was to have had 6 s. for the Stockings; but the Gentlewoman complain'd they were too big for her.

Q. < no role > (to Eleanor Mecum < no role > the Prisoner.) What have you to say in your Defence?

Mecum. Please you, my Lord, my Husband knows nothing of it; if this Stocking is the same, it is what I had with some old Cloaths; I buy and fell Things in Rag-Fair.

Q. < no role > (to Susannah Pool < no role > .) What have you to say?

Pool. My Lord, she is a Partner of mine in buying and selling old Cloaths. She had this Stocking of a common Dealer that had bought three Childrens Frocks, a Pound and half of Linnen Rags, and three or four odd Stockings.

Samuel Mecum < no role > was cast for Transportation, and Eleanor Mecum < no role > acquitted .