74, 75, 76. (M.) Richard Bryant , otherwise John Obrian, otherwise John Talbot < no role > , and Ann his wife , otherwise Ann Martin proceedingsdefend , and Esther Pallister , otherwise Esther wife of William Harris < no role > proceedingsdefend , were indicted for stealing one gold watch, val. 12 l. the property of the Reverend Mr. Bullock proceedingsvictim , November 23 . ||

Mr. Lane. On the 23d of November I set out from Mr. Ravenhill's, at the Golden Key, St. Paul's Church-yard, in the Exeter Coach, with a portmanteau and two cloakbags, put in the basket behind, Mr. Jenkins sent by me for his brother-in-low the Rev. Mr. Bullock, a gold watch, which I put into my wife's muff, and secured it in the trunk. The coachman hurried us very much; and, when we got to Stains, my portmanteau and two cloakbags were missing; I left my wife and sister to go by themselves, and returned to Sir John Fielding < no role > , and put an advertisement into the paper; staid two days here, and returned into Cornhill; there I received a letter from Mr. Ravenhill, that part of the things were found.

Edward James < no role > . I live with Mr. Ravenhill; I was at the putting Mr. Lane's portmantea and two cloak-bags into the basket behind the coach, on the 23d of November, about four in the morning.

Mary Bilton < no role > . I lived in Waterman's Lane, White Friers, in November last; the three prisoners lodged above me in the same house, the house of Mrs. Bailey; I used to light their fire every morning, and carry them up what they wanted. On the 23d of November, about half an hour after four, Brian and one Pallister came in loaded with some things; I heard both their voices; they staid above about three or four minutes, and went out again, and came in again exactly at five, with a box or trunk; I heard it strike against the cieling; at six they went down, and went out again; they came in again about two the next morning; I went up to wait on them as usual about eleven; there were Brian, Pallister, and one Duplex, they had got some silver buckles; they went out about eleven, and the next morning, about 3, I went up to wait on them; next morn. about eleven there came a Jew, he staid about half an hour, and went down with a great bundle on his back, tied about his head; then they call'd to me to bring them a candle, this was betwixt one and two in the day; there was no fire in their room, but that candle; then Pallister and Duplex went down, with each of them things in a handkerchief. Briant bid me light a fire; in ranking the ashes about, I saw a great many paper ashes; I found a paper with two corners burnt, and a card, with a direction on it for the Rev. Dr. Lane; I brought them down stairs; I went to Mr. Foster Powell < no role > , and shewed them to him; after which, by his inquiring, he found there had been this robbery. Briant was very short of money before this, but afterwards I saw him with 18 or 20 guineas and 13 or a dozen moidores; he went by the name of Talbot mostly [The card and paper produced and deposed to by Mr. Lane as his hand-writing, on the Three of spades, and putting it on the portmanteau].

Sarah Welbank < no role > . I and Mary Bilton < no role > lodged together at that time; She confirmed her evidence in every circumstance.

Abraham Tristram < no role > This name instance is in set 3581. . I was applied to by Mr. Ravenhill and Mr. Jenkins to go and search the prisoners lodging in White Friers; when I went in, there were Briant and Martin in bed together, he was asleep, there lay this gold watch by him [ Producing one.]

Henry Jenkins < no role > . I am a watchmaker; this I repaired for Mr. Bullock, the name and number are since altered, the name was William Harley < no role > , I had put a new joint to it; I sold it to Mr. Bullock some time before, I had put a new pendant to it, the former one being a small one; I went to screw the pendant on to the stud, and I had not opened the hole quite enough, so that I found it began to open by the force, so I filed the head of the screw, without forcing it any farther, which is now plain to be seen; I know it to be the same watch.

Tristram. In Briant's pocket I found a pocketbook, a bank-note of 20 l. and four 36 s. pieces; he told us the watch was made him a present of about seven months ago, by a brother of his, a nobleman's steward, at the Bath.

James Ravenhill < no role > deposed Mary Bilton < no role > came to him along with one Lawrance, and gave him an account of what she had seen and heard: That he was at the searching the prisoners apartment, and saw the gold watch found there: That Lawrance told him there were the portmanteau and cloakbag found in Fleet Ditch; which were produced in court, and deposed to by Mr. Lane, as what he lost at that time, the direction on the card fitted to a small piece on the portmanteau, and the letter F was part of it on each piece.

Briant's Defence.

The watch was left me by a person that I buried but a day or two before, and, knowing I could not ring him to prove it, I said I had it of a brother-in-law.

Jane Mansfield < no role > . I knew one Conway*, who was an acquaintance of Briant's; I have seen them together several times at public houses; he died five or six weeks ago in the hospital; I saw he had a watch two days before he went into the hospital, but whether this it it, I cannot say.

* See Conway tried, No. 281. in Mr. Alderman Blackiston's Mayoralty.

John Broader < no role > . I buried one Conway. The prisoner paid me; but whether he had any effects of his I can't say.

Mr. Parker, who had known Bryant fourteen years, John Fox < no role > three, - Edwards nine or ten, and Barnaby Gorman < no role > thirteen or fourteen, gave him a good character.

Bryant Guilty , the two women Acquitted .

They were indicted a second time for stealing ten Holland shirts, ten pair of stockings, and abundance of other things, and fifty guineas in money, the property of the Rev. Mr. Lane proceedingsvictim , Nov. 23 . ||

These were all in the portmanteau and cloak-bag when stolen, and the evidence the same.

Bryant Guilty , the two woman Acquitted .

[Transportation. See summary.]