781. EPHRAIM EPHRAIMS proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 1547. This set is in the group(s): GarrowsClients . was indicted for feloniously assaulting Thomas Watkins proceedingsvictim , on the King's highway, on the 19th of August last, and putting him in fear and danger of his life, and feloniously stealing from his person, and against his will, two silver seals, value 2 s. the property of the said Thomas.

THOMAS WATKINS < no role > sworn.

I am a Silk-dyer and scowerer , in King-street, Seven Dials; I was robbed on the 19th of August last, about half after eight, under the gateway called Short's Gardens , going from Drury-lane; I was coming from Holborn as the nighest way; as I crossed the way, I saw the prisoner run across the way on my left hand side, I looked at him very hard, he had a white apron twisted round, I thought he was going to rob me; I returned being apprehensive he had a bad design on me, and I turned on my right hand to come out, and he came up plump against me, one hand against my chest, and the other had hold of the chain of my watch, I walked with my thumb on my chain in my breeches, he pulled, says I, you shall not have it, he made another hard tug, and tore the chain and the seals off; I directly caught hold of him with my left hand, says I, you rascal you have part of the chain and seals, give me them back again, he run away; a Gentleman came by, and asked me what was the matter, we went after him, he was never out of sight, he walked about ten or twelve yards, we took hold of him and brought him to the watch-house.

How far was he off? - He was forty yards off, or better, before we got hold of him.

Was he out of sight? - No, Sir, we took him to the watch-house and searched him, and found nothing on him but a double clasped knife, we left him there, and the Gentleman came back with me, and I brought a candle to see if we could find the seals, a little girl and a man asked me what I had lost, I said two seals, and I offered half a crown to any that would bring them, and a young man brought one of them to me in a short time after, with a piece of the chain, and the next morning as I went to the Justices, a little girl brought me the other seal.

Are you quite sure this is the man that snatched the chain and seals from you? - Yes, he never was out of my sight.

Had he the same apron on when you took him that you had taken notice of before? - Yes, Sir.

Mr. Garrow, Council for the Prisoner. Mr. Watkins, have you never said since you was robbed, that the person that took your seals was out of sight? - No, Sir.

Are you sure of that? - Yes.

You did not see him throw away the things? - No.

EDMUND HILLIER < no role > sworn.

I was coming down Drury-lane, and just as I was crossing the archway, Mr. Watkins turned round and said, I am robbed by that fellow, I did not stop to hear what he said to me, but I immediately ran after and took the prisoner; he was about three or four yards off.

RICHARD STARLING < no role > sworn.

I am a watchman; this is the seal, I found it about nine or ten yards off the watch-box, in Short's-gardens, between the watch-box and the gateway.

SARAH DAVIS < no role > sworn.

I am fourteen; I picked up this seal in the kennel, about ten yards from the watch-box.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I am as innocent of it as a child.

The prisoner called two witnesses who gave him a good character.

Court to Jury. Gentlemen, coming up to him with that violence, and seizing his watch chain, and he resisting, constitutes a violent taking from the person, if done with a design to steal.

Prisoner. The prosecutor said that he tore off three inches of the coat of the man that had robbed him, and I produced my coat to see whether there was any piece of my coat tore off, and there was none.

Prosecutor. I caught hold of his coat on the inside, and when he wreached it away, a bit of something came off in my hand, which I took to be shalloon, and I threw it away.

Court. Was his coat searched at the Justice's? - Yes.

Does that leave you any reason to doubt of his being the man? - Not in the least, he positively was the man.

GUILTY , Death .

He was humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury and Prosecutor.

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron EYRE < no role > .