Mary Willoughby proceedingsdefend and Susan Houseman proceedingsdefend of the Parish St. Bartholomew the less , were indicted for privately stealing 25 Yards of Drugget, out of the Shop of John Slade proceedingsvictim , on the 16th of December last. The Prosecutor's Wife swore, That the Prisoners came together to the Shop, pretending to buy Shaloon, and Houseman did buy some and and pay for it; and that Willoughby desiring to see some Druggets, was shew'd those in the Indictment; which not pleasing her in the Colour, while Mrs. Slade went into a Back-Shop to fetch some others, she found Means to take them, and went away; but being seen by a Neighbour to come out of the Shop with something bulky, he suspected her, and she was taken with the Goods upon her. She had nothing to say in her Defence, but that she was very poor, and knew not what she did; whereupon she was found Guilty to the Value of 4 s. 10 d. but the Evidence not being sufficient to prove Houseman to be privy to the Fact, she was acquitted .

[Branding. See summary.]