William Bristow proceedingsdefend , (a Black ) of Aldgate was indicted for a Misdemeanor in breaking the Ware-house of Thomas Gayre < no role > , in the Night-time, with an Intention to steal the Goods of the said Thomas Gayre proceedingsvictim , on the 18th of August last. A Boy depos'd, That waiting at the Door for his Uncle, Stephen Lefevre < no role > , he saw the Prisoner and another talking together, and afterward break open the Ware-house Door and go down; he then alarm'd the Watch, who took them in the Cellar. Caleb Williams < no role > Watchman depos'd, That on the Boy's Information, he and his Brother Watchman Frank Corbet < no role > , according to their Officer (the Constable's) Command, went down the Cellar and shut the Door after them, and coming to the bottom of the Cellar Stairs, held up his Lanthorn, and happen'd to cast his Eye upon the Prisoner, who was a Black. The Sight struck him Speechless, his Hair stood an End, and his Heart sunk into his Breeches, for he thought it could not possibly be any thing less than the Devil. While he was standing in this Consternation, the Prisoner's Comrade slipt by them to another part of the Cellar. Mercy on me Frank, (says this Evidence, for he had now recovered his Speech) there's something past by us. What shall we do? The Boy coming down to their Assistance, they at length took heart and seiz'd on the Prisoner and his Partner, who might easily have escap'd if they had not been in as great fear as the Watchmen. They carried them to the Round-house, from whence before Morning, they broke out through the Cieling and escap'd, but the Prisoner was soon after taken at Billingsgate. In his Defence he said, That he was got Drunk, and went down the Cellar to Sleep. The Jury found him Guilty .

[Imprisonment. See summary.]