231. + Stephen Parsons proceedingsdefend , of St. Martin's in the Fields , was indicted for stealing a silver chocolate pot, value 7 l. 10 s. a pair of silver snuffers, value 15 s. a pair of silver tea-tongs, value 8 s. a silver stockbuckle, value 4 s. the goods of Sir Simeon Stuart proceedingsvictim , in his dwelling house , Octo. 10th .

Sir Simeon Stuart < no role > . I have a dwelling house in York Buildings . I was in Suffolk when this accident happened. The prisoner had been a late servant of mine: I had notice sent me, that my house had been robbed, and that some of my pieces of plate were found at a pawnbroker's. The plate was locked up by me when I went out of town in a strong box, and left in my dining room window; the brass hinges were taken off, which was done by a person of judgment. I am very well satisfied these pieces of plate are my own.

Elizabeth Warwick < no role > . I am servant to Sir Simeon, the prisoner lay in my master's house, when he was out of town.

Sir Simeon. That was after he was discharged out of my service; I discharged him in Suffolk, without a livery, or any badge belonging to me.

Warwick. I did not know that, for he came to the house, and said, he came to town upon business of his master's, and I let him lye in the house about three nights. I can positively swear the box was very safe when he came into the house.

Q. When did you miss the plate?

Warwick. Mr. Reason a silver-smith discovered it to me; he came and asked me, if I had not lost something; I looked in the dining room, and found two boxes broke open, and plate and wearing apparel gone. The prisoner went away in the morning; and Mr. Reason sent to me about the chocolate pot, with Sir Simeon's coat of arms, about five in the evening, and I found it there.

William Reason < no role > . On the 10th of October last, about three o'clock in the afternoon, the prisoner came to me, put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out the lid of a chocolate pot: I asked him where the other part was; he said, there was a coat of arms upon that, and he did not care to sell it. I thought there might be some weightier concern than that; and he said, if I would buy this, he would return in two hours; so I weighed it, bought it, and paid for it, and then he pulled out the snuffers and tea tongs. He not coming that evening, I directed my wife that if any person came with any plate, to secure him; and the next day the prisoner brought the chocolate pot. I advertised it, and my brother-in-law, an engraver in arms, having the honour to work for Sir Simeon, he directed me to go to York Buildings, and there I saw Mrs. Warwick, and asked her if she was robbed; she said she was not; I said, I am sure Sir Simeon is, for I have some of his plate; then she went to look, and missed it: she said, there was a raw boned young fellow, who had been servant to Sir Simeon, lay in the house; and she was sorry, as she recommended him, that he should be the thief. The Prisoner is the person who brought the lid of the chocolate pot, the tea-tongs, and stock-buckle.

Mary Reason < no role > . On the 11th of October the Prisoner brought this chocolate pot to me to sell. I put it into the scale, and weighed it, sent for assistance, and secured him.

Prisoner. If you say this, you will say a thing that is wrong, for I am not the person that brought the things to your house. My master discharged me in the country, and I came to the housekeeper, and told her, my master had turned me away, and would not give me a character. She let me lie there two or three nights, but I know nothing of these things. I went to work in a rope-yard, and afterwards enlisted myself as a drummer in the first regiment of guards. Guilty Death .