11. ( M.) Robert Campbell proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing twenty gallons of oil, value 16 s the goods of Elizabeth Ward proceedingsvictim , widow , Nov. 17 . ++

Elizabeth Ward < no role > . The prisoner was my servant . I am a lamp lighter . I was told that my lamps used to be burnt out before eleven at night. I knowing I allow'd a sufficiency of oil, suspected the prisoner made away with the oil. I took him up, and before the justice he confess'd he had sold oil several times to John Richardson < no role > , Mary Price < no role > , and Charlotte Leith < no role > .

Q. Had you no other person that lighted lamps for you?

E. Ward. He was the only person that lighted the lamps where the complaint was made.

Q. How much did you miss?

E. Ward. I went round to see, and there was scarce any oil in the burners.

Q. How much did you measure out to him?

E. Ward. I measured out thirteen quarts every evening, which would continue burning till six in the morning. He said he sold five quarts at a time to one Richardson, who keeps a chandler's shop; and two quarts a day to Mary Price < no role > , for three days, who keeps a chandler's shop and sells oil; and a pint and half to Charlotte Leith < no role > , that keeps a green shop; that he had four-pence half-penny a quart of Richardson, four-pence a quart of Price, and three-pence of Leith.

Q. What is it worth a quart?

E. Ward. It stands me in betwixt 10 d. and 11 d. per quart by the ton.

William Ward < no role > . The prosecutrix is my mother. I always used to measure the prisoner out thirteen quarts every evening. The complaint was from the second or third day, for eight or nine days, the time he was employ'd by us.

Q Did you ever see him in Mary-bone Fields?

Ward. I watch'd him from his first lamp; there was a man with him that we had employed, who had rob'd us before. I went from lamp to lamp, and followed them over the fields, to the last lamp in Marybone-Fields. I look'd at the measure, and found he did not put in half the quantity that he should have done. When he had done the last lamp he put the ladder up, and the other pull'd out a bladder to put the oil in. As they were putting the oil in I went to detect them, and the other man ran away. I took the prisoner to the Round house that night, and the next day before the justice, where he confessed he had sold our oil to Charlotte Leith < no role > , John Richardson, and Mary Price < no role > ; I had warrants granted to take them up. The prisoner was a second time examined, when he said a cousin of his was concerned with him; that he sold Price three quarts one day, two another, and two another, for a groat a quart.

Prisoner's Defence.

The man that was catch'd with me behind the church shew'd me these people where to sell it to.

Guilty .

He received sentence to be branded in the hand, which was done immediately .