114. (M.) Margaret, wife of John Whitehead < no role > proceedingsdefend , was indicted for stealing 2 silver spoons, value 20 s. the property of William Bevan proceedingsvictim , May 24 , 1758. ++

William Bevan < no role > . I keep the Globe ale-house in Hatton-Garden ; I lost two silver spoons on the 24th of May.

Q. Why do you suspect the prisoner?

Bevan. She us'd to come to my house for about a month before, and would usually sit on a bench in my passage, and say she was waiting for somebody: I went out on the 24th of May last, and saw the prisoner sitting there; my servant was then feeding the children with the silver spoons, and when I came home the spoons mentioned were gone.

Q. Did you meet with your spoons again?

Bevan. No, I never did, nor saw the prisoner 'till last Friday was a week; I ask'd her if she knew me ? she at first said she did not; but she soon own'd she had taken two silver spoons and gave them to a woman to pawn; and if I would stay 'till next day at 10 or 11, she would go along with me and get them again.

Catherine Dun < no role > . I have seen the prisoner several times at my master's, Mr. Bevan's house; I had been feeding the children, and had made use of both the silver spoons in the kitchen; the prisoner sat facing the bar; I washed the spoons, and put them in a drawer in the bar.

Q. Was the prisoner so placed that she could see where you put them?

Dun. Yes, she could.

Q. Did you lock the drawer?

Dun. No, I looked for them in about the value of ten minutes after she was gone, and I missed the spoons.

Q. Did you see the prisoner take them?

Dun. No.

Prisoner's Defence.

I us'd to chair for a midwife that liv'd near the prosecutor's; and when she was gone out she would not trust me in her house; so I us'd to go and stay at his house. I saw the spoons lying on the table and a tankard by them, but I never saw the girl put them into the drawer; I live just by, on Saffron-hill, and never absconded; had I been guilty, I should not have staid there. I was very much in liquor when he took me up, and do not know what I said.

Q. to C. Dun. Was any body in your house at the time the spoons were taken?

Dun. There were no body else but the people that belong to our house.

Q. to prosecutor. Was she in liquor when you took her up?

Prosecutor. I believe she might be a little in liquor, but not very much.

Acquitted, contrary to the opinion of the Court .