286. (M.) Elizabeth, wife of John Brown < no role > proceedingsdefend , was indicted for stealing one linnen shift, value one shilling; one pair of worstead stockings, value six pence , the property of Jos Sparrow proceedingsvictim , July 25 . ++

Jos. Sparrow. The prisoner came into my yard and took a shift and a pair of stockings, that I had seen before hanging in the yard to dry.

Q. Where do you live?

Sparrow. I live in Abel's buildings, Rosemary lane .

Q. Did you know the prisoner before?

Sparrow. I never saw her before to my knowledge.

Q. When was this?

Sparrow. This was on the 25th of July, between nine and ten o'clock at night.

Q. Did you see her come into the yard?

Sparrow. No, I did not, but I saw her when she was in the yard.

Q. Did you see her take the shift and stockings?

Sparrow. I suppose she took them.

Q. How long before she came into the yard had you seen the things?

Sparrow. I had seen them about an hour, or an hour and half, before that.

Q. Are you sure they were in the yard when she came in?

Sparrow. I am sure they were.

Q. Whose property were they?

Sparrow. The shift belong'd to my wife, and the stockings were mine; the prisoner pull'd open the shutter of the window, and put up the sash, and attempted to take a sheet that was there, that I saw very plain, I saw her have hold of it; then I asked her what business she had there; then she drawed back. I went and laid hold of her before she got out of the passage; then she dropt the shift and stockings from under her cloak, (produc'd in court, and deposed to) I asked her how she came by them; she would give me no account how she got them.

Q. Did she at any time own how she came by them?

Sparrow. No, she denied taking them; I charg'd a constable with her, and took her before justice Scott.

Prisoner. He said before the justice he found nothing at all upon me.

Sparrow. I said I found these things upon her.

Isaac Dimsdell < no role > . I had been out about my business on saturday the 25th of July at night; when I came home. I was told they had taken a woman, who had taken some cloths from a line; we took the prisoner to the watchhouse, and the next morning, we had her before the justice; going along, we had a great mob of people followed us; we took her into an alehouse, then the mob dispersed, and in the alehouse yard she confess'd she stole the things, and said, she was sorry for what she had done.

Prisoner's Defence.

Please you, my lord, I was a little in liquor, I was going to a neighbour's house, I made a mistake, and went into this man's entry; the man came out, and ask'd me, whether I wanted to rob him; I made him a saucy answer and he charg'd the constable with me, and took me before a justice, there he said he found nothing upon me.

For the prisoner.

Ann Quinn < no role > . I have known the prisoner six or seven years.

Q. How did she get her livelihood?

A. Quinn. She used to sell old cloaths.

Q. What is her general character?

A. Quinn. She has a very good character, she lived on and off with me six years.

Q. Are you a housekeeper?

A. Quinn. I am, and she was a lodger, I have trusted her with things of value.

Q. How long ago is it that she lived with you?

A. Quinn. It is six years ago, and she lived with me about five month ago.

Catherine Ireland < no role > . I have known the prisoner about six years, she lived with me about three years.

Q. How long is it ago since she lived with you?

C. Ireland. She left me twelve months last Michaelmas.

Q. What is her general character?

C. Ireland. I never heard any harm of her in my life.

Q. What is your employ?

C. Ireland. I sell fish.

Guilty, 10 d.

[Whipping. See summary.]