347. SARAH DEAN proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing a mourning gold ring set with a crystal stone and six brilliant diamonds set therein, value 42 s. the property of Thomas Allen Smith proceedingsvictim , in his dwelling-house , May 10th.

THOMAS ALLEN SMITH < no role > sworn.

I keep a shoe-warehouse in Postern-row, Tower-hill : I lost a family mourning ring, which was in the care of Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. SMITH sworn.

I kept the ring locked up in a case in a chest of drawers in the room where the prisoner lay; we took her into the house in charity; she said she was in distress, but had a very large estate coming to her: I saw the ring on Saturday night, and missed it on Sunday afternoon.

WILLIAM FOX sworn.

I am a pawnbroker: I took this ring in pawn of the prisoner on Saturday night; I have had it in my custody ever since.

[The ring was produced in Court, and deposed to by the prosecutor and prosecutrix.]

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I came into Mr. Smith's house; they pretended to be very fatherly and good to me, having a little dependence coming to me, he said, he would see me righted if I would make him a will and power; and he sent for a lawyer in order to deprive me of my property; Mrs. Smith came down into the kitchen, and said, as I had been so good to the family, she did not know how to make me amends, and put the ring on my finger; I wore the ring till Saturday night, then being in distress I pawned it.

To Mrs. SMITH. Did you give her the ring? - No; I shewed her the ring, but never delivered it out of my own possession.

Did you consent to her taking it? - No.

After you had shewn her the ring, did you put it into the drawer? - I put it into the case, and then into my drawer, and locked it.

When you found it missing, was the lock broke? - No.

How was it opened? - I do not know.

PRISONER. She gave me some diamond ear-rings at the same time; I pawned the ring for a guinea, bought some asparagus and other things, and gave her the change, and gave it her.

GUILTY of stealing to the value of thirty-nine shillings .

Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

[Branding. See summary.]

[Imprisonment. See summary.]