706. WILLIAM MATTHEWS proceedingsdefend was indicted for stealing a cloth coat, value 50 s. the property of William Allen < no role > , in the dwelling-house of the said William Allen < no role > , July 24th .

WILLIAM ALLEN proceedingsvictim sworn.

I am a taylor . On the 24th of July I lost a blue superfine cloth close-bodied coat; I saw it about seven in the evening on the shop-board in my garret; I missed it about five or six o'clock next morning; there was nobody over-night in the shop but the prisoner, who was my journeyman; he not coming to work in the morning I had a suspicion of him, and went round to several pawnbrokers, and I found the coat at a Mr. Dobey's in Holbourn. The prisoner did not come to work till I went to fetch him.

(The coat was produced in court, and deposed to by the prosecutor.)

JOHN EVERITT < no role > sworn.

I am servant to Mr. Dobey, a pawnbroker in Holbourn; I took in this coat of the prisoner on the night of the 24th of July; I lent him sixteen shillings on it; he said he made it for his own wear; it was about his size.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I worked for the prosecutor. Work being slack I took a coat of my own to alter; I went out and got a little in liquor; not being fit to work, I tied up the coat; I thought it was my own, and went and pledged it.

Jury to the prosecutor. Did he leave his own coat when he took away your's? - I did not see any other; he frequently brought small parcels; I did not know what they were; he said he had a coat to alter; mine was a new coat.

GUILTY of stealing to the value of 39 s.

Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury before Mr. COMMON SERJEANT.

[Branding. See summary.]