236. CHARLOTTE WALKER proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 1436. was indicted for that she, in a certain wide and open place near the king's highway, called the French-horn Yard , in and upon Joseph Bowman proceedingsvictim , feloniously did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a leather pocket-book, value 1 s. eight guineas, half a guinea, and eight shillings, in monies numbered , the property of the said Joseph Bowman < no role > , April 18th .

JOSEPH BOWMAN < no role > sworn.

I live in Tottenham-Court Road. On the 18th of April, as I was returning from the city, (I had supped at the Horse-shoe and Magpie, and parted with my company) just as the clock struck eleven, in my way home, up Holborn, I met with the prisoner; she asked me for a glass of wine, and represented herself as perishing for want of a glass of wine; I said, if the glass of wine would keep her from perishing, she should have it; I went into an open room, and ordered a bottle of wine; I paid for it, and went out; my way lay through the yard; going through the yard, she importuned me for a shilling; I told her she was impertinent, and would give her nothing; she said, D - n your eyes! you shall: she then gave me a violent push, in consequence of which I fell with my shoulder against the wall, on the right side, on some dung; she took from me eight guineas and a half, eight shillings, and my pocket-book out of my left-side waistcoat pocket; I missed it as soon as I got from her; I ran into the street, and called for the watch; the watch did not come; I went into the house, and asked if they knew the woman; the bar-maid said, yes; her name was Miss Walker: I told her I had been robbed of eight guineas and a half, eight shillings, and my pocket-book; I searched after the prisoner; I took up another woman, who said she knew her; the prisoner was taken the next morning; I knew her perfectly well to be the same woman: I never found my pocket-book nor money.

Had you drank freely that afternoon? - No: I was perfectly sober. She pushed me down, threw herself against me, and took the money out of my pocket by force; I struggled with her about three minutes before I could disentangle myself.

Prisoner. He said, the first time, I pushed him against the wall, he fell on one side, and I robbed him; the second time he said, as he came out of the door, I held him together by both his arms, and so robbed his Worship: I said I must have three hands to rob him when I had hold of both his arms.

Bowman. She spit in the justice's face, and beat the constables. I missed my pocketbook and money, when I got into the middle of Holborn; I ran as fast as I could into Holborn.

Did you relate the same story to the justice you have told me now, that she hit you a blow and knocked you down, and threw herself upon you? - Yes; and if the information is here, I dare say you will find it so.

WILLIAM PARRY < no role > sworn.

I keep the French-horn inn.

Do you know any thing of the prosecutor being with a woman at your house? - I did not see him till he came back and complained he had been robbed, which was before twelve o'clock; he asked me who the woman was that was with him. I called the bar-maid to know who it was; she informed me; he said he had been robbed by her; I said I would go immediately in search of her, thinking it a duty incumbent upon me.

SARAH KEATES < no role > sworn.

I am bar-maid at the French-horn inn. On the 18th of this month, about half after eleven, the prosecutor came into our house with the woman at the bar; they staid not quite half an hour; and above a quarter of an hour they were in the parlour, there was nobody there but the prosecutor and the prisoner; they were alone, but the door was not shut.

Do you remember his coming back? - Yes: he asked me if I knew her; I said, yes; I know her person and name: Mr. Parry went out in pursuit of her with him immediately.

In what condition was he when he returned to your house? - He seemed agitated on account of losing his money.

SAMUEL BOLTON < no role > sworn.

I am a constable. I apprehended the prisoner; I found neither pocket-book nor money. An information was brought to Justice Girdler's; I brought her to the justice's, and the prosecutor said that was the woman; he charged her with robbing him of his money; he told the justice the woman knocked him down; that his foot struck against the kirb, and he fell down.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I met the prosecutor in Holborn; he asked me to go and drink a glass of wine with him; I went with him to the French-horn; he went into a private room, and wanted a pint of claret; Sarah Keates < no role > said they had no claret in the house; he told me to have what I pleased, and we had a pint of red port; he asked me if I would let him be concerned with me; I said, yes, if he would make me a present: he said he had no cash; we drank the pint of wine. Is it probable that I should knock a man down, who declared he had no cash about him, and I saw no cash? There was a coachman he knew; he came out and told him he had been robbed by somebody of eight guineas, but he could not tell how; he said he picked up a girl, and went into the French-horn, at three in the morning, and gave her half a guinea to be connected with her; that he wanted her to tell him where one Miss Mee lived, as he chose to lie with her above any other woman. There is a man in court he told, that he had said to me, he would give me a guinea, if I would tell him where Miss Mee was.

For the Prisoner.

JAMES GRAY < no role > sworn.

I am a coachman. I know Mr. Bowman. When I drove the stage from Pinner to Stanmore, he lived at Harrow-well Common. I was in company with him about ten minutes that night: he said he was robbed between one and two o'clock, at the Coach and Horses in Holborn; he was in company with three girls and two men; he came in with them, and treated them with drams; he treated me with a glass; when he had so done, the girls went about their business. He said, Gray, I have not money to pay; I said I would lend him some; then he put his hand into his left-hand pocket, and pulled out a handful of gold and silver, and paid for it; I said, I wish I had as much as you; afterwards he told me he had been robbed, but he said he did not know how; he asked me to go along with him; I told him I was very much tired, and begged to be excused; he said he wanted to go to the French-horn; the first girl he met, who stands here, he took her round the middle, and took her into the French-horn, into a private room; and I left them.

How long have you known this gentleman? - I believe five or six years.

Who did you see at the French-horn? - The landlord and landlady.

Was the bar-woman up? - I think I saw but one woman.

Was this man sober, or in liquor? - He seemed to be in liquor.

ANN SMITH < no role > sworn.

About half after two o'clock on Wednesday night, this gentleman asked me to go and drink a glass of wine at the French-horn: he met me within two doors of the French-horn: the last witness was with him. I went with him; he was in my company, I dare say, the space of an hour and better; he asked me if I knew such a name as Mee; I told him I knew such a name, but I did not know where she was.

Was any thing said about his being robbed? - No; he did not mention any thing of the kind to me. I went in about half after two, and I dare say I was more than an hour with him: when I went in with him, he called for a pint of wine; he asked me to be concerned with him, which I was.

To Parry. Do you remember seeing this man at your house this evening afterwards? - Yes; he came back with Ann Smith < no role > and the coachman.

Where had he been from the time lie complained he was robbed till he came back? - He had been seeking after this woman with me. We saw three women in Holborn go into a public-house; I bid him go in and drink a glass of something, and he would have an opportunity of seeing if he knew them; he did, and came out to me; I advised him to get some other woman, who might know where she lodged, and he brought in this young woman; I believe his business with her was to know who robbed him.

Then you don't believe what she has said? - No: I was in the room; he offered to give this woman half a guinea to tell where the prisoner lodged, and said that he had a particular attachment to her.

NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. RECORDER.