55. CHARLES ALLDIN proceedingsdefend , GEORGE COOKE proceedingsdefend , and DANIEL BUCKERIDGE proceedingsdefend were indicted for feloniously assaulting, on the king's highway, Rebecca Gale proceedingsvictim , on the 1st of January , and putting her in fear and danger of her life, and feloniously taking from her person, and against her will, a piece of silver coin of this realm,called a half crown, another piece, called a shilling, two six-pences, and twelve halfpence , the monies of the said Rebecca Gale < no role > .

REBECCA GALE < no role > sworn.

I live in Cable-street, No. 44: I buy and sell old stockings . On the 1st day of this new year, I was in Rosemary-lane , selling my property, which were old stockings mended: a man came and asked me the price of a pair of stockings; and he called me on one side; and he would not deal for the stockings; and the prisoner Charles Alldin came between the man and me while we were trying to deal, and put his hand into my front pocket, and took out one half crown piece, one shilling, two six-pences, and sixpennyworth of halfpence; my pocket was tied on the front of my apron; I seized the prisoner Alldin's hand in my pocket, as he was drawing it out of my pocket, and asked him to give me my money, for I knew him very well; I had seen him a great many times before; I called out immediately that I was robbed; I held him fast by the coat some minutes, while he had the money in his hand, and was trying to get from me; I saw part of the money in his hand, though his hand was clasped; he could not cover the whole of it; the other two prisoners, and several others whom I did not know, came to assist; and the other two prisoners both said, if I did not let him go, they would break my b - y arm; and they tore the prisoner from me by main force, and he made his escape; it was between three and four in the afternoon; the man that was dealing with me, brought back the little boy, Alldin; the man is not here; Alldin asked me to search him, and said, he had no money; he was not searched, but taken before a magistrate; in taking him along, the other two prisoners, and many more followed me, and said to him, what did the b - y old bitch say you had robbed her of? and somebody gave me a blow; I had received one before, but cannot tell by whom; the prisoner Alldin said, if I did not let him go, he would cut my arm off; and they took him from me by main force, and all escaped. I got an officer, one Cooke; and he went with me and two others on Saltpetre-bank, and met Daniel Buckeridge < no role > ; it was between nine and ten in the evening; it was dark; I told the officer he was one of them; I knew him again, and they took him directly; then we went into a public house close by, and took Cooke standing by the fire-side; I knew him perfectly well; those two men were taken to the magistrate's; then we went to another public house on Saltpetre-bank, full of little boys, and took the prisoner Alldin; he was under the table; they pulled him out; I said, you little rogue, why did you rob me? he said he did no such thing, for I had taken him from a woman's stall, where he was buying a halfpennyworth of sausages, and a farthing's worth of potatoes; and he said that I beat him; and I believe I did strike him once or twice; then he was taken before a magistrate; I am perfectly sure to the three prisoners; Alldin for robbing me, and the other two for affronting me; I have seen them several times before.

Court. Are you sure that the prisoner Alldin had not got his hand out of your pocket, before the other prisoners came up to him; I am; he had not before the other prisoners came up and rescued him.

Had they made use of the expression of threats to you, before he drew his hand out of your pocket? - Yes.

You undertake to swear that? - Yes.

Repeat the expressions? - The two prisoners, Cooke and Buckeridge, said, while his hand was in my pocket, that if I did not let him go, they would break my b - y arm.

And it was after that you saw the money in his hand? - Yes; immediately on their speaking, he took out his hand; and then I had a blow from somebody; and I saw the money in his hand; they left me only one farthing; I carried out the money to buy work, but had laid none out; I did not receive it in the fair; it was not in a purse; I have known Alldin, by sight, ever since Easter Monday, and Cooke almost all thesummer: (the witnesses examined separate, at the desire of the prisoners): I did not know any of their names; but I gave a description of their persons and dress at the office; Buckeridge and Alldin had changed coats when they were taken; Cooke was dressed the same as before.

Prisoner Cooke. Who found the money to carry on this prosecution? - I said I was in distress, and the justice sent the men to take them; I have had no money from any body.

JOHN COOKE < no role > sworn.

I am headborough of St. George's. On the 1st of this month, in the evening, about seven or eight, the prosecutrix informed me of the robbery; she said she knew all the persons very well, and one was a small lad, the other two bigger; I appointed her to come at nine, and go in search of them with us, which she did; and on Saltpetre-bank, we met Buckeridge; she knew him as soon as she saw him; it was very dark; she saw him close to the public house door; he immediately denied having ever seen her; we secured him, and apprehended Cooke at the door of the same public house; he was coming up the bank; they were not together; the prosecutrix knew him immediately; we took him into the public house to her; we found the prisoner Alldin at another public house on the bank, in half an hour after; me and another went into the house, and saw Alldin and some others; he was sitting on the floor by the fire; I brought in the prosecutrix, and Alldin immediately crept under the table; I do not know whether he knew me or not; I did not know him; we took him from under the table; and as soon as she saw his face, she said, that is the little dog that robbed me.

Prisoner. By whose expence is this prosecution carried on? - The woman's.

JOHN RILEY sworn.

(Deposed to the same effect as the last witness.)

Prisoner Buckridge. Ask him how long it is since he was taken up for robbing Woolwich church? - I was tried and acquitted in a court of justice.

How long is it since you was taken into custody for robbing a ship of dollars? - I was once before Sir Sampson Wright, on suspicion of robbing a ship; I was acquitted before him.

Court. How long have you belonged to this public office? - About a year and a half.

MICHAEL GAFFNEY < no role > sworn.

I am a labouring man, in East Smithfield. I went with Cooke and one Peter Mayne < no role > -

Prisoner. Please to ask him whether he has not been convicted of felony, and been on board the hulks at Woolwich? - No, Sir.

Was you never on board the hulks? - No, Sir, I never was.

Townsend. I beg your pardon, my lord. Hearing this, I think it my duty to say I was present, when servant to Mr. Akerman, and I put that man to the bar; he was tried, and sentenced to be transported for seven years; I think, if I am correct, he was tried in 1783, and Owen and me were present at his trial and conviction.

Gaffney. I do not deny that; I deny I was on board the hulks; I was on board the ship from this court.

At first I think you said you never was in that situation? - I said I never was on board the hulks, but on board the ship; I forget the name.

Owen. Why you know I delivered you myself? - Yes, you did. I went with the others, and took Cooke at the door of the public house.

Court. Do you belong to the public office? - No; I go on errands, and porter. Mayne asked me to go with him, as it was such a noted place.

JOHN BERNELL < no role > sworn.

I am an officer belonging to Justice Staples.I apprehended Cooke and Alldin; the boy was sitting by the fire; and when he saw me come in, he crept under the table; then the other officer fetched in the woman, and I pulled him out from under the table.

PRISONER ALLDIN's DEFENCE.

The woman said I picked her pocket of three and three-pence; about two hours before, I was eating sausages; I am innocent.

PRISONER COOKE's DEFENCE.

I was coming home last Saturday week, from my ship, at Chatham; I was paid off; I got into London about seven; and this woman saw me coming down Rosemary-lane; and Birnell and Cooke took hold of me, and asked me if I knew any thing of a little boy with curly hair, that stole some money? I said, I did not; and they said they would keep me till I did tell.

PRISONER BUCKERIDGE's DEFENCE.

I am innocent of this affair; I wish you would examine strictly into the witnesses; I never saw the woman before with my eyes.

CHARLES ALLDIN < no role > (aged 13) GEORGE COOKE < no role > (aged 17) DAN. BUCKERIDGE (aged 16)

GUILTY , Death .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron THOMPSON < no role > .