123 SOPHIA LANGFORD proceedingsdefend and SARAH TOWNSEND proceedingsdefend were indicted for feloniously making an assault, on the King's highway, on Mary Price proceedingsvictim , spinster , on the 2d of January , and putting her in fear and feloniously taking from her person and against her will, a wooden box containing some powder called medicine powder, value 1 s. the goods of John Price, and one shilling in money , the money of the said Mary Price < no role > .

MARY PRICE < no role > sworn.

I am with my brother, he is a jeweller, he lives at No. 71, Fetter-lane; I was robbed on Saturday night, about ten o'clock, near Somerset house in the Strand , there two women met me and stopped me and asked me for some gin; I never saw them before in my life; I told them I would not give them any, I had not got any money; I was coming from Westminster; I keep my brother's house and work at my needle; they then asked me for a pocket handkerchief, and then Townsend put her right hand down my bosom, and her left hand into my left hand pocket, and Langford put her hand into my right hand pocket and took out a small box containing some medicine powder in it and a shilling; I endeavoured to prevent it, I said, pray don't pick my pocket; they said, they would, and Sophia Langford < no role > said, she would take her bloody knife out of her pocket and run it through my heart if I spoke, and would twist it round her arm; I made my escape on to the other side of the way, they followed me, Langford kept the box, and she came and struck me again, and put her hand into my pocket the second time, and she struck me over the head; they took nothing more out of my pocket, but rattled the box over my head; I applied to a waterman that was there; I don't know his name; but I did not take them up till Thursday, they were then taken up by the two patroles, I was with them, I found them up almost by Temple-bar; I am sure they are the same women perfectly; there was a light near where I was robbed; I never recovered the box with the powder, it might be the value of another shilling; I was alone at the time, but the next witness saw the transaction, he joined me.

Prisoner Langford. On Wednesday evening, I do not recollect being out at any such an hour. - I am sure that is the woman, she took the box away from me and struck me.

Prisoner Townsend. I never recollect seeing the woman before Thursday night. - That is the woman I am perfectly sure.

Court. When you found them on Thursday did you find them together? - I did, both walking together.

EDWARD CLARKE < no role > sworn.

I am a hair dresser by business, but I follow the brokery at present with my uncle; I had been on a message to old Round-court in the Strand, returning from thence I saw the prisoners at the bar insult the prosecutor; I am certain they are the same, they put their hands into her bosom and into her pockets, the one I think that did it was she in the dark own, Langford, the other, was standing by; Langford, she took somethingfrom her, but what I cannot tell, she put her hand down her bosom and in her pockets, the girl was making a terrible piece of work at the time, and turning herself round very quick, Langford she had something in her hand which she shaked over the last witness's head, they called her some infamous names, Townsend called her a bloody sow, and they said, if ever she came that way again they would cut her head open or off, I cannot tell which, this was after they had taken it, and desired her to go about her business, and Langford beat her about the head; on the girl's running away, I went up to her and asked her what was the matter; she told me, she had lost a small box containing some medicines, the women then had left her; I did not see the other woman do any thing at the time the box was taken, she might have done something, but I did not see it; I desired her to stop and I would go to the prisoners and ask them for the box; I followed them to Southampton-street, Covent-garden, I asked them to return the box, and that Langford called me that bloody slanger, or said, I was the bloody slanger that belonged to the bloody whore, and if I did not make the best of my way she would cut my bloody head open; with that I made the best of my way from them to look for a watchman, but I could not find a watchman or patrole for some time, when I got a watchman I went back again and they were gone, and I returned home; I am positive they are the same persons.

Prisoner Langford. I never saw the woman till she brought the person on Thursday, when I was detained till the next day.

Clarke. The prisoner Townsend seemed to be very much in liquor at the time.

CHARLES DELMAN < no role > sworn.

I am a clerk to an attorney. On Wednesday evening the girl called on me, and told me she had been robbed; I asked her, if she knew the people? She said, she should; I recommended her to go the following night and speak to the constables and patroles, and take them up; I went with her, she saw the prisoners coming rather behind Temple-bar, towards Arundell-street in the Strand, she knew the prisoners and said, there are the two women that robbed me; when they came up the patrole took them to the watch-house, and the girl there charged them with having robbed her and having struck her, once on the Somerset house side of the Strand, and afterwards following her on the other side and striking her again; the prisoners both declared they had never seen the prosecutrix in their lives.

ROBERT NOAKES < no role > sworn.

I am a patrole belonging to St. Clement's; I knew nothing of this till Thursday night between seven and eight o'clock, I took Sophia Langford < no role > , and the other patrole with me took the other, and we took them to St. Clement's-lane watch-house, and then told them what it was for, the prosecutrix came there and laid the charge against them.

GEORGE SALLIS < no role > sworn.

I am a patrole; I assisted the other in taking them up.

JAMES TALBOYS < no role > sworn.

I am beadle and watch-house keeper to the parish of St. Clement's; these girls were brought to the watch-house on Thursday about half after nine or not quite so much, the young woman told me that them two women had robbed her the night before, she said, she was robbed of a little box of medicines and a shilling in silver, and that she had been ill treated, they declared they never sawher in their lives before; I searched the prisoners but found nothing relating to this.

Court to Prosecutrix. At the time these women made this attack on you, did they say any thing more than you described; did they assign any reason either of them for taking the money from you? - They did not.

Q. Had you been walking up and down there? - I had not.

Q. Did you understand at all, the reasons for what they wanted the money of you? - For some gin, that was all that passed.

Court to Clarke. I understand that one of these women said, that if she came there again they would cut her bloody head open or off; what did you understand by that? - I did not hear any thing pass more than what I have mentioned.

Prisoner Langford. I never saw the woman till Thursday, or saw the box or the shilling that she has sworn to; I should wish her to look very close to see if I am the person that robbed her of the shilling.

Prisoner Townsend. At the same time the gentlewoman charged me with the same robbery; I never saw her before the Thursday night we were both walking down to my sister's in the city.

Court to Mary Price. These medicines are said to be the property of Mr. John Price < no role > , who is he? - That is my brother, the box and medicines was my brother's, the shilling was my own.

Sophia Langford < no role > , GUILTY . Death .

Sarah Townsend < no role > , GUILTY . Death .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.