239. PATRICK READING proceedingsdefend and THOMAS FORD proceedingsdefend were indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Robert Ashmore proceedingsvictim , about the hour of one in the night of the 9th of March , with intent the goods, of the said Robert, therein being, to steal, take, and carry away, and burglariously stealing two silver table spoons, value 30s. twelve silver tea-spoons, value 40s. a pair of silver tea-tongs, value 10s, a silver pint mug, value 40s. a pair of silver shoe-buckles, value 16s. seven metal candlesticks, value 20s. a copper tea-kettle, value 4s. and a looking-glass with a wooden frame, value 8s. the property of the said Robert .

ROBERT ASHMORE < no role > sworn. - I keep a house, No. 27, in Old-street : My house was broke open on the 10th of March, in the morning; I was the last person up the night before, I fastened the doors, and bolted them; I went to bed about nine o'clock, I usually go to bed about that time; about half after one in the morning, my wife called me up, and said, the house was full of watchmen; I got up, and found the grooves, that the shutters went into, broke, and the shutter forced out. I missed a dressing-glass out of the shop, and the parlour behind was stripped entirely; I missed three pair of brass candlesticks, and one odd one, a silver pint mug, a half pint mug, a milk-pot, two table-spoons, a dozen of tea-spoons, tea-tongs, and a pair of silver shoe-buckles.

Q. Did you find any of your property afterwards? - A. The constable has found the things that will be produced.

JOHN GASS < no role > sworn. - I am a constable; I and Peach apprehended the prisoners on the 10th of March, at the Crown in Twister's-alley, Bunhill-row: I searched them, but found nothing upon them. I was upon duty that night, and I and the watchman gave the alarm to the family that the house was broke open, that was about half after one, I found the shutters broke in two, and the door open; and from the information of the lamplighter I went after the prisoners.

JOHN SHEFFIELD < no role > sworn. - I am a lamp-lighter: In the morning of the 10th of March, between one and two o'clock, I was lighting the lamps just by Mr. Ashmore's house, and while I was standing upon my ladder, I heard some people talking, I could see by my light that there were three men; when I went to the next lamp, I saw two of them cross the way to Ironmonger-row, which was nearly lacing; the man that was behind, turned up acourt, that was the prisoner Ford, I saw him stoop down as though he was easing himself; I went on about my business, and as I came home again, I saw three men in Ironmonger-row, I saw that they were the same men, and then I observed that the prisoner, Reading, was another of them; the other I do not know any thing about. The next morning, between eight and nine, I informed Gass, the constable of it.

Q. Did you see them go into any house? - A. No.

Q. Did you see them do any thing to Ashmore's house? - A. No.

Q.(To Gass.) In consequence of this information, did you make any search? - A. Yes; I went to that court, but it has no thoroughfare, there are a few houses in it, but they are mostly empty, it is called Well-and-bucket-court; there is a small gate-way going in that you can touch the ceiling with your hand, and there I saw two brass candlesticks sticking out from the lath and plaister, and behind the door of the first house in the court I found a copper tea-kettle; it was an empty house.

Q. Was the silver plate ever found? - A. No, not at all. I went with Peach to apprehend them, and when they were hand-cuffed together, one said to the other, "d-n you, don't split", that was Reading.

THOMAS WESTON < no role > sworn. - I am a patrol: between one and two o'clock, I was going my rounds, I saw the prisoner, Ford, with two other men, standing about twenty yards from the house, I cannot swear to the other; they were all standing and talking together.

BENJAMIN CASE sworn. - I am a watchman: I was coming round, and found the house broke open, I did not see the prisoners at all.

Both NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury, before Lord KENYON.