760 JOHN LEE proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 24th of September , eight pounds of coffee, value 8s. the property of Edward Hanson proceedingsvictim , John Pearson proceedingsvictim , Thomas Styles proceedingsvictim , William Pearson proceedingsvictim , Daniel Gossett proceedingsvictim , and William Pearson proceedingsvictim , the younger .

DANIEL GOSSETT sworn. - I am a bull-porter , in partnership with Edward Hanson, John Pearson, Thomas Styles < no role > , William Pearson < no role > , myself, and William Pearson, the younger; the prisoner was employed in our warehouses; I know nothing of the transaction.

RALPH WATTS sworn. - I am an Excise-locker: On Thursday, the 24th of September, between ten and eleven o'clock, I was in the warehouses at Paul's Wharf; the prisoner came down with the rest of the men to the lower room, I rubbed him down, and heard something rattle, which was the coffee running down through his breeches knees; I then called my partner to my assistance, and we secured him; we took nine pounds and a half of coffee out of his breeches; we got a constable, and took him before the Lord-Mayor.

Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. Q. You have generally a bye word for a man that goes out of the warehouse? - A. No, we rub them down.

Q. Had not you a bye word, get on as fast as you can; walk away? - A. No.

Q. Have not you a bye word without which persons cannot get in and out? - A. No.

Q. What is the reward upon the conviction of a man for robbing the warehouse? - A. I never made any enquiry.

Q. Have you never heard what the reward is? - A. I did not know till I made enquiry.

Q. What did you mean by telling me you had not enquired what was the reward? - A. A guinea.

Q. You did not search the men when they came into the warehouse? - A. No.

Q.Therefore a man might bring coffee into the warehouse if he pleased? - A. We have nothing to do with that.

Q. But you expect a guinea if this man is convicted? - A. No, I don't care a halfpenny for the guinea.

Q. You did not tell this man he might have the sweepings? - A. No.

Q. Do you know a person of the name of Brady? - A. Yes, he is the Custom-house-locker.

Q. What conversation had you with Brady before you rubbed him down? - A. None at all.

Q. Do you mean to swear that? - A. I had no conversation with him.

Q. Who stopped him first? - A. I did.

Q. Do you mean to swear that? - A. Yes.(James Brady and one other witness corroborated the testimony of Watts.)(John Wainewright, the constable, produced, the property.)

Mr. Gossett. This is the same sort of coffee that we had in the warehouse.

Prisoner's defence. I had been a very little while in the coffee business, and Brady and Watts told me I might make a shilling or two, and he made motions with his hands to his breeches, and seemed very much surprised that I did not understand his motions; and he said, why don't you go; I told him I did not know where to go; and then I took the coffee; and when they rubbed me down, I was surprised at their taking me into custody; this was sweepings; it was impossible any man could attempt to go out of this door, when he was sure to be searched, without it was with the approbation of these officers; it is they that commit the depredations.

Court. Q.(To Gossett.) Are sweeping allowed as a perquisite? - A. No.

The prisoner called five witnesses, who gave him a good character.

GUILTY , aged 34.

Whipped one hundred yards on Paul's Wharf .

London Jury, before Mr. Recorder.