280. JOHN TATE proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 5th of March , a jacket, value 12 s. the property of Richard Mount proceedingsvictim .

JOSEPH BLANEY < no role > sworn. - I live with Mr. Mount, a pawnbroker , Gravel-lane, St. George's in the East : On the 5th of March, the prisoner came into the shop about nine o'clock in the morning, while we were busy, and he cut a jacket down from off the nails where it was hanging; a person that was in the shop said, there is a man has stole a jacket; I immediately followed him, and took the prisoner with the jacket in his possession. As I was taking him towards the Police-office, I met one of the Police-officers, and I gave him in charge.

Q. What did he say? - A. I believe the expression that he made use of was, that he wanted to borrow it of me.

WILLIAM SHAFFSTOW < no role > sworn. - I am an officer in the Thames Police: On Monday, the 5th of March, in the forenoon, I had charge of the prisoner by the prosecutor at the top of Anchor and Hope-alley, in St. George's in the East; he was charged with stealing this pea-jacket; I have had it in my custody ever since.

Q. Where did you find the jacket when you took him? - A. On the prosecutor's arms. (The jacket produced and identified.)

Prisoner's defence. When he took me, he asked me where I was going with the jacket; I told him I was going to No. 101, Wapping, to get one made like it; I was going along Wapping-wall, and met this crimp and another man; I was going up to the India-house to go on board the Lady Burgess; the man gave me the jacket to carry, so I was going along, and this man came running after me, and said it was his jacket; I said, how can it be your jacket, when a man gave it me to carry? I said, come along, and I will prove it to you. So he took me along, and we met this man, and he carried me to the Police-office.

Blaney. Before I took him to the Office, I took him back to the shop.

GUILTY , aged 28.

Confined six months in the House of Correction and publickly whipped .

Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.