361. EDWARD EVANS proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 27th of April , a ham, value 4 s. the property of Edward Frisby Howis proceedingsvictim , Edward Howis proceedingsvictim , and Stephen Howis proceedingsvictim .

JAMES COOK < no role > sworn. - I am a servant to Mr. Reynolds, a printer, who lives opposite to Mr. Howis; I saw the prisoner take a ham from Mr. Howis's shop on the 27th of April, between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, and put it into the cart, and wrapped it up in some matting; the ham was close by the side of the door; I saw him go back into the shop, and speak to the young man, and then he returned to the cart and took the ham from the cart, and wrapped it up in the matting and put it under his arm, and went away with it; I informed Mr. Howis of it; he went in search of him, but could not find him; when he returned back, Mr. Howis sent for me.

EDWARD FRISBY HOWIS < no role > sworn. - I am an oilman , I live in Piccadilly ; I am in partnership with Edward Howis < no role > , and Stephen Howis < no role > my father.

Q. Did you ever find your ham again? - A. No, the prisoner was a servant to the carman we usually employ to cart our goods; when he came back I challenged him with it, and he strongly denied having any thing at all to do with it.

Prisoner's defence. About half past twelve o'clock I was standing with the cart at Charing-cross; my master came down to me, and ordered me to go to Mr. Frisby Howis to load the cart; I stood with the cart before the shop a quarter of an hour; the gentleman came to the door, and I asked him how long it would be before he could get the goods to load; he said a quarter of an hour; I asked leave to go and get a pint of beer and a bit of bread and cheese; instead of going for that I went up to the whip-maker and fetched my whip.

Q. What do you say about the ham? - A. I never touched any thing of the kind, nor had the least thought about it.

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

GUILTY , aged 23.

Confined six months in the House of Correction , and fined 1 s.

First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.