542. WILLIAM ALLEN proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 6th of September , a silver watch. value 9 l. a gold seal, value 10 s. a steel chain, value 6 d. and a key, value 1 d. the property of William Dando proceedingsvictim .

WILLIAM DANDO < no role > . I live at No. 6, Hare street, Hoxton, I am a cabinet maker ; I lost my watch last Monday was a week in Bartholomew fair , between seven and eight in the evening; as soon as I went out of the fair I missed it.

Q. Did you see the prisoner in the fair - A. No.

Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. You thought you had lost your watch, you offered a reward for it - A. Yes.

COURT. Are you sure that you had it in your pocket when you was at the fair - A. Yes.

BENJAMIN GODDARD < no role > . I am a watch finisher, I live at No. 3, Chequer alley, Bunhill row; I work below; the prisoner came in and said he had bought a watch.

Q. What day was that - A. On the Tuesday week, about twelve o'clock; he said he knew me some years back; when he came in the shop, he said Mr. Goddard, I should be glad if you would tell me the value of this watch; he said he had given two guineas and a half for it; I told him he was not hurted, I thought it was worth more; he said as the watch was worth more, he would wish to wear it; he asked me if he could have his own name put upon it; I said yes. I took it to pieces and took it to the gilder's Mr. Dando sent to me, to enquire if I had such a watch; I said yes.

Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. The prisoner did not desire you to conceal this - this transaction was all open and fair - A. Yes. I took it to pieces before his face and put it in the window.

JOHN ARMSTRONG < no role > . On Wednesday the second of September I went to the house of Goddard, I found the prosecutor there and another officer. I waited there about twenty minutes; the prisoner came in; on taking the prisoner into custody, I found this seal with the prosecutor's name, which he knew, I found out the prisoner's lodgings, I found there a boy and a girl hard at work, I have no knowledge of the prisoner; he said he knew me, he was a hard working man, look at my hands; I bought it of a Jew.

(The property produced and identified)

NOT GUILTY .

First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder.