129. JAMES BAINBRIDGE proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 15th of December , forty pair of stockings, value 10 l. the property of William Ward proceedingsvictim , in the dwelling-house of Robert Ward < no role > .

WILLIAM WARD < no role > . I am a stocking cleaner and dyer ; I live in the house of Robert Ward, Swallow-street, in the parish of St. Ann .

Q. Did you lose any stockings on the 15th of December last - A. Yes, forty pair of silk stockings.

Q. When had you last seen the stockings before you missed them - A. On the 14th, in the evening, they were on the counter, in the shop. I saw them there about eight o'clock. After that, I did not see any more of them until I saw the prisoner and them in the watchhouse, on Tuesday morning, the 15th of December.

JANE WARD < no role > . I am the daughter of William Ward. On Tuesday morning, the 15th, about nine o'clock, I was in the shop; two men came in; they asked me if Mr. Ward was at home. I said, I did not know. They asked me, if Mrs. Ward was at home. I said, I would see. I went up stairs, looked over the bannister of the stairs, and called out, mother. I heard the parlour door slap to. I went back into the shop, and saw the men were gone. My mother came, and went into the shop.

WILLIAM WARD < no role > , JUNIOR. Q. You are the son of Mr. Ward, the elder, are you not - A. Yes. I was in the kitchen. I heard a noise up stairs, about nine o'clock in the morning, as if somebody was screaming, and when I went up stairs I heard my mother say we were robbed. She was in the shop then. I ran out after the two men, and when I got as far as Broad-street. I heard the cry of, stop thief. I ran very hard, and when I got as far as Portland-street the prisoner was taken. He threw the stockings away.

Q. Did you see that - A. No.

RICHARD HARVEY < no role > . I was coming up Broad-street; I saw two men running. I heard the cry of stop thief. A chap stopped the prisoner. I saw the prisoner throw the stockings away. I picked up the bundle, and I gave the bundle to a young man of the name of Moor. The prisoner was taken to the watch-house, and I and Moor went with him to the watch-house. I am sure the prisoner is the person that threw the bundle away.

Mr. Arabin. You do not know where the prisoner got the bundle from - A. No.

Q. to Jane Ward < no role > . Is that the man that came into the shop at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning - A. Yes, I am sure of it.

ROBERT MALDY < no role > . I am the beadle. I produce the bundle; I received it at the watchhouse; it was there with the prisoner. I have had it ever since.

Q. to Robert Harvey. Is that the bundle that you picked up - A. Yes.

Prosecutor. They are my property. These are the stockings that I left upon the counter; they are all marked with the marks of my customers. These are all marked C.; that is Lord Castlereagh's; they are all patent stockings, and all marked.

Prisoner's Defence. The lad says I chucked them stockings down in Broad-street. I was taken in Portland-street. Another man was taken in custody before me.

Prosecutor. At the watchhouse he asked me to shew him lenity, and acknowledged that he had done the deed, and at Marlborough-street office he asked to serve his Majesty.

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

NOT GUILTY .

First Middlesex jury, before the Lord Chief Baron.