Ann Baker

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 3rd August 2023

1811 - 23 February 1810. Certificate of Freedom Trial; 26 June 1796. Term Expired; June 1803 Certificate of Freedom. 23 February 1811

343

Maureen Withey on 13th March 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 13 March 2020), June 1796, trial of ANN BAKER (t17960622-29). ANN BAKER, Theft > theft from a specified place, 22nd June 1796. 414. ANN BAKER was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 29th of May , a silver watch, value 3l. a steel chain, value 4d. a steel seal, value 1d. and a brass key, value 1d. the property of James Arthur , in the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Dobson . JAMES ARTHUR sworn. I am a smith ; I lost a silver watch, and twenty-seven shillings; there was a steel seal, with Tallyho upon it; I had it in my pocket when I went to bed with this woman in Mutton-hill , my money was in my breeches-pocket; I went to drink with my shop-mates at the Horse-and-Groom in St. John's-street, about half past six o'clock; I stopped there till half an hour after eleven. Q. Drinking all that time? - A. Yes. Q. And perfectly sober? - A. Yes; and perfectly sober; I went to my lodgings, and they were gone to bed; then I went down the street to see if I could find a public-house to sleep, and who should I meet but this person, and she persuaded me to go home with her to her lodgings; I took particular noticeof my watch when I went up to bed with her; she opened the padlock to go in and she struck a light, and asked me to strip and go to bed; I took particular notice of my money and my watch. Q. Had you any particular reason for taking particular notice? - A. Yes; I thought I might get into bad company, and I wished to know; when I went to bed with her I gave her two shillings; I had twenty-seven shillings in silver all but half-a-guinea, which was in gold; I wound up my watch at eight o'clock while I was in the public-house; I pulled off my breeches and put them under the pillow, I am sure the watch and money was in them at that time; I slept with her some part of the night; I missed her between four and five in the morning, I awoke at that time, and got up, and went for a constable, I was not away above ten minutes; and when I came back, I found the same padlock upon the door that there was when I first went with her; the constable tried to find her all day of the Sunday, it was on the Saturday night that I went with her; we could not find her, and then I employed some officers; and Mr. Longden found her on Monday morning, and she was committed to Newgate. Q. You were at the Magistrate's? - A. Yes; I saw her there, and from there she was committed to Newgate, that is three weeks ago last Monday; I have not seen my watch nor money since. GEORGE LONGDEN sworn. I am an officer belonging to Hatton-Garden: I was sent for by the prosecutor to apprehend the prisoner; I enquired for her all over the neighbourhood, and I think it was Wednesday, or Thursday, before I found her at an old iron shop, the corner of Mutton-hill; I took her into custody, but found nothing upon her; when I knocked at the door they denied that she was there, but I insisted upon going in, and found her lying upon a bed. JOSEPH PENRYN sworn. I am an officer; I went with Longden to apprehend the prisoner, and took her into custody; I believe it was on Wednesday, and brought her to the office. Prisoner's defence. I never saw that man in my life before he took me up; that very night I was up nursing a woman. Q. (To the prosecutor.) Whose house was this? - A. I don't know. GUILTY, (Aged 40.) Of stealing, but not in the dwelling-house . Transported for seven years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury; before The LORD CHIEF BARON.