Samuel Houghton

342

Maureen Withey on 8th April 2024

Digitised Indent of ship Atlantic Samuel Houghton, tried at Justice Hall, Old Bailey, 9 Sep 1789, seven years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Trial at the old Bailey, 89 Sep 1789. 697. SAMUEL HOUGHTON and RICHARD WILSON were indicted for stealing, on the 14th of July , two iron saws, value 5 s. one leaden glue-pot, value 6 d. one pair of brass and iron dividers, value 6 d. two iron hammers, value 6 d. one pair of iron pincers, value 4 d. the property of James Ross ; one plane, value 10 s. three saws, value 10 s. one oil-stone, value 2 s. two hammers, value 6 d. four chissels, value 6 d. one leaden glue-pot, value 2 s. one pair of compasses, value 1 d. a turn screw, value 1 d. and a winch, value 1 d. the property of Joseph Bourbear . JAMES ROSS sworn. I have the management of Mr. Bourbear's business; I am his servant : we lost the tools in the indictment, on Tuesday, the 14th; I saw them there on the 13th; Henry Crawford had them in his possession before the Justice. JOSEPH VIVIAN sworn. I am a carpenter; I found the constable had them. FRANCIS DAY sworn. I am a watchman; I saw them come along the road with the tools; and I stopped them between three and four o'clock in the morning; I do not know the day of the month; it was in Tottenham-court-road; it is the high road from Kentish-town; they both had tools; one the bag, and the other a basket; they said they were going to work; I took them to Mr. Croker's; they made no resistance; I delivered them to Croker the constable. HENRY CROKER sworn. On the 14th of July, I cannot say what day of the week, I saw the two prisoners at the bar, and the watchman; he knocked at my door; I came down; they had a bag and a basket of tools; I asked them where they found them? they said they were their own; I asked them the marks upon the tools; Houghton could not tell any mark, nor Wilson could not describe any mark; the next morning, I went to Kentish-town, and found the owner; and they went before Sir Sampson Wright; and they swore to them; I let one of them have some of the tools, because he was a poor man, and could not go to work without them; but I marked them first; I found three small tools in the pocket of one, and one in the other. (The tools deposed to by Ross and Bourbear.) PRISONER WILSON's DEFENCE. I am a young man disabled in the hand; and have been so four years; I had been working the other side Kentish-town; and this other prisoner was resting on the road with a bag and basket; and he asked me to give him a lift to London; and offered me some bread and cheese, and a drop of beer; I took them; and the watchman took us. Court to watchman. Did the prisoner Wilson tell you he received them from the other man? - No; I am sure he did not. Croker. I heard one of the prisoners, I think it was Wilson. say they would toss up, which of them should get off; I mentioned it particularly at Sir Sampson's. Prisoner Wilson. The small articles dropped out of the basket, and I put them into my pocket. PRISONER HOUGHTON's DEFENCE. I am a seaman ; I work at plaisterer's labour ; I was coming along quite soon in the morning; and just on this side Kentish-town, there were two men in the fields; and I saw these things laying by the side of the hedge; I called to them several times; they did not answer; I asked this man to carry them for me. Prisoner Wilson. My lord, Croker advised Houghton to have me along with him. Croker. I did not; and I asked Houghton if he found them; he said no, they are my own. Watchman. I heard them say they would toss up which should get clear. BOTH GUILTY . Transported for seven years . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.