John Neil

105

Denis Pember on 30th December 2020

OLD BAILEY ONLINE (t18100218-66) JOHN NEALE, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th February 1801. 276. JOHN NEALE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 9th of February , a shewglass, value 10s. eighteen tortoishell spectacles, value 4l. fifteen pair of steel spectacles, value 15s. two brass spectacle cases, value 10s. a pair of brass spectacles, value 5s. four pair of hand spectacles, value 20s. forty-six reading-glasses, value 4l. 12s. four eye glasses, value 4s. six ivory rules, value 12s. and fourteen spectacle cases, value 28s. the property of Abraham Lyon , in his dwelling-house . ABRAHAM LYON sworn: - I keep a shop in Oxford-street, No. 408 ; I was not at home at the time I lost the articles mentioned in the indictment, they were in a shew-glass upon the counter. Mr. Clifton. Q.Have you a partner? - A. No. MARY LYON Sworn. - The prosecutor is my father-in-law, I happened to be there when the robbery was committed; on the 9th of February, between one and two o'clock, I was in the parlour adjoining the shop, my mother thought she heard the door open, I went into the shop, and saw the door wide open, the shew-glass was then gone off the counter; I went in and told my mother, I came to the door again immediately, and saw Mr. Cleaver, I begged of him to go with me in pursuit of the person, which he did; we went down Charles-street, Soho-square, and when we came into the square, we saw the prisoner, with the shew-glass on his shoulder; Mr. Cleaver and I brought him back again to my father's shop, and Mr. Bramble brought back the shew-glass. Cross-examined by Mr. Clifton. Q. You and your mother were in the back parlour? - A. Yes. Q.From that parlour you can see into the shop? - A. No, there is a door, but it is facing the shop window, and not the shop door. Q.When you came out, you did not see any body with the shew-glass? - A. No. Q.Therefore, whether any body between your father's house, and Soho-square, had given him the shew-glass, you cannot tell? - A. No. BENJAMIN CLEAVER sworn. - I am a tobacco manufacturer; I went in pursuit of the prisoner, at the request of the last witness; I first saw him in Sutton-street, about three hundred yards from Mr. Lyon's house, he had a shew-glass upon his shoulder; I came up to him, and asked him how he came by it, I charged him with stealing it, and desired him to come along with me, he hesitated at first, and threw down the glass; he then went with me; Mr. Bramble took up the glass, and we all went to Mr. Lyon's house. Cross-examined by Mr. Clifton. Q. You did not see the prisoner till he had got three hundred yards from the door? - A. No; I saw him go by with the shew-glass, and about a minute and a half after, I went to the door, and saw the last witness who had missed it. JOSEPH BRAMBLE sworn. - I am a watch-maker, I saw the prisoner drop the shew-glass, and I picked it up, I carried the shew-glass to Mr. Lyon's, and from there to Marlborough-street, where I delivered it to the constable. HENRY LOVETT sworn. - I am an officer belonging to Marlborough-street, I produce part of the property; I have brought one of each sort by the direction of the Magistrate. Lyon. These articles are all my property. Prisoner's defence. I was coming past the house of the prosecutor, and a middling sized woman, rathere handsome, called me, and desired me to take that shew-glass to Mr. Jones, in Russel-court, and she would give me a shilling; I was running, that I might get home time enough to dine with my father at two o'clock, and as I was coming through Soho-square, I was stopped and taken to Marlborough-street. The prisoner called three witnesses, who gave him a good character. GUILTY, Death , aged 16. (The prisoner was recommended to his Majesty's mercy by the prosecutor, on account of his youth, and by the Jury on account of his youth and good character.) First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.