Thomas Robins

135

C H on 25th February 2024

Old Bailey Online THOMAS ROBINS. JOHN HARDING. Theft; grand larceny (to 1827). 27th October 1790. Text type Trial account Defendants THOMAS ROBINS, JOHN HARDING Offences Theft > Grand larceny Session Date 27th October 1790 Reference Number t17901027-44 Verdicts Guilty Punishments Transportation 732. THOMAS ROBINS and JOHN HARDING were indicted for stealing, on the 17th of September last, two pair of hempen sheets, value 40 s. four cotton pillow cases, value 5 s. two cotton tablecloths, value 9 s. two napkins, value 2 s. the property of John Petrie , Esq ; and a cambrick handkerchief, value 1 s. the property of John Cable . (The witnesses examined separate.) GEORGE FITCH sworn. I live with Esq. Petrie; I drive his cart; he lost the things in the indictment, of Friday, the 17th of September; I was coming from Mr. Petrie's country house, at Navestock in Essex, between eight and nine in the evening; it is nineteen miles from Whitechapel: I set off between four and five, and was in Broad-street, St. Giles's ; and Mr. Johnson called to me, and asked me if I had lost nothing out of the cart? I said, not that I know of; I looked in the cart, and the bundle of linen was gone; it contained the things in the indictment; I saw the bundle in the cart, for the last time, about the middle of Holborn: there was a large box and other things; I rode on the box; it was a market cart; there was no cover; any body might jump behind, while I was minding my horse. ROBERT JOHNSON sworn. I am a child's pump maker. I lived then facing the prisoner Robins; I live now in Drury-lane; I was obliged to move through threats; I saw the two prisoners (I passed them, and they passed me again) by the George and Blue Boar, and crossed the way; I continued on the left hand; and by Bloomsbury, they crossed to my side; and by Smart's Buildings I saw them look into the tail of a cart which was going on; and in Broad St. Giles's, they crossed again, jumped off the pavement into the coach-way, and on the tail of the cart, and took a white bundle, the contents of which I do not know; they both jumped up to the tail of the cart; they ran up a dark street, and we lost sight of them; they went up Vine-street; then a gentleman who saw it, and me, stopped the driver; the prisoners were taken the same night; I believe it was moon-light; it was not dark; I am sure of them both; Robins I lived opposite to, but never spoke to him in my life; I might be ten or fifteen yards off; there were numbers of persons passing. CHARLES JEALOUS sworn. On the 17th, near ten at night, Johnson and a boy gave me information; I went with him to No. 4, Peter-street, Saffron-hill: I asked if the prisoner Robins was at home? I was going up, and he came out of the one pair of stairs; I laid hold of Robins; and in that room I saw the prisoner Harding; and this bundle was in two separate parcels; and I took it and them away; the witness Fitch was with me. Court to Fitch. Did you see both these prisoners there, and the property? - Yes. ELSPAT JAMES sworn. (Deposed to the things, living with Mr. Petrie.) I was then in the country, and packed this linen. Prisoner Robins. I know nothing about taking the things out of the cart. Prisoner Harding. I was just come into the room to measure Mrs. Robins for a pair of shoes; I know nothing of the robbery. BOTH GUILTY . Transported for seven years . Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron HOTHAM .