Charles Styring

116

Tony Beale on 9th July 2021

Old Bailey online (dob from here) Before Mr. Justice Gazelee. 1752. JOSEPH KINGSTON and CHARLES STYRING were indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Talitha Tooth , on the 8th of August , at St. Leonard, Shoreditch, and stealing therefrom 1 writing desk, value 1l. 8s.; 3 books, value 2s.; 1 slate, value 4d., and one drawing-box, value 5s. , her property. ELIZABETH TALITHA TOOTH. I live in Hoxton-square, in the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch . On Friday morning, the 8th of August, between six and seven o'clock, I was alarmed by a violent ringing at the street door, and my servant came into my room, saying that thieves had been discovered escaping from the house - I got up and ran down stairs; when I got down to the hall, I saw a desk, belonging to a little girl a pupil) it was shut - I think it was in the hands of an officer; I missed a drawing-box which belonged to another pupil, which I had seen on the Thursday morning, on the sideboard, in the back parlour - the desk and drawing-box were both under my care; the desk had been in the back parlour, and was the first in a row with many others - it was shut down as it appears now; I subsequently saw that it was very dirty - it had been taken out of the house, and the drawing-box has never been recovered. JEREMIAH O'CALLAGHAN . I live at No. 13, Hoxton Old-town, about sixty paces from Miss Tooth's house - I belong to the Ordinance. On Friday morning, the 8th of August, between six and seven o'clock, I saw the two prisoners and another near Miss Tooth's house; they were in a suspicious manner consulting together, and in a short time I saw Kingston entering Miss Tooth's garden-gate - the other two were watching, one looking up one street, and another up another, and when a person came up one of the streets they gave an alarm to Kingston, who came out again - I saw Kingston enter into the gate repeatedly in that manner, and at length, when it was getting near seven o'clock, the three had some consultation together, and then they all entered the gate - I then had no doubt that they were had characters, and I went to a neighbour or two to assist me to apprehend them, but I could get no person; I took a stick with me and went to take them myself - I went down High-street and into Old-street-road, but before that I saw them all three coming out of the gate, and the prisoner Styring had the desk - I ran down the street towards the square, and met them coming out of the square; Styring was behind the other two, and he was carrying the desk - I said to him "Where are you going with that;" he made no reply, but turned round and threw it at my person - I turned my hand and left it in the road, and pursued him; I cried Stop thief! and several other persons ran in pursuit with me - I did not loose sight of them till they got to Shoreditch, and before they had been out of my sight a minute, I saw Kingston in custody; a gentleman took up the desk and carried it to his own house- I went to Miss Tooth's house, and so did the gentleman who had the desk; when they went in at the garden-gate it appeared to be on a latch, and Kingston lifted up the latch - I did not see them go into the house, but when I got into the house I saw the window up, and the mark of a man's shoes inside and outside of the parlour window; I had never seen either of the prisoners before to my knowledge - I saw Styring in custody near the Police-office; he was taken to a different watch-house. Prisoner STYRING. Q. If he saw the mud on the window, why did he not state it at the office? A. It escaped my memory - I should not have thought of it now if his Lordship had not asked the question. WILLIAM TETHERTON . I am a Bow-street patrol. On Friday, the 8th of August, about half-past six o'clock in the morning, I was at the Toll-gate, near Hackney-road - I heard a cry of Stop thief! several times, I saw a mob of people coming, and Kingston about fifty yards before them- I took him into custody, and took him back to Miss Tooth's, No. 24, Hoxton-square; I searched him and found a silver thimble, a necklace, a bodkin and case, and a silver knife - I then took him to Shoreditch watch-house; the servant said they had entered through the window. RICHARD TREVETT . I am a Bow-street patrol. On the 8th of August, I was with Tetherton, near Shoreditch church, I heard a cry of Stop thief! and saw the prisoner Styring run past; I took him into custody, and on the way to the watch-house, he threw this skeleton-key from his pocket down on the ground. Prisoner STYRING. Q. Did you see me throw it down? A. Yes - from your left-hand trousers pocket. ELIZABETH LANGLEY . I was servant to Miss Tooth. On Friday morning, the 8th of August, I got up at half-past five o'clock - she has five persons in the house, and twentysix or twenty-seven pupils; I went into the front parlour and opened the shutters - the windows were closed when I left them and went into the kitchen, which lics backwards, and is down one stair from the parlour; I heard a noise, but did not know what it was - I then heard the front door bell ring; in consequence of that, I went to the parlour - a young woman informed me there had been thieves in the house: I missed one of the desks, and saw the windows thrown wide open - I am not certain whether they had been fastened, or merely shut down; as I had not fastened the shutters at night, I am sure they were shut down that morning - I did not observe the seat of the window at that time, but did afterwards; the blinds were closed when I left them, but they were then thrown back - the desk was brought in by some one, and it was in the hall when I came down: it belonged to a young lady named Strong. JOHN PEARSON . I am a chair-stuffer, and live in Old-street-road. On the morning of the 8th of August, while I was in my shop, I heard a cry of Stop thief! and heard something falling in the road, nearly opposite my door - I went out and saw it was a portable desk lying in the road; I picked it up and took it to my own dwelling for safety - it was open; I afterwards gave it to Mr. O'Callaghan, after the prisoners were in custody - there were other persons running, but I only saw Mr. O'Callaghan. SARAH ANNA ROGERS . I am a pupil of Miss Tooth's - this necklace, knife, bodkin-case, and thimble are all mine; they were all in my work-box, in the back parlour, in my care. See originalClick to see original COURT to JEREMIAH O'CALLAGHAN. Q. Is that the desk you took to Miss Tooth's? A. The desk I took from Pearson I took to Miss Tooth's, and put it down in the hall. MISS TOOTH. This is the desk I saw in the hall; it contains two cyphering-books, a writing book, and a slate- it had been in the front parlour; and the drawing-box, on the sideboard, in the back parlour; the desk was under my care - it belonged to Miss Eliza Strong; she is under ten years of age - I consider all under my care; the little girl, herself, had the key of it. KINGSTON'S Defence. I was taken against Shoreditch church by this officer; he asked what I had got, and I told him I had picked up the articles in Hoxton-square, and while I was being taken back, a young man came and gave him something else: he let the other man go and kept me. STYRING'S Defence. I was standing by Shoreditch church; the officer came and took me into custody - I asked him what for, and he would not tell me till we got to the watch-house; he searched me and found nothing - O'Callaghan said there was a young man there who was one of the prisoners, and then he saw me sitting in the corner, and he said "Oh, I beg your pardon, you are the one I want." One witness gave Styring a good character. KINGSTON - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 22. STYRING - GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 21. Recommended to Mercy by the Prosecutrix on account of their youth .