Mary Woodhouse

Level 135

C H on 11th April 2024

Old Bailey Online MARY WOODHOUSE. Theft; shoplifting. 26th October 1791. Text type Trial account Defendants MARY WOODHOUSE Offences Theft > Shoplifting Session Date 26th October 1791 Reference Number t17911026-10 Verdicts Guilty > Lesser offence Punishments Transportation 390. MARY WOODHOUSE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 13th of October , seventeen yards and three quarters of printed cotton, value 1 l. 10 s. the goods of Edward Gibson , privily in his shop . EDWARD GIBSON sworn. I am a linen draper , at No. 149, Bishopsgate-without ; I lost seventeen yards and three quarters of printed cotton, but I did not miss it, till I was asked to see some linen at Mr. Franklin's, three doors from my house: I was in the shop serving a customer, when the prisoner came in. Mr. Knowlys, Prisoner's Counsel. You knew this woman that you was serving? - Yes. You knew where to find her? - Yes. She is not here? - She is not. THOMAS COADISH sworn. I know the prisoner, I have frequently seen her in the shop before; the 13th of October, the prisoner came in, and bought a quarter of a yard of Irish, and paid for it, and went out; she did not return; I went after my master returned, and saw the prisoner, and the printed cotton, at Mr. Franklin's, a liquor shop, where the prisoner was detained; she was near the part of the counter where my master was serving some sheetings; the printed cotton lay at the end of the counter, near to the door, within half a yard of my master; she asked the price of some sheeting, of my master; what she bought was of George Hops , he is here: she was as near to the cotton, as I am to my hat; I did not see her take it; I had not the least suspicion of her; I saw the cotton at Franklin's in about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour: there is my hand writing on the end of it, the letters are, U. M. X. all of my hand writing; that article was upon the counter, when the prisoner entered the shop; I had been shewing it to a customer a few minutes before. GEORGE HOPS sworn. I served the prisoner at the bar, with a quarter of a yard of Irish; I do not know any thing of the cotton, there was only one customer in the shop besides the prisoner. JOHN GADSDEN sworn. I am a cheesemonger; on the 13th inst. the morning the property was lost, the prisoner came into my shop; I was present when she was searched; I followed her into a liquor shop, next door to me; his name is Franklin; I thought she had something improperly come by; she refused to let me search; a constable was sent for: I saw the property found in her apron, which was in one part tucked under her arm, the constable took it from her; I went to Mr. Gibson's, and told them of the robbery. THOMAS SACKWELL sworn. I am a constable; I took this printed cotton from the prisoner, it was in her apron. (Prosecutor deposes to the cotton.) I have not the least doubt about it: I had been taking stock; I know this is a capital offence. I ask you Mr. Gibson, whether you do not know that the prisoner is indicted for a capital offence? - Yes, I do. Jury to Prosecutor. Did that customer tell you, she had seen the linen taken out of the shop? - No she did not, and if she had, I believe she would have told me: the value of the goods is 30 s. PRISONER's DEFENCE. I leave it to my counsel. MARGARET ALBIN sworn. The prisoner gets her living by mending gowns; she has three children. GUILTY, of stealing the goods, but not privily .