276. (M.) THOMAS BOND proceedingsdefend was indicted for that he on, the king's highway, on Thomas Savill proceedingsvictim did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a silver watch, value 40 s. a steel watch chain, value 5 s. a brass watch key, value 1 d. a stone seal, a moidore, a quarter of a guinea, and 4 s. in money, numbered , the property of the said Thomas Savill < no role > , Dec. 3 d . *

Thomas Savill < no role > . On the 3 d of December I set out from my house to go to Hackney: going over London-fields a man stopt me, presented a pistol, and demanded my money; it was between five and six in the afternoon; then another came on the other side, took hold of my collar, and presented another pistol, and demanded my money, then a third came up and rifled my pockets; I begged they would not use me ill, and they should be welcome to what I had.

Q. Had the other man a pistol?

Savill. I cannot say: they took from me a moidore, half a guinea, a five and three-pence, and some silver: I believe about 8 s. in silver: I am certain to 7 s. or 8 s.

Q. Was it pretty dark?

Savill. Yes, so dark that I could not discover their persons; they held the pistols very near my head on both sides; one had hold of one side of my coat the other of the other. About three weeks after the watch was advertized by Justice Camper; I applied there, and there I saw it.

Thomas Clark < no role > . John Cooper < no role > brought this watch to me, he offered to pledge it for a guinea and a half; I stopt it; I have had it in my custody ever since; I questioned him about it; he said he gave five guineas for it; I asked him who he bought it of; he could not tell me of whom he bought it; I asked him if he lived any where thereabouts; he said no; at last he said he lived at Hatton-Garden; I asked him his name; he said it was Jones; I asked him his trade; he said he was of none, he kept a lodging house; I told him I believed he had not told me the truth; I said you bring it for some acquaintance don't you? he said, yes, I do; I told him I should keep the watch till he brought the young man, and if he did not give a better account I would keep it; he said he would soon fetch him; he ran out and about a quarter of an hour after he brought the prisoner.

Q. Are you sure to the prisoner?

Clark. Yes. I asked Bond if that was his watch; he said yes; I asked him how he came by it; he said he gave four guineas for it; I asked him who he bought it of, he could not tell me; I asked him where he lived; he said he worked with a shoe-maker in Fetter-lane; I do not recollect his name; I desired him to fetch his master to give him a character; he went away. I sent a person to follow them, and Cooper and he went a different way; he never returned any more and I advertized it the Wednesday following.

Prisoner. I had the watch of Staines.

Q. Did he say then he had it of one Staines?

Clark. No; he could not tell who he bought it of: I had an order the Wednesday after I advertized it to come before Justice Camper; Staines had turned evidence; I advertized it four times in the whole.

John Cooper < no role > . I offered this watch to the last witness, I had it of Mr. Bond.

Q. What are you?

Cooper. A barber: we were drinking together and he asked me to go and pledge it.

Q. Where was you when he desired you to pledge it?

Cooper. At Ben Johnson's-head near Cold-Bath-fields.

Q. How came you there together?

Cooper. We met together; we had known one another some time.

Q. What is he?

Cooper. A shoe-maker.

Q. Do you know the day?

Cooper. It was on Saturday; I believe the 5th of December.

Q. to Clark. When did he offer it you?

Clark. On the 5th of December, about eleven in the forenoon.

Q. to Cooper. When was you drinking with this man?

Cooper. About eleven.

William Staines < no role > .

Q. Was you in company with the prisoner on the 3d of December?

Staines. I cannot tell the day of the month; this is the watch. The prisoner and I, and one James Berry < no role > that was cast last sessions, were going by the Shoulder of Mutton; Berry stopt the Gentleman, demanded his money, and took his watch out of his pocket; I came up directly to him and took the money out of his pocket.

Jury. How do you know that to be the watch?

Staines. I took notice of it at Mr. Camper's, and I know it by the seals and chain; we went to the Black-horse in Kingsland-road after the robbery and there I looked at the watch.

Q. Do you know the maker's name or number?

Staines. No.

Q. Who was trusted with the possession of the watch?

Staines. Berry gave it me, and I gave it Bond.

Q. When did you give it Bond?

Staines. The same night.

Q. Did you go to the Black-horse or the house just by it?

Staines. The Black Horse.

Q. Not the house just by it, you go there sometimes?

Staines. No.

Prosecutor. This is the watch I was robbed of. When the third came up, and demanded my money, I said if you use me well you shall have it; I was going to unbutton my breeches pocket, the third put his hand in my pocket and took the money out; I thought there had been a guinea among it; I said I was going into company, and had no money; I asked them for a guinea back, they said as I behaved like a gentlemen they would give me a shilling which they did.

Prisoner's Defence.

I had the watch of Staines the evidence I should have fetched my master, but I saw Staines, who bid me not trouble my head about it.

Guilty . Death .