Jemima Scott

Lived in Duke Street, Manchester Square, London

From: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t17770910-2

THOMAS JONES, Theft > burglary, 10th September 1777.

498. THOMAS JONES was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Jamima Sainthill on the 27th of August , about the hour of nine in the night, and stealing nine linen table cloths, value 10 l. and seven linen glass cloths, value 3 s. 6 d. the property of the said Jamima; five linen shifts, value 7 s. seven linen caps, value 1 s. one linen apron, value 2 s. two pair of linen shift sleeves, value 2 s. one muslin handkerchief, value 2 s. one silk and linen handkerchief, value 2 s. a pair of muslin ruffles, value 6 d. and one cotton stocking, value 1 s. the property of Ann Leake , spinster , in the dwelling-house of the said Jamima Sainthill .

(The witnesses were examined apart at the request of the prisoner.)

ANN LEAKE sworn.

I live in the house of Mrs Sainthill, in Duke-street; Manchester-square ; I am servant to her; I was out at the time the house was broke open; the family was out of town; I was left to take care of the house; I went out between five and six o'clock on the 27th August; I locked the door, and fastened the shutters; I came home between eight and nine, then the prisoner was just taken, and was in the public house almost opposite: when I went out I folded all the linen that was fit to be mangled, and wetted it down in a basket; I left it in the landry; I threw a wet cloth over it, that it should not get dry; there were some small things I left in a brown pan on the ironing-board; when I came home a great many things that were in the basket were gone, and all the things out of the pan, but the handkerchief that covered them; I heard the prisoner was over at the public house; I went there and saw the things; I knew them to be what I washed; there were three gowns on the mangle, one of them was gone, I found that at the public house: I had been a servant about three months in the family.

Are you sure the things you saw in the public house were what you left in the landry? - Yes.

In what condition did you find the house? - I found two men in the landry, who had taken the prisoner; I found the landry window broke open above the shutter, the shutters go but half way up the window on the inside.

GEORGE SPYER sworn.

I was at Mr. Blackford's, the Devonshire Arms in Duke-street; about half after eight in the evening of the 27th of August, a gentleman came in and told Mr. Blackford that there were thieves in Mrs. Sainthill's house, the gentleman went out of the tap-room to her assistance; I followed them, when I came to the corner of the rails I heard the footsteps of somebody very swift in the area; I saw John Duke , a chairman, at the same time getting over the rails into the area; I heard somebody cry, Mind the door; I ran to the door, put my left hand on the rails and my right on the steps, and looked down into the area, and saw a man crouch'd up in a heap; I called out, Here he is, bring the pistols and blow his brains out; he got up and said, Gentlemen, don't hurt me, I will come over to you; he came over the must, and I and another man took him to Mr. Blackford's house; the prisoner is the man I saw in the area; he had the same cloaths on he has now; we searched him, and then took him to the watch-house.

Did you see the young woman that night? - Yes, she came about nine; Blackford brought in the bundle.

Prisoner. In what part of the area was the property? - I did not see it in the area.

Was I taken in the area? - He was taken on a leaded place, about five feet below the curb.

COURT. You did not know who the man was till he came over the rails? - No.

Are you sure the prisoner is the man that came over the rails? - Yes.

What sort of light was it? - It was quite dark.

How deep is the area? - Four or five feet.

It was not so dark but you could discern him? - I saw something white, and called out, Here he is; then he got up.

ROBERT BLACKFORD sworn.

I keep a public house in Duke-street; somebody came in about nine o'clock on Wednesday the 27th August, and said, Mrs. Sainthill's house was broke open; I went and told two men of it in the tap-room; they immediately went out; I followed them; I saw this bundle lying in the area; a man went down into the area; then I went over the rails on a water cistern in the area, and John Duke gave up the bundle to me; I took it home, and came back again, then I heard Spyer say, Here he is; I ran to Spyer, and saw the man getting on the rails; Spyer and I took him, and he was conducted to my house; I believe that he was there and hour and half; then we conveyed him to the watch-house; the prisoner is the man; Ann Leake came to my house a little after the man was taken; I was in the house at the time.

Did she see the bundle? - Yes, I brought it to her.

Was it the same that you received from the chairman? - Yes.

Did she open it? - I don't know.

Prisoner. What part of the area was it taken from? - The north front in the square.

JOHN DUKE sworn.

I am a chairman; I went from Blackford's house, and let myself down into the area by my straps; in the area I found two bundles of wet linen; I did not see any man, but heard somebody say, Here he is; I threw up both the bundles to Blackford, but one fell back; I saw the landry window opposite Manchester-square broke open, the top sash was let down, and a pane of glass broken; I got in over the sash, expecting to find somebody in the house; but when I came in I could get no farther than the landry; the rest of the linen was thrown about the landry.

You have the linen? - Yes, I received it of Justice Gretton yesterday.

Who delivered it to the justice? - I took it to him.

Are you sure that bundle is the same you left with the justice? - Yes; he made me put my mark upon it.

[The things were produced in Court, and Ann Leake deposed that they were the prosecutor's property.]

THOMAS LOWE sworn.

I was at Mr. Blackford's, and went out; I saw Jones getting out of the area; I put up my hand and laid hold of him; there were two or three others present; Spyer was one; they took him directly over to the Devonshire Arms, and I went with him.

Are you sure the prisoner is the man? - I am.

Had you ever seen him before? - No, I had not to my knowledge.

Did you see his face when he came over the rails? - Yes, by the light of the lamp.

You are perfectly sure he is the man? - I am.

JOHN KNOWLES sworn.

I went from Mr. Blackford's to Mrs. Sainthill's house; I looked over the rails and saw the linen laying in the area; then John Duke and I got over the rails; Duke threw himself down into the area; I got over on a brick arch way, while he threw himself down; then I heard somebody cry, Here he is, Here he is; upon that I jumped over the rails again into the street and ran round the house; then I saw Jones the prisoner on a safe that is leaded over in the area; I heard him say, Don't hurt me, and I will come over: he got on she rails, and Mr. Blackford and Spyer laid hold of him by the hand, and I laid hold of him by the collar and took him to the public house; I am sure the prisoner is the man: I asked him how he came into the area; he first said the wind blew his hat over, and he thought he had a right to go and fetch his own property back; he said afterwards, that he heard a cry, Here he is, here he is; that he hit his hat against the rails, and the rails catched it and pulled it over.

ANN FAIRBROTHER sworn.

I was coming along Manchester-square about nine o'clock, and a man jumped over the rails into Manchester-square out of the area.

Was there no other people there? - No; a gentleman that was passing by went to the public-house to alarm them; that is all I know; the man went out toward Mary-le-bone.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I was going along Duke-street, I heard an alarm of thieves in a house; I could not tell where; just as I came by this area I heard a noise of people; I Jumped up to see if any body was in the area, and my hat sell over; I went and knocked at the door and found there was nobody at home; I thought I had a right to get my hat, and jumped over to get it; just as I had got my hat, Spyer called out, Here he is: I told him I was only getting my hat; he said I was a thief, and called out, Shoot him, shoot him.

GUILTY . Death .

Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice GOULD.