The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
Grace Bunn, Catherine Bunn wife of John Bunn - simple grand larceny, 16 Jan 1754.
Verdict: Not Guilty
Transcription:
117, 118. Grace Bunn, widow, and Catherine wife of John Bunn, were indicted for stealiing thirty yards of woollen cloth, value £8, the goods of John Howel, Dec. 22.
John Barnet. I am a packer, and live in Aldermanbury. I sent my servant, Joseph Cotten, on the 22d of December, to Mr Snaps, a packer in Fenchurch-street, for fourteen pieces of woollen cloth; he brought five of them the first time. He went for the rest, and returning, told me there was one missing.
Q. Whose goods were they?
Barnet. They were the property of Mr John Howel.
Joseph Cotton . I was sent by my master, on the 22d of December to Mr. Snaps for fourteen pieces of cloth. I brought five, and left the other nine there then; but when I went again for them there was one piece missing from off the pile.
John Readway . I am a journeyman to Mr. Winter, a clothworker. On the 22d of December I went to the Cock and Magpye, a publick house. The two prisoners at the bar brought in this piece of woollen cloth, which they had in a basket, and offered to sell it to any body in the house. A piece was produced, which Mr. Barnet deposed to as the property of Mr. Howel. I went and looked on the cloth, and asking the price of it, Grace Bunn said I should have it for half a crown a yard. I suspected by the price it was not honestly come by, so gave her a shilling to bind the bargain, till I could get a constable to take them up. I went out to see for one, but not being able to find him, I then went to a justice of peace, who was not at home, but the clerk telling me that I might take him up myself on suspicion, I went back and told the old woman, if they could make a proper title to it, I'd give her the money before the justice. She was willing to go along with me. I carried them to the constable's house under a pretence to have a pint of beer. He was then at home, and I charged him with them.
Q. Did Catharine Bunn say any thing about bargaining for the cloth?
Readway. She said as much as the old woman did about offering it to sale.
Q. from Catharine Bunn . Did I not desire you'd lend me a guinea on it to advertise it?
Readway. No. She did not talk of any such thing as advertising it.
William Rimall . I am a journeyman Clothworker, and work with Mr. Winter. I was at the Cock and Magpye with the last evidence, on the 22d of December; this piece of cloth was brought in and exposed to sale by the two prisoners at the bar. I asked Catharine Bunn how she came by it, and she said it was pawned at her mother's house. I asked her what she would have a yard for it, and she said half a crown. While my partner was gone to see for a constable, I went with the mark and Number, to inquire who had lost such a piece of cloth, and was directed by one of the business to Mr. Howel.
Q. Were they both concerned in offering the cloth to sale?
Rimall. They were.
Thomas Cooper . I am constable. The cloth and two prisoners were brought to my house. I took them in charge, and have had them in custody ever since.
Grace Bunn 's Defence.
I had been at Tower-hill. Coming back, in Mark-lane, and at a step at a door there lay this piece of cloth; it was very dirty. I could not lift it. but brought my basket, and getting it in, carried it to that house.
Both acquitted .