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Source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 18 May 2009), December 1817, trial of James Crookshank (t18171203-9).
JAMES CROOKSHANK was indicted for feloniously assaulting Robert Lewis on the King's highway, on the 27th of October , at the parish of St. George, Bloomsbury, putting him in fear, and taking from his person, and against his will, one handkerchief, value 2d., two razors, value, 1s; one razor-case, value 4d., and one pair of spectacles, value 1s., his property.
ROBERT LEWIS . I am a messenger to the Victualing-Office , and live in Dukes-court, Drury-lane. On the 27th of October, about five o'clock, I went to a public-house in Drury-court, Drury-lane, I then went to another public-house in Drury-lane, and stopped there till a little before twelve; I was then going to Little Russell-street, Bloomsbury, where I then lived - I was rather in liquor. I was knocked down in Bow-street , and was knocked down again at the top of Bloomsbury-court , I do not know who by. I lost my handkerchief, two razors in a case, and a pair of spectacles, which I saw again at the watch-house.
JOHN WARD . I am a watchman in St. Giles's; I was calling twelve o'clock in Silver-street, going into Bloomsbury-market, and heard a noise in the court, I saw a man coming along the court and seven or eight following him, Lewis was before them; one of them gave him a desperate blow with his fist, he immediately fell with his face in the kennel; I asked what was the matter - the prisoner is the man who struck him. I never took my eyes off him till I took him - I saw him strike the prosecutor. I uncovered my lanthorn, when the prisoner said, "watchman, what is the matter?" I went up and pretended to raise the prosecutor up; the prisoner was by his side, I seized him while he was asking me what was the matter. I told him he was the man who knocked the prosecutor down; he said, "me!" I said, "yes, I saw you do it." He made no answer. Chibnall came to my assistance, and said he saw him throw something into the water; I saw him take a case of razors out of the kennel, we then took him to the watch-house. I saw two handkerchiefs found in his hat; the prosecutor claimed one of them.
ANTHONY CHIBNALL. I am a watchman. I was calling twelve o'clock at the end of Lyon-street, Holborn, and heard the bustle; I went up and Ward gave the prisoner in my charge; I immediately saw him throw something into the kennel, and told Ward to hold him, I searched the kennel, and found the case of razors there; a handkerchief was taken out of the prisoner's hat, which the prosecutor claimed. He described the razors before he saw them.
WILLIAM GILLOCK. I am a sadler, and live in Silver-street, Bloomsbury-market. I heard the disturbance, and saw seven or eight men run away as I came down Hart-street; I looked down Market-street, saw the prosecutor in the kennel, and a man standing over him, by the passage - I went up; Ward seized the prisoner; Chibnall came up and searched the kennel. The razors and handkerchief were produced at the watch-house, which the prosecutor claimed.
HENRY COOK . I am a patrol. I was at the end of the Coal-yard, Drury-lane, on the 27th of October, just at the bottom of Broad-street, and saw the prisoner and another man cross over to the prosecutor, who was intoxicated - They followed him, he was going towards Bow-street, which leads to Bloomsbury-passage, just as he crossed over somebody pushed against me; I followed them to the end of Bow-street, but no farther.
CORNELIUS BOWERS . I was constable of the night. The prisoner and prosecutor were brought into the watchhouse by Chibnall-the prosecutor was very dirty; he was going to charge the prisoner with an assault, when the razors were produced and he claimed them - He described the razors before he saw them. Next morning I took the prisoner before the magistrate, and he made his escape out of the office yard.
MORRIS WELCH. I saw the prisoner at the watch-house - I took his hat off, and found two handkerchiefs in it, one of which the prosecutor claimed.
SAMUEL FURZEMAN. I am a constable; the prisoner was brought to Marlborough-street, but he made his escape out of the office yard. I took him again on the 10th.
(Property produced and sworn to.)
Prisoner's Defence. The handkerchief is mine.
GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20.
First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Bayley.
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