The Sun.
London, England, 1802-10-30 00:00:00

CHILD STEALING.

Sarah Harvey was ind4ed for feloniously steal-
ing a cotton frock, a beaver cap, a linen shirt, and
a pair of shoes (being the apparel of an infant) the
property of Zachariah Wealthdale.
It appeared in the course of the evidence, that
the Prosecutor's wife, Sarah Wealthdale, was met
by the Prisoner, who had every appearance of an
artless country girl, in Norton Falgare, about two
o'clock on the 24th of September. ..Mrs. Wealth.

dalelad her child in her arms at thelimeat the Fria
toner inquired of her, whether the cheshunt stage
had gone by, or at what time it was likely to g,.)?
She told her she did not know ; but was induced by
the plausibility of her appearance to accompany her
to the Bull Ind, in Bishopsgate-street : there they
learned that the coach in question set off at half
past three. The Prisoner then begged of her, as
being an absolute stranger in those parts, to permit
her to stop at her (Mrs. Wealthdale's) place, until
that hour. This she could. nor comply with, but
they walked together as far as Shoreditch Church,
when the Prisoner proposed refreshing themselves
with a pint of beer. The proposal was accepted ;
they had the beer on the bench at the door. The
Prisoner made love to the child, took it in her
arms, and fondled it, while the mother was engaged
with the BritiSh beverage. The Prisoner appeared
suddenly to recoiled that she had a cousin just by,
who she knew would be delighted to `see so sweet a
baty, and she begged permission to take it to her;
it was only just round the corner—she would be
bade in font or five minutes. Accordingly, the
mother parted with her child, and more than ten
minutes had elapsed without the least appearance of
its return. Her feelings may be-easier conceived
than described—she ran round the corner, alarmed'
the neighbours, and intesested many of them in her
behalf. A man of the,name of Warner, one of the
WitneSses, With great spirit and ,humanity, under-
took to search after the Prisoner ; he got an accu-
rate description abet person, and the:dress, &c. of
the child, from Mrs. Wealthdale. ..He set out on
his mission, and, in consequence of his sedulous in_
4uiries, found the Prisoner : 'she was sitting by 'the
road side,• with the child in her-arms, nearly - optic).
site Kingcland Chapel, at a distance of about a mile
and a half from Shoreditch Church, the place where
she obtained the child. She .aaid, that in conse,
quenCe of the inadvertence of her cousin she missed
her way—had .no : intention of taking away the:
child—was sorry the mother was'uneaSy. . She put.
her own handkerchief about the child's head to pre-'
vent its -catching cold, -and, finally, accompanied
Warner to the place where he left the anxious mo-
ther. They found her near Shoreditch Church,
with a Constable ready, to whose care the Ptisoner
was of course consigned.
-'lt appeared, that in- some conversation with the
Officer,. she acknowledged that she rook the child
at the instigation of her sister, who, on her remon-
s!rating against such an employMent, told her that
as she was a stranger in town, and a Country girl,
she could do the business better than herself.
This was the jest of the evidence against :the Pei'.
soner, who; on being called on for her defence;
said, that she had no intention of hurting the child;,
she meant to take it down into the Country as her
own. No Witnesses appeared in her behalf. -
Mr. Baron , TRomysoti, in the course of his
Charge to-,the jut:), on this occaaion, observed, that
they were to bear in mind the Indilment upon
which the Prisoner was tried, which was for steal-
ing the articles of apparel laid therein, and which,
it appeared, were the clothes the child had onwhen
it was taken by the Prisoner ; they most be.sx...
tisfied in such a', case, by the evidence, that
the Prisoner had an intention of stealing the
clothes so charged,' and 'convert them to her own
use, as by stripping the child, &c. this they would
bear col!ed from attending closely to the evidence,
and the' con du*. of the Prisoner in that respect ;
they should suppress whatever indignation they
may-feel at the Prisoner's taking the child away,
and solely consider her condud with respi4 to the
allegations of the indidment. •
• After a short conference, the Jury pronounced a
verdi4 of -fat Guilty.
•
The Prisoner is e young girl abc-,ut twenty, and
of great apparent simplicity : she was decently
dressed.