The Sun.
London, England, 1802-05-01 00:00:00

SECOND DAY.-FRIDAY, APRIL 30.

Eliza Jones was charged with a capital offence,
in feloniously stealing a card of black lace, con-
taining twelve yards, value 6!. 65., some silver
spoons, a piece of sarsnet, and other articles, in
the dwelling-house of - Sowerby, his pro-

perry.
The circumstances of this case, which took up
the attention of the Court some time, were briefly
to the following effed :—The prosecutor, it ap-
peared, keeps a milliner's and dress-maker's shop in
Bond-street. The principal evidence was his wife,
Mrs. Sowerby. The prisoner, it appeared; was
taken into the house in order to improve herself
in the business, for the term of one year, and for
which she was to pay 301. She had been with them
since the latter end of December last until the zoth
ult. and had apparently concluded herself very well.
On the 9th of 'April, the card of black lace specifi-
ed in the indidment, was missed the prisoner was
asked, whether she knew any thing of it,
_not un-
der impressions of suspicion, but merely in the way
of inquiry; but she positively denied any knowledge
of it whatever. However, not long after, some
degree of suspicion arising with resped to her, she
was questioned more closely with regard to it ; in
consequence of which, she next morning, with the
appearance of great contrition and remorse for what
she had done, confessed that she had taken several
things, and gave up some duplicates ; by which
_means, the articles in the Indidment were traced,
some of which it appeared slid pawned under the
name of Eliza Jones, and others under a fiditious
name. The articles were duly identified by the
Prosecutors ; the piece of sarsnet was found in her'
box, and which she asserted to be her' own, but
Mrs. Sowerby had no doubt, about it. Some stock-
ings, however, which were found, although the
Prosecutors seemed strongly to susped they were,
theirs, they declined positively swearing to.
In her. defence , Miss Jones alledged that she
' bought the card of lace from one of the young ladies
who did'business in the house ;' -but the young lady
referred tb, who was one of the Witnesses, on being
called up, positively denied the fad.
Lord Chief Justice ELLENBOROUGH delivered a
very able charge to the Jury in this case. He stated
the Law with resped to stealing cut of a dwelling_
house, which ordained that the value of 4.05. must
be stolen at one, particular time. Under this con-
sideration, therefore, and the circumstances of this
particular case, their attention should principally
rest upon the card of lace, which, from its
peculiar nature, must have been taken at one
time ; however, it was very possible that . the
card might have been removed from its proper
place by some of the other young ladies or persons
engaged in the business :. he had not the least idea
of ,insinuating that 'such a thing may be done by
those improperly, but that it may be taken out of
the House to shew a customer for purposes of sale,
&c. and that by any possible means, while the
article_ was so out of the dwelling house, it was
taken by the Prisoner. The capital part of the.
charge was done away, if they could, in con-
templating the case, conceive such a circumstance
as_ having possibly taken place.
The Jury retired to consider of their Yerdid,
and after conferring about half an hour, found the
Prisoner Guilty of stealirg, but'not in the dwelling
house, ;which obViated the. capital part of the charge.
Miss Jones' was very genteelly drest, and is a
.young girl- of most pre_possessing appearance.—
She stated her age to be eLghteen.