Robbery at Newton Abbot: John Charles Burton (on bail) was indicted for stealing a sack and four pecks of beans, the property of George Sanders, on the 5th February, at Wolborough. Mr. Clark prosecuted, and Mr. Carter defended the prisoner.lt appeared that the prisoner was in the service of the prosecutor, a corn chandler, living Newton Abbot. His stores were behind his dwellinghouse, and a Mr. Pinsent had stores adjoining, the key of the door being hung in the passage of the prosecutor’s house. On the evening of the day in question, the prisoner was seen by P. C. Endacott to come from Pinsent’s store with a sack. His master had previously seen him take the sack to the store. Prisoner was apprehended on the spot, and the bag was found to be one of the prosecutor’s, and it contained four pecks of beans. The prosecutor sometimes kept property in the store, but never beans. After the prisoner was liberated on bail, he called the prosecutor, and he said it was the first thing he had stolen from him. The defence was that the prisoner intended to take the beans to his master’s stable, and that he had not the slightest intention of stealing. The jury found the prisoner guilty but recommended him to mercy. The prisoner was sentenced to four months’ hard labour. Prisoner, on leaving the dock, said the constable had sworn falsely.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901 (?)