Page:The Trial of William Booth, of Perry Barr.pdf/14

This page has been validated.

15.

man immediately loosed the bridle, and walked away. He was dressed in dark-coloured clothes, but did not know the exact colour. Saw him again on Wednesday morning—in dark blue clothes, slouched hat, &c. prisoner was at his father's door, asking charity; his mother sent him to the door to speak to the prisoner, telling him who she thought he was. Witness told the prisoner they had thing for him, on which he went away; was then convinced he was the man who had robbed his mother. A servant man and witness followed the prisoner—they overlook him begging at a neighbouring house; witness fetched the constable, who took the man into custody. At that time prisoner appeared to be lame, and had one hand tied up; but he was not lame when he committed the robbery; his band was untied by the constable; there was a scar upon the back of it, but he could use it; he afterwards walked uprightly, & as fast as the constable. On a question from the learned Judge, he said it was light enough to see the man at the time of the robbery, and that he (witness) was not much frightened.

The Constable was called, who proved nothing particular; when he examined the prisoner's pockets after taking him into custody, he found only 3d. in copper upon him.

The Prisoner, in his defence, said, that on the night of the robbery he slept at Bromsgrove, and that he was not the man who had committed the robbery. He had caused a letter to be sent to Bromsgrove, but he was a poor man, had no friends, and could not produce any witnesses; no answer had been returned to his letter.