SILAS SHEERS, theft with violence: highway robbery, 13 Sep 1775.

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t1775091

Trial Summary:

  Crime(s): theft with violence : highway robbery,

  Punishment Type: death,

(Punishment details may be provided at the end of the trial.)

Verdict: Guilty,

Original Text:

597 (M) SILAS SHEERS was indicted, for that he, in a certain field and open place, near the king's highway, in and upon John Foster, did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a seal set in silver, value sixpence; another seal set in brass, value twopence; a steel watch-key, value one penny; and a guinea in money, numbered the property of the said John, August 13th. +

John Foster. On the 14th of August, at about one o'clock in the morning, I was robbed by a man in the Five Fields, as I was going to Chelsea, of a guinea, and in silver, about seven or eight shillings, two seals, and a watch-key. He pulled at the watch, the chain broke, and left the watch behind. I never saw the person that stopped me in my life before.

Q. Was you drunk or sober?

Foster. A little in liquor.

Q. Did you see enough of the man to know him now?

Foster. No.

Q. What reason have you to charge the prisoner?

Foster. I will not swear to any man; but the man who robbed me was a soldier. I saw a soldier in the public-house which I had just left.

Q. Are you sure the soldier you left in the public-house was the prisoner?

Foster. It was a soldier. I am not sure it was the prisoner.

John Noaks. I was going across the Ambury, Westminster, on Monday morning, the day after the robbery. The prisoner, and one Williamson, were in the watch-house. A man met me, and informed me there was a soldier had some seals of a watch, that a man had been
See original robbed of in the Five Fields the night before. I asked him who the soldier was, and he shewed me the prisoner. I searched his pockets, and the lining of his coat, but could not find the seals. Then the man told me, he believed he had put them in his breeches. I searched his breeches, and found them.

(" They were produced in court, and deposed

"to by the prosecutor.")

Edward Horn. I saw the constable take the seals out of this prisoner's breeches.

John Hudson. I am a watchman in St. James's-street, Westminster. About a quarter after four in the morning, the prosecutor, and one Williamson. came down the street together. The pursuer said, he had been robbed of a guinea; and he gave charge of Williamson as being in company with a soldier who had robbed him. His neckcloth and face were very bloody. I locked them both up in St. Margaret's watch-house.

Ann Loams. I keep the King's Head, the corner of the Five Fields, Chelsea. The prosecutor came to my house, and asked for a pint of beer. He seemed very sober, and well dressed. He said, he would not detain me; and, before the beer was drawn, he had a glass of peppermint. In the mean time, the prisoner and Williamson came in, and asked for a pint of beer. They pushed into the bar, and sat down. There the prosecutor took out a guinea, and some silver. He paid me for the pint of beer and glass of peppermint, and then put the money again into his

pocket. This was before the robbery. I then advised him to go home, and told him, one Mrs. Becket and my maid should see him home; for, in my own mind, I did not like the looks of these two men, though I said nothing. He said, no, he would not have any women go home with him, and he went out. The prisoner went out after him, and the other man followed.

Robert Williamson. I met with the prisoner at the King's Head. I knew nothing of him before. I wanted a lodging. He said, he would get me one. We went into the King's Head, and had a pint of beer. The prosecutor was there. Foster and the prisoner talked of going further to have some more beer. The prosecutor went out first, and the prisoner followed him. They went towards Chelsea. I said, I would go no further, for there were no more houses open. I went out just after, and saw them down on the ground before me.

Q. How far were they from you?

Williamson. Above twenty yards.

Q. Don't you know how they came down?

Williamson. No. I came up, and said, don't use the man badly, and then the prisoner ran off.

Q. To the prosecutor. Was you robbed by one man, or two?

Williamson. One man.

Q. The last witness was not present?

Williamson. While I was down, I heard somebody speak.

Q. How came you down?

Williamson. I was down.

Q. Was you knocked down or did you fall down.

Williamson. I received a little blow on my nose that made it bleed.

Prisoner's Defence.

I was going to work about eight o'clock in the morning; I picked up these seals, I went to see who was in the watch-house, and they charged me with the robbery.

Guilty Death.