History of Dover

Thomas William’s an elderly man of mendicant appearance, was charged with stealing two silver watches value £4, the property of Mr. E. J. Pryor, Silversmith, Strond Street. Mr. Pryor said that the preceding evening the prisoner entered his shop about half-past six o’clock. A customer of whom he had taken a watch had just left and he had gone in doors when almost immediately he heard a noise and on looking into the shop he saw the prisoner coming from behind the counter. He ran out and caught him outside the door and asked him what business he had in his shop. The prisoner in reply pretended that he had not been there but he (prosecutor) walked him on as far as the shop of Mr. Mummery a neighbour, into which he turned to him and told him if he had taken anything from his shop he had better give it up.

The prisoner still denied that he had been in the shop, but as they were talking witness heard something touch Mr. Mummery’s counter and on looking he saw the two watches produced lying there. The prisoner had just previously had his hands behind him. He identified the watches as his property. He had but a minute or two before placed them on a desk in his own shop behind the counter where the prisoners must have gone to get at them. He then gave the prisoner into custody. Sergeant Geddes deposed to taking the prisoner into custody at Mr. Mummery’s shop, Mr. Pryor handed him the two watches he now produced which he charged the prisoner with stealing. The prisoner pleaded guilty and the magistrates sent him to gaol for three months with hard labour. (1859)