Title: The Times
Date: 15 December 1855
Place: London
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Friday, Dec.14
(Before Mr. Serjeant ADAMS, Assistant Judge, and a Bench of Magistrates, at the Guildhall, Westminster.)
Samuel Stiffe, 36, was indicted for having unlawfully conspired with other
persons to defraud Joseph Green of divers moneys.
Mr. Payne prosecuted; Mr. Duncan appeared for the prisoner.
The prosecutor said, - I am a butcher, and live at 7, Howard's-place,
Hackney-road. On the 5th of November last a man came to me and entered
into a conversation with me about some pigs which he said a friend of his
had for sale, in consequence of which I went with him to Laburnum-terrace.
We there met the prisoner, and the man said to him, "I have brought this
butcher to buy those pigs." The prisoner said he had just sold them, but
invited me to a publichouse opposite. I went with him and the man there.
The prisoner called for a pot of ale and paid for it, and we drank it in the
parlour. The prisoner gave the man half-a-crown for his trouble in fetching
me. After I had been there a few minutes a respectable-looking man came in
and called for a glass of ale, and inquired if we had seen a lady with a green
bonnet on. We told him we had not, and he then said he had given the lady
5L. and she had promised to meet him there that morning. The prisoner heard
this. The respectable-looking man then said he had had 10,000L. left him by
an uncle, and should have more soon, and did not care what he did with it.
He then pulled out some gold and a roll of notes, resembling bank-notes.
The prisoner asked him if he could play at knock-'em-downs. He answered
he did not know what that was, but if it was fighting he could not fight. The
prisoner explained to him what the game of knock-'em-downs was; and we
all then went into the skittle-ground. The prisoner asked me if I could play at
skittles; and I said I could play a little. He then said, "How much money
have you brought with you?" I said I had only 2s. 10d., and he asked me if Icould get any more, and mentioned 50L., which I said I had. I then played at
skittles with the stranger, and lost my 2s. 10d. The prisoner then lent me a
sovereign to play with, and I lost that with the stranger. The prisoner said he
had no more money, and said his wife and family were starving. The man
who at first took me to the prisoner about the pigs accompanied me towards
home, but on the way I saw a friend and borrowed 3L. We then went back
towards the same house, when we met the prisoner and the stranger I had
played with, and we then went to the Royal Oak, in the Hackney-road, kept
by Mr. Sharpe. We all had something to drink over the bar, and then went
into the skittle-ground. I told the prisoner what I had borrowed, and that was
all the money I had, upon which he said "I will go you halves, and you play
him for 6L." I then put my three sovereigns into his hand, but I did not see
him put three to them. I then agreed to play the stranger for 6L. a-side; we
played at skittles and I lost. I did not see the prisoner pay the money over to
the winner. The prisoner then said to me "If you can go and fetch 20L. I will
back you for 50L." I told him I would go and fetch it. I then went home,
accompanied by a man who came into the skittle-ground while we were
playing. I furnished myself with 20L. and went back with the man to the
skittle-ground. The prisoner and the stranger were still there, and I played
again with the stranger for 5L., the prisoner holding the money, and I lost.
The prisoner did not, as I saw, pay the money over to him. We then had
some brandy and water brought in by the waiter, whose name was
Pluckrose, in one tumbler. I drank some of it, and put down five more
sovereigns to play for, and the prisoner took them up. I then became
confused; all I remember is that they all came about me, and that I went into
the parlour. After being there a short time I put my hand in my pocket and
found my remaining 10L. all gone. The man I first saw was the only one of
the party who was there then. I went away pretending to go home for more
money, but returned with a policeman; however, they were all gone, except
the man who fetched me about the pigs. I should know him and the stranger
again if I saw them. I next saw the prisoner and another man in custody on
another charge, and then Iaccused him of this. The prisoner said, "If you do
not prefer the charge you shall have every farthing of your money back
again." I lost altogether 23L. 2s. 10d. When the men went away the potman
locked me in the place.
In cross-examination, nothing was elicited to alter the above statement. It
comprised the whole case.
Mr. DUNCAN having made an address to the jury on behalf of the prisoner,
the ASSISTANT-JUDGE summed up, and the jury immediately found the
prisoner Guilty.