Source:  The Times, 26,331 9e
Date: 11 January 1869
Place: London

POLICE.

At WORSHIP-STREET RICHARD JEFFRIES, 19, and JAMES PLUCKROSE, 20, both described as costermongers, were charged before Mr. Ellison with having stolen a black leather bag containing three half-dozen of plated spoons, a pair of boots, and other articles, the property, and from the person, of John Judge.  Mary Ann Roberts, who resides in Bath-street, City-road, deposed that about half-past 7 o’clock on Friday evening [8 January 1869] she was in a public house at the corner of Old-street, St. Luke’s, when she saw the prisoners enter, leading the prosecutor between them. They called for a pot of ale, from which Pluckrose first drank, and witness then observed Jeffries put a sort of powder out of a white paper into the ale, which was handed to the prosecutor, who drank a part of it. Soon after they all left, the prisoners still leading the prosecutor, who, when brought in, seemed half drunk, but who after partaking of the ale appeared nearly helpless. Jeffries was carrying a black bag. The witness, suspecting that something was wrong, followed them down OId-street, and saw Jeffries insert his right hand into the prosecutor’s waistcoat pocket. She went up and told Pluckrose what she had seen, and he then ran away. Jeffries, however, remained, and witness having spoken to a waterman on the cab-rank, he was given into custody. William Hills, waterman, corroborated the latter portion of the previous witness’s evidence, and William Everet, 204R, stated that at the time in question he was proceeding along Old-street, when his attention was attracted to the prisoners, whom he recognised as two Rotherhithe and Bermondsey thieves. The prosecutor was with them, nearly insensible. When the waterman spoke to them witness went up and asked Jeffries if the bag which he was carrying belonged to him. Jeffries replied, “Yes, master,” and was about to lead the prosecutor away, when witness caught hold of him and, telling the waterman to support the prosecutor, took him to the station. Pluckrose, who was seen in the crowd which collected round them, made off when his companion was apprehended, but on Saturday morning he was taken into custody outside the court by Police-constable Parker, 317N. The prosecutor identified the bag and its contents as his property. He knew nothing of the prisoners. He did not recollect being taken into the public house by them. Everet said that Jeffries was wanted for stealing two costermongers’ barrows, and he and Pluckrose were a week ago charged with having housebreaking implements in their possession. The prisoners, who protested their innocence, were fully committed for trial.

They were tried and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour at the Middlesex Sessions a week later. 
This is probably James John Pluckrose [PL1409 : Tree1006] who was born in Brighton on 11th March 1852,
the third son of Thomas Jesse Pluckrose and Mary Ann Peart. .