HENRY STERNE, alias GENTLEMAN HARRY. CONVICTED OF STEALING THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT’S “GEORGE.”

THIS offender was one of the class called “gentlemen pickpockets.” Being a fellow of good address, and of tolerable education, he managed by some means to intrude himself into decent society, where he found it easy to carry on his schemes of depredation.

He was indicted on the 12th of September, 1787, for robbing his Grace the Duke of Beaufort of his “George,” meaning the star of the order of the garter, on the 4th of June previous, which was the King’s birthday.

From the evidence of his grace, it appeared that he was quitting his majesty’s levee on the day in question, followed by his servants, his “George” being pendent from his neck by the ribbon; when, on his reaching the corner of St. James’s-street, he found himself suddenly surrounded by a great crowd of people, who pushed him about. He did not at first understand the meaning of it, when presently a thought struck him that the object was to rob him, and he found that his “George” was gone. He called for his servants, who directly came up, and his grace pointed out a man in black as the thief. He was searched, however, but nothing found; and then the prisoner being seized, the ornament was discovered in his pocket.

The prisoner denied the charge imputed to him, and hoped that the jury would not suffer any reports which they had heard of his character to operate to his prejudice; but he was found guilty, and sentenced to be transported for seven years to Botany Bay.