Imatges de pàgina
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THOUGH our descriptions of the variety of thieves constantly prowling, like the beasts of the forest, for plunder, have been numerous, and, unless we had accompanied them with proof, would almost exceed the belief of our country readers, yet have we still to add other species of robbery.

Among the finished villains of London are a gang who extort money from gentlemen, charging them with pretended crimes. These fellows are generally well dressed, and accost elegant young men, demanding money; and, on refusal, threaten to reveal a pretended abominable intercourse. Others there are who have debauched innocent girls, and, Then the effects of the illicit commerce is evident, further seduce the anhappy creatures to swear some

VOL. III.

wealthy married man as the seducer, and, in case of his resisting the false accusation, to swear that he is the father, thus at once rendering a numerous family unhappy.

Other profligate wretches, as indeed we have already shown, swear robberies against innocent men, in order to obtain the reward for the apprehension of felons. Other frauds are practised, which we shall hereafter notice, of dropping counterfeit gold articles and diamonds, aud picking the parcel up in the presence of some innocent unsuspicious countryman, whom they acknowledge to be entitled to one half of the pretended prize, and thur cheat him out of whatever property he may have about him, on depositing the spurious article with him, to b valued hereafter.

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Instances of some of these artful villainies we have already adduced; but the following has, on perusing the case, drawn from us these additional observations. In truth, they cannot be too often repeated, to guard countrymen against the numerous deceptions practised in the metropolis.

Mr. William Hird, of the village of Leyburne, in the North Riding of the county of York, about forty years ago, came on business to London. One day the countryman was caught in a heavy shower of rain, and sought shelter under a gateway on Holborn Hill, where others were for the same reason assembled. There he was accosted by a well-dressed man, who observed that the storm was not likely to abate, and proposed to the innocent countryman to retire to an adjoining public house, and wait for fair weather over a pot of porter. The invitation was readily accepted, and they went to the house, where they found three or four more, who declared that they came on the same errand.

The porter being drank, a bowl of punch was proposed; and the countryman, on such an occasion, determined not to be outdone in acts of courtesy, assented. While the intoxicating liquor passed quickly round, one of the strangers observed that, as the rain increased, a game at cards would pass the heavy time unnoticed; and cards were immediately placed upon the table.

Mr. Hird was, in his village clubroom, thought to be expert at this amusement; and, confident of his abilities, he scrupled not to take a hand. But what are the best players, who play fairly, among London sharpers?-Mere dupes.

The game began, when Mr. Hird and his partner were for some time successful. The bets, at first small, were doubled, until the stakes be

came high, when the poor countryman not only lost his gainings, but all his cash soon followed.

This failure being evident, a kind friend in the company advanced him money on his watch, then upon his silver buckles, and in fact every vaJuable article about him was thus pawned. Entirely stripped, one of the company went out to observe the weather, another disappeared on another pretence, until the countryman was left alone. Then came in the landlord, with his demand for the liquor drank, and payment for the fatal cards.

In vain did poor Mr. Hird plead his misfortune; the host insisted on being paid, alleging that the company were all strangers to him, and he must look to the lust. References for payment were refused, and the poor countryman was obliged to part with his coat and hat, and, the rain still continuing, to return to his inn, wet to the skin.

The case which we have now to state was of the worst description of these robberies, and the sufferer was the Honorable Charles Fielding, second son of the Earl of Denbigh.

James Donally was examined at Bow Street, on a charge of having extorted money from this gentleman by the vilest of all insinuations; and the magistrates, deeming that the offence amounted to a robbery on the highway, committed him for trial; and Lord Denbigh was bound to prosecute on behalf of his son, who was under age.

James Donally, alias Patrick Donally, was indicted at the sessions held at the Old Bailey in February, 1779, for that he, on the king's highway, in and upon the Honorable Charles Fielding did make an assault, putting him in corporeal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person, and against his will, half a guinea, on the 18th of Ja

nuary' and there was a second count in the indictment, for robbing the said gentleman of a guinea, on the 20th of the same mouth.

This fact was so atrocious in its nature, and so clearly proved, that it will not be necessary to state the evidence in detail as it arose on the trial, but to give the story by way of narrative.

Between six and seven in the evening of the 18th of January, Mr. Charles Fielding was going from the house of a lady with whom he had dined to Covent Garden Theatre, when he was accosted in Soho Square by Donally, who desired he would give him some money. Mr. Fielding, astonished at this address, asked him for what. Donally said he had better comply, or he would take him before a magistrate, and swear that he made an attempt to commit a most foul crime.

Terrified by this insinuation, the young gentleman gave him half a guinea, which was all the money he had about him; and, returning to the house where he had dined, borrowed half a guinea of the servant, with an intention of going to the play.

Two days afterwards he again met the prisoner in Oxford Road, when he repeated his threats of carrying him before a magistrate, and to prison; saying that he knew very well what had passed in Soho Square the other night; and, unless he would give him some more money, he would take him before a magistrate, and Accuse him of, the same attempt which he had thre tened on the other day. He added that it would go hard with him, unless he could prove an alibi.

Terrified by these threatenings, Mr. Fielding went to Mr. Waters, a grocer in Bond Street, to whom, under the immediate impressions of

his fear, he gave a guinea to give to the prisoner.

It happened providentially that, on Saturday, the 12th of February Lord Fielding was going up Hay Hill; when Donally, owing to the great personal likeness to his brother, accosted him in words which he did not rightly understand. His lordship said he believed he had mistaken him for some other person, for he did not know his face. Donally said he believed he must know him, and asked if he did not remember giving him half a guinea in Soho Square. He likewise mentioned the money given him at the grocer's; a knowledge of which his lordship, as well he might, utterly denied.

The prisoner again asking if he did not recollect having given him any money, his lordship asked him what was his present demand; and, desiring him to explain himself, some farther altercation ensued; on which Lord Fielding desired the prisoner to go before a magistrate, with which he seemed to comply, but at length stopped, and said he would not go. During this contest his lordship was somewhat terrified; and, scarcely knowing what kind of charge to make against the prisoner, he was, as he owned on the trial, weak enough to loose his collar, and let him go.' Doually then turned about, addressed him by the title of My Lord,' and said he should hear from him again.'

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On the Tuesday following, as Lord Fielding was walking near the same spot, he heard a voice over his shoulders saying Sir, I have met you again,' or some such expression. His lordship, recollecting his voice, turned round, and seized him by the collar. Donally complained that he had used him very ill the last time he saw him. other replied that he had used

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him too well, for he had let him go, but he would take care to do better this time."

He did not deny the receipt of the guinea at the grocer's in Bond Street; but averred that he did not deserve death on account of the charge against him.

Mr. Fielding swore that he had given the same account at Bow Street as on the trial; and the jury, having considered the whole evidence, brought in a verdict of

Donally now desired to be treated like a gentleman, saying he would not be dragged, but would go quietly. Lord Fielding, not seeing any person that was likely to assist bim, and apprehending a rescue, told him that, if he would walk along quietly to the next coffee-Guilty;' but Mr. Justice Buller, house, he would not drag him. They walked down Dover Street together; but the prisoner increasing his pace, Lord Fielding fol lowed, and seized him. He fell down twice, but was again seized as soon as he arose.

By this time a crowd was assembled Major Hartley, and two other gentlemen, happened to come by. The prisoner was seized, and conveyed to Bow Street, where the magistrates, on hearing the evidence, thought that the crime amounted to a highway robbery, and committed the prisoner for trial accordingly.

Donally, in his defence, acknowledged that he had met Lord Fielding twice; that he had addressed him with decency, and desired him to hear something respecting his brother; and that Sir John Fielding had made the Honorable Charles Fielding carry on the prosecution.

before whom the offender was tried, reserved the case for the opinion of the judges, on a point of law.

On the 29th of April, 1779, the judges met, and gave their opinion on this case, pronouncing it a new species of robbery to evade the law, but which was not to be evaded. He therefore underwent its sentence, which he had, with most abominable wickedness, brought upon his own head.

Another diabolical villain of this description, named John Staples, was, on the 6th of December, 1779, hanged at Tyburn, for extorting money from Thomas Harris Crosby, Esq. by threatening him with an abominable crime; and along with him suffered Timothy Fitzpatrick, for stealing money; and John Taylor, for stealing a letter, in which was a bill of exchange for thirty pounds.

MORGAN PHILLIPS,
EXECUTED FOR MURDER.

THE crime for which this man most justly suffered was attended with extraordinary acts of cruelty, and such as we have not often had occasion to describe.

The inhabitants of Narbeth, a small village in the county of Pembroke, were, in the middle of the night, alarmed with the appearance of fire, bursting from a farm-house near the turnpike. Before they could render assistance the house

was nearly reduced to the ground, and the family were missing. On examining the ruins the remains of the owner, Mr. Thomas, an old and respectable farmer, were found on a bench, in a leaning posture; but so much burut that it was impossible to determine whether he had been first murdered, or had perished by the merciless flames.

Proceeding in the search, the next unhappy victim found was his niece,

a fine woman of about thirty years of age, whose body lay across the feet of a half-burnt bedstead, with a thigh broken, and an arm missing.

Among the ruins of another room was the body of a laboring man, much burnt, but with a large wound on the back of his head, from which much blood had issued. Mr. Thomas's servant-woman, who was very robust, was found dead at the entrance into one of the rooms, with several deep wounds in her head, and her hair clotted with blood. Her body was not so much burnt as the others; and near her was found the large kitchen spit, half bent, with which it was conjectured she had opposed the murderers.

It was now evident that the house had been broke open, the inhabitants murdered, and then set on fire. Some money was found in a drawer, which it is supposed the villains overlooked; but consider able property appeared to have been stolen.

So horrible a deed, in so peaceable a country as Wales, alarmed the whole nation, and every search was made after the murderers.

A man of the name of John Morris, a lazy suspicious character, and who had already been charged with different offences, was apprehended, under great cause of suspicion; and, while carrying him to gaol, he suddenly sprang from the constables, and threw himself into a coal-pit, and was killed.

At length suspicion fell on one Morgan Phillips, who, finding him-~ self generally thought guilty, and apprehensive that full proof would be brought against him, confessed that he, in company with the abovementioned John Morris, broke into the house of Farmer Thomas, murdered the family, robbed it, as they conceived, of all the cash, and different portable articles, and afterwards set it on fire.

On his trial this confession being read, and by the prisoner himself acknowledged to be true, and a variety of corroborating proofs being likewise brought forward, the jury had very little hesitation in finding him guilty; and Morgan Phillips was accordingly executed at Haverfordwest on the 5th of April, 1779, amid the execrations of every honest Welchman.

THE RIOTS OF LONDON,

BEGINNING ON THE SECOND DAY OF JUNE, 1780, WITH THE EXECUTION

OF THE RIOTERS.

THE history of England, from its earliest epoch, since London became the seat of royalty, relates no calamitous domestic occurrence pregnant with so much mischief as the riots of London.

A commotion so contemptible in its rise, so rapid, daring, and destructive in its progress, was perhaps never known, under the then circumstances of the country, in any civilized nation.

The sovereignty of the king and

the property of the subject rested on laws unsupported; magistrates were confessedly intimidated, and all good citizens were seized with panic. The very existence of the state, its treasures, its splendour, its civil and military strength, for some days depended on the caprice of an uncurbed multitude, seeking_plunder, and committing wanton devastations in every quarter of the great metropolis.

In the latter part of the mouth

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