Thomas Dunk< no role > This name instance is in set 3656. was indicted for making an assault on John Read< no role > , in an open place, called the Green Park , near the King's highway, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and taking from his person a pinchbeck metal watch, value 4l. a pinchbeck metal watch chain, value four shillings, a cornelian seal, set in pinchbeck metal, value twelve pence, half a guinea and three shillings in money, numbered, the property of the said John Read< no role > .

To this indictment he pleaded not guilty, and for trial put himself on God and his country.

In his defence he alledged, that a young man from Bath had that watch, and wanting some money, he lent him three guineas on it; that was the watch Jackson and Carley spoke of. The young man paid him the money afterwards, and took his watch again.

On the evidence of John Read< no role > the prosecutor, Thomas Marshal< no role > the accomplice, and others, Thomas Dunk< no role > was found guilty of the charge laid in his indictment, and sentenced by the law to be hanged by the neck till dead. He was indicted for several other offences; convicted of one, and acquitted of the rest.

The account given by Thomas Dunk< no role > of himself, is as follows - Thomas Dunk< no role > , formerly of Bath , late a soldier in his majesty's foot guards, now nineteen years old, was, at the age of eleven years of age, bound to a staymaker , with whom he wrought seven years; then came to London, where he listed under his majesty's standard; being tired of the army, he solicited his discharge, determined to work at his trade; which proving very dull, he was easily led on to seek money in an unlawful way, for the supply of his necessities. And at the instance of Thomas Marshal< no role > , whom he unfortunately got acquainted with, when a soldier, he, in company with him, committed several robberies, for one of which he suffered.

Soon after his being apprehended, he was sent to Newgate , where he, with several others, formed a design to break the goal open, and set the prisoners at liberty; which they partly executed, and would in a very short time have compleated, were it not for the great attention, and watchful care of the master of the prison, to whom the thanks of the public in general, but more particularly of this city, is justly due, not only upon this account, but for his constant assiduity in discharging every part of his duty with justice to his employ, charity and humanity to the wretched criminals who come within his limits. Neither are his servants and turnkeys unworthy of notice, for their secresy and prudent behaviour till the particulars concerned were detected. Some of whom, notwithstanding the mercy and lenity of our most gracious sovereign, are found to be respites from death, not under confinement only for transportation, but full with sanguine hopes of a free pardon, from the pity and compassion of the best of princes, whose mercy and goodness is universally extended, not to his faithful, true, and loving subjects alone, but to those who, by transgressing both the laws of God and man, have forfeited their title to that life, which no mortal man on earth can restore.

This scheme of a general goal delivery, was first planned and attempted in manner following: while the goal smith was fixing and putting a lock on the door of an uninhabited room, one of the parties (under the pretence of curiosity) took the key to look at, and while the smith was at his work, with