Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials

28th August 1730

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: t17300828-76




Thomas Willis proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3030. and Michael Willis proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 2633015. , of St. James's Westminster , were indicted for assaulting Mary Philips proceedingsvictim on the Highway, putting her in Fear of her Life, and taking from her three Gold Rings, value 50 s. the 29th of October last.

Mary Philips, alias Harvey, alias Macheing < no role > depos'd, That the last Lord Mayor's Day at Night, she being in Windmill-Street , did hear a great Noise, and going out, and inquiring what was the Matter, was told, that there was the Willis's, the Informers, and hearing her Sister cry out, she ran thither, and there was Michael Willisand Thomas Willis, who now says his Name is John; that Michael Willis took hold of her, and she was thrown down in the Dirt, and Michael took the Rings off her Finger, and tore the Skin off, so that it was all Bloody, and bit the Stone out of another Ring; that she got Home, and put on dry Clothes, and pursued the Prisoners, and secur'd one of them, John Willis, in Duke's-Court, and went to the Watch-House, and charg'd the Constable with them for Robbing her, and would have had him search'd them, but he would not; and Michael Willis < no role > charg'd her with Robbing him of his Cane, and said, D - n her for a Bitch, he did not value her, if it were an hundred Pounds, Justice Burk would believe him, but would not believe her.

William Macheig < no role > depos'd, That the last Lord Mayor's Day he had been to see the Show, and coming Home a little after Fight o'Clock at Night, he went to Bed, and was call'd up by Mrs. Philips's Maid, who told him, she believ'd her Mistress was murther'd; that he got up, and put on his Cloaths, and went into Windmill-Street, and he saw Michael Willis < no role > leaning, or kneeling on Mrs. Philips, as she was lying in the Gutter in a muddy Place, and his Brother John was there, and he endeavoured to get her up, and receiv'd three or four Blows in doing it; and that he took her to Mrs. Ireton's, and she complain'd she was Robbed, that her Rings were taken off her Finger, and her Finger was bloody.

James Devins < no role > depos'd, That he was Servant to Mr. Ireton, and he standing at his Master's Door about Ten or Eleven o'Clock, or thereabouts, he heard a great Noise, and Mrs. Philips came out, and ask'd him, what was the Matter? and he went with her to the Prisoners, and they said, you Bitch, is it you? you shall go along with your Sister; and that he saw Michael Willis < no role > take her by the Hand, and kick her, and she cry'd out, she was Robbed, and her Finger was bloody, and a Stone was bit out of her Ring; and he saw the Stone in it in the Morning, and that Michael Willis < no role > said, now, you Bitch, you may go to the Devil; that after they had taken her Sister away, a Gentleman came and took her out of the Channel. That after Mrs. Philips had shifted her self, she desired him to go with her to the Round-House, and that as they were going they overtook John Willis in Duke's-Court; that as he went to the Round-House, he struck her cross the Face; being ask'd, when this was? He said, it was the 28th or 29th Day of September, it was a Moonlight Night, it was a remarkable Day, it was the Lord Mayor's Day.

Isabel Gwyn, alias Eaton < no role > This name instance is in set 3014. depos'd, That the last Lord Mayor's Day, which she thought was on a Thursday, she having been at the Show, supp'd at the Horn-Tavern , and afterwards went Home, and was drinking a Bowl of Punch with two Gentlemen, when the two Willis's, the Prisoners, took her up upon a Warrant; that she sent to acquaint her Sister with it, that she coming to her Assistance in Windmill-Street, John Willis knock'd her down, and Michael Willis < no role > forcibly took her Rings, under Pretence of helping her out of the Channel , and they carried her, this Evidence, to the Round-House , leaving her Sister for Dead; that when her Sister came to the Round-House , the charg'd them with Robbing her of her Rings, and would have had them search'd; but the Constable would not, but let them go, and they charg'd her with taking a Cane, and sent her to Prison.

Alexander Bourk < no role > depos'd, That he was standing at the Corner of Windmill-street , being the first Coach , about ten or twelve Months ago, and there was a Mob, and the two Prisoners were there, and one of them and the Prosecutor were down in the Channel, and one of them said, D - n you, Michael , come along, I have got her; and he heard the Prosecutor cry out, Murder, and that she was Robbed, stop the Robbers, I am Robbed of my Rings.

Edward Hern < no role > depos'd, That he was at George's Coffee-House , and hearing a great Noise in Windmill-street between Eleven and Twelve o'Clock , and an out-cry of Murther, I am Robbed, &c . and knowing the Person, he went; and the Prosecutor said, will you see me us'd after this barbarous manner, that he saw her on the Ground, struck down by John Willis < no role > This name instance is in set 268. , and Michael Willis < no role > go to her under pretence of helping her up, and saw him having one Ring in his Hand, he holding it on with his Fingers ; and he had another Ring on his Finger, that he saying to him, don't Rob the Woman, he said, D - n the Bitch, they are my own Rings; that he went to the Round-House , and Willis gave her a Blow, and said, D - n you, you Bitch , if it were a hundred Pounds, Justice Burk will take Bail for me , he wont take your Oath.

Mary Archdeacon < no role > depos'd, That she following the Prosecutor to Windmill-Street , there were some Women the Informers had got, that Michael Willis < no role > was there, but she would not swear to the other; that there was a scuffle, and the Prosecutor cry'd out Murther, she was Robbed, and her Finger was bloody.

Michael Willis < no role > in his Defence pleaded, That there had been great Complaints made by the Neighbours of the Prosecutor Philips and her Sister Eaton keeping disorderly Houses, were in continual Danger of being Robbed, and having their Houses fir'd, &c. and that the Constable having a Warrant for taking up Isabel Gwyn < no role > , desired him to assist him in the Execution of it; that having taken her, the Prosecutor came to rescue her Sister, with several with her, with Clubs, who beat and abus'd him, but he took no Rings from her, nor knew any thing of them; but that she set this Prosecution on Foot so long after, out of Malice , because he had molested her in her disorderly Practices, and that he had Evidences to prove that she had frequently threatened to be Reveng'd on them, and declar'd , since the Indictment, that Robbery, or no Robbery, she would Hang him; and added, that his Brother John was not there, as the Prosecutor and her Evidence had sworn, and call'd the following Evidences.

John Clough < no role > depos'd, That there were frequent Disorders in the Prosecutor's House, and crying out Murther several times in a Day, and the like at Nights.

James Body < no role > depos'd, That having taken up Mrs. Eaton by a Warrant, Mrs. Philips came with several Men with Mop-Staves and Broom-Sticks to rescue her Sister, and had in her Hand a Meat-Fork to stick the Persons who had her Sister; that there was a great Engagement and Fighting, that one of the Willis's with the one Eye was there, he could not say whether the other was there or not; but that Philips and her Company took one Woman from us, that Philips was down in the Dirt, but he could say nothing to the Prisoners throwing her there, or taking her Rings.

Jacob Willis < no role > depos'd, That he was along with Mr. Body, the Constable, to serve a Warrant upon Mrs. Eaton; that they having taken her, the Prosecutor came attended with a Mob with Staves, and a Fork in her Hand to rescue her Sister, swearing violently she would kill us all, and had like to have stabbed him, this Evidence; and that Michael Willis was beat and bruis'd very much, that the Prosecutor got hold of Michael Willis's Cane, and he holding it, and she pulling with Violence, pull'd it out of his Hand, and so fell into the Channel, and he lost his Cane, and that they lost one of their Prisoners; and that John Willis was not there, and they were in Danger of losing their Lives.

Thomas Fielding < no role > depos'd, That he was assisting Mr. Body, the Constable, in apprehending Mrs. Eaton and Mary Sullivan < no role > , and that the Prosecutor came with four or five Men with Sticks, swearing and cursing violently, and using many wicked Expressions, saying, she would stab us all, and laid hold of Michael Willis < no role > , and she shrunk her self down under his Arm to skreen her self from the Blows while the Men were laying on with their Sticks upon Michael Willis < no role > with great Violence; that Sullivan got away in the Fray, but he secur'd Mrs. Eaton, that she said to him, let me go, you may depend upon it there will be Murder presently; that Mrs. Philips was down in the Channel , but he did not see Willis strike her, and that he believes he was ten Yards off her at the time she was down; that they afterwards carried Eaton to the Round-House. This Evidence swore, that John Willis < no role > was not there; it was added, it was her common Practice to cry out she was Robbed, in order to raise a Mob to rescue her when she was apprehended.

James Watkins < no role > depos'd, That he had been several times at the Prosecutor's House, and had taken out several disorderly Persons; and that once she lock'd him, and his Assistance in, and took a Case-knife, and swore violently, that she would Murther the Willis's if she could.

Robert Walker < no role > depos'd, That the Friday after the Indictment against the Prisoners was found, he was sent for by the Prosecutor to the Bishop's-Head in the Old-Bailey, to print an Advertisement, and there he heard her say, she would absolutely swear the Prisoners Lives away, and said, tho' she was not robb'd, she would hang them.

Samuel Stephens < no role > being call'd by the Prosesecutor to contradict the Evidence of Walker, depos'd, That he was at the Bishop's-Head at that time, and he heard no such Words spoken; but being ask'd, if he was there all the time that Walker was there? He reply'd, No, adding, that he must say thus far for the Willis's, that he had been often with them, and had known when they had had large Sums of Money offered when they had apprehended ill People, and they never would take it, and he did believe Michael Willis did never take a Farthing in his Life.

There were other Evidences to the like Purpose.

The Prisoners call'd a great many Persons to their Reputation, who gave them the Character of very honest Men, As

Sir John Gonson < no role > , Justice Raylton, Justice Phillips , Mr. Cotton, Mr. Du Val, and several Justices of the Peace, and others, who depos'd, That they knew the Prisoners very well, that they were very honest Men, and very serviceable in suppressing disorderly Houses; and gave the Prosecutor the Character of a very turbulent and disorderly Woman, and one of the vilest of her Sex; after a full hearing of the Matter, the Jury acquitted the Prisoners.




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