John Russel proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 4658. , of Ealing , was indicted, for that being an ill-disposed Person, and greedy of wicked Lucre, after the first Day of June, in the Year 1723, that is to say, on the 28th of November 1730 , the Laws and Statutes of this Realm not esteeming, he did knowingly, unlawfully, wickedly, and feloniously send a Letter, without a Name, to Edward Leicester proceedingsvictim , by the Name of James Leicester < no role > , demanding the Sum of 5 l. to the evil Example of others, and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, and contrary to the Statutes in that Case made and provided .

He was likewise indicted a second time for sending a Letter to Thomas Stump proceedingsvictim , demanding the Sum of two Guineas , on the 28th of November .

He was likewise indicted a third time for sending a Letter to James Barret proceedingsvictim , demanding the Sum of 50 l. the said 28th of November .

Edward Licester < no role > depos'd, That finding a Letter at his Door about Eight o'Clock in the Morning, the Letter being as follows,

To James Leicester < no role > , Malster, at Brandford , You miserly Son of a Bitch, as soon as you get this , lay 5 l. at the Back-door of the Sign of the Anchor, and take Care to set no Watch; if you comply we will give no further Trouble, if not, by God, we will destroy you.

Upon reading it, he went and shew'd it to the Justice of the Peace, that suspecting the Prisoner, he being seen lurking about the Town, and being apprehended, and search'd, a Piece of a Letter was found about him, and there seem'd to be some Similitude in the Hands, but he said this was a Letter of his Wife's; that he owned himself to be an Irish Roman Catholick < no role > , was look'd upon as a Stroller, and was seen in the Town about Nine o'Clock that Morning.

Thomas Stump < no role > depos'd, That he found his Letter just within his Door, as he suppos'd, thrust in between a Vacancy of the upper and under-part of his Shop-door. The Substance of the Letter is as follows:

You are hereby order'd to leave two Guineas under the right Post of - If not, by God, we will destroy your House, and all your Family; if you wait twelve Months you shall not take us.

James Barret < no role > 's Letter was thus:

I desire you will to morrow Morning put 50 l. at the Back-door of your Meeting-House, otherwise we will destroy you and your Family; and, by God, if the Persons who have these Notes sent to them, and do not comply, we will lay the Town in Ashes . Saturday Night.

There being no Proof against the Prisoner, but that he was seen lurking about the Town that Morning, and not giving any good Account of himself; he was ask'd several Questions by the Court, which he answer'd as follows,

That he liv'd at Chelsea, and had liv'd there 13 Months, and that he came from France; being ask'd as to his way of living, he reply'd, he had none, that he was uncapable of working, by Reason of a Swelling in his Neck, that he was supported by his Wife, (who, as Justice Venner, who examin'd her , depos'd, said she was no otherwise his Wife than before God,) that he set out from Chelsea on Saturday about One o'Clock, designing to go to one Mr. Williams, a Romish Priest, at the Lord Shrewsbury's , but it being dirty, lay at Hammersmith on Saturday Night.

It was likewise depos'd, That upon Examination, he own'd, that he had formerly kill'd a Man at Lisle, and therefore went to France, and that his true Name was not Russel, but Kelly. He deny'd his having any Knowledge of the Letters, and there not being sufficient Evidence that he had, he was acquitted .