23. 24. proceedingsdefend , and Robert Kift proceedingsdefend , were indicted (with George Vaugham < no role > not yet taken) for assaulting William Stamper proceedingsvictim on the Highway, putting him in fear, and taking from him a Hat, value 20 s. a Wig, value 6 l. a Gold Ring with a Stone. value 4 l. a Silver Watch, value 4 l. 4 s. a pair of Silver Buckles, value 17. s 6 d. and two Guineas, and 2 s. 6 d . May 13 .

They were a second time indicted for breaking and entring the House of Jasper Stapleton proceedingsvictim , and stealing the Goods of several Persons, May 27 . in the Night .

First Indictment.

William Stamper. On Tuesday, May the thirteenth about nine at Night, I was attack'd by four Men at Stone-bridge, just behind the Watch-house, between Shoreditch Church and Kingsland . One of them took me by the Coat and said, D - your Blood come along or I'll blow your Brains out. R - (who was another of them) said to me, Be quiet, and nobody shall hurt your Body. They carried me about one Hundred Yards down the Lane where Jack Catch < no role > was hang'd. They took from me two Guineas and half a Crown, my Hat and Wig, a Silver Watch, an Amethyst Ring with my Coat of Arms on it, and my Silver Buckles out of my Shoes. They cut the String of my Breeches and tyed my Hands behind me, and one of my Legs. I desired them not to throw me down, because I had lately broke my Arm. So they laid me down gently. R - said, Be easy, and one shall come in five Minutes and release you; and if any body else offers to meddle with you, say that you have spoke with Mr. Jones. I suppose that was a Watch Word, but I told him it could do me but little service after I had been rob'd of all. He said I need not complain, for if he should be taken I would have no mercy on him. So he fired a Pistol over my Head (which I thought was a silly Action) and then they left me - I believe that tall ill-looking Fellow, the other Prisoner, was another of the Gang, but his Face was muffled - One of them had a long Knife like that as was taken upon Mac Cray. And R - gave two Pistols to the other two - This is my Wigg, it was taken upon R - Head - I lay bound in the Lane an Hour by St. Paul's Clock, and then I made shift to get loose.

John Cotterel < no role > . I have been engaged with the Prisoners about six Weeks. On the thirteenth of May in the Evening, They and I and George Vaughan < no role > went to The Fox Alehouse in Kingsland Road, where we staid till it was duskish and then went out together and met with the Prosecutor at Stone Bridge. R - presented a Pistol and demanded his Money, and Vaughan gave him a Punch in the Face. They also took his Hat, Wig, Ring and Money and I took the Buckles out of his Shoes. He said he had lost two Guineas, and a half Crown. But we went from thence to The Magpye Tavern at Bishop's Gate to share the Booty, and then they produced only a half Crown and two half Pence, and said, the Gentleman was a lying Rogue for saying that he had lost two Guineas. Next Day Vaughan and R - - disposed of the Watch for a Guinea and a half, as they told me, and then they knock'd the Coat of Arms out of the Ring and sold the Gold for four Shillings six Pence, five Shillings six Pence, or six Shillings six pence, I can't say which, but there was an odd six Pence) to a Gold-Smith in White Chapple - and the Buckles. -

Kist. Talk to my Lord, and don't stand -playing with your Hat - such a Rogue as you, will swear any thing.

Cotterel. R - carried the Wig to Phillip Lacy < no role > a Barber in Petticoat Lane (White Chapple) to see what it was worth. Lacy look'd on it and said, This Part is Goat's Hair - This is Mohair - and this is the Devil - By G - the Wig is worth but sixteen Shillings. We threw for the Wig with Box and Dice, and R - had it - I afterwards asked Lacy how he came to value such a Wig at but sixteen Shillings, and his Answer was, D - R - , bid me say so - Before we left the Prosecutor, R - fired a Pistol over his Head, and told him that was a token for one to come and relieve him, but we knew of nobody that was to come on any such Account.

R - I bought the Wig of Cotterel.

Phillip Lacy < no role > . R - and Cotterel brought the Wig to me in the Dusk of the Evening, and it was then much rumpled, so that I could not well judge of the Value of it - But afterwards I said it was once worth seven or eight Pound.

R - Here is my Landlord, with whom I lodg'd a Quarter of a Year last past, and he can prove that I was never out of his House after eight at Night.

Thomas Williamson < no role > . The Prisoner never lived with me, but he offered me Money to swear that he lodged at my House ever since the fourth of last April - and to swear that I saw him give half a Crown a piece to Kist and Cotterel for their shares of the Wig.

R - You may see by his Face that he swears falsely.

Court. He's your own Witness.

Kist. As to that Rogue Cotterel, his own Rod will whip him - And as to my dying before him, it will be a pleasure to me, and I am only sorry that it should be by the Evidence of such a Villain - But he'll come to it in a little while.

The Jury found the Prisoners Guilty . Death . There appearing some favourable Circumstances in the Case of R - the Jury recommended him to Mercy .