+ 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83.

William Norwill , otherwise Long Will proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3507. , William Billingsly , otherwise Gugg proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3510. , Joseph Field , otherwise Nobby proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3512. , Thomas Wells , otherwise Kitt proceedingsdefend , John Potbury , otherwise Jack the Sailor proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3511. , and Henry Gadd*, otherwise Scampey proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3513. , of St. Botolph Bishopsgate , were indicted (together with Samuel Bannister < no role > , William Norman < no role > , John Neale < no role > , and Richard Morris < no role > not yet taken,) for assaulting Edward Jones proceedingsvictim , on the King's Highway, putting him in fear, and taking from him a silver watch, value 50s. and a steel seal, value, 1 s. Sep. 28th .

*Henry Gadd was reputed to be an Apprentice to Joseph Field < no role > in this Employment.

Edward Jones On < no role > Sept. the 28th as I was going along Devonshire street near Bishopsgate , about ten minutes after eight at night, I was robbed of a silver watch.

Q. By what number of people?

Jones. Eleven or twelve people husled me, and pinned me up against a wall, and a little youth, about as high as my navel, took my watch out of my pocket - It was a lad about the size of the little boy at the bar [Gadd] I am pretty well assured it is him, but I can't be positive. There was one little fellow (I think it was Jack the Sailor), who said, You dog, or D - n you you Dog, I'll peg you; and gave me a little blow, but did not hurt me - I can't be positive to any of them, because it was in the dark. I was sent for to Bridewell, and they informed me there was one they called, the Old Man, who was turned evidence; I went to him to the Poultry Compter, and he told me who they were that robbed me.

Field. I desire he may be asked what circumstances he has to know that any of us were concerned in the robbery.

Jury. Was Field the person that struck you?

Jones. That little chap, [Potbury] I saw something of his face by the light of the lamps, and I believe he is the person - they husled me up, and I said, Gentlemen, what do you mean by husling me? and I cried out, Thieves, and murder! Then one of them cried out, Coach; one called out one thing, and another another thing: they made a noise like a parcel of ravening wolves. I did not imagine that a robbery was committed; it was done in a quarter of a minute, and then they went about their business. I thought they had been a parcel of srolicksome young sparks; I did not think they were street robbers.

William Harper < no role > This name instance is in set 3509. . On the 28th of September, the Prisoners at the Bar, Jack Neale < no role > , Richard Morris < no role > , William Norman < no role > , Samuel Bannister < no role > , and myself, went from Chick-lane to Jack Neale < no role > 's, and in our way we took a watch from a gentleman; from thence we went into Devonshire-street, and met this gentleman: I can't say, the Prosecutor is the person; because it was dark; and Jack the Sailor took a watch out of his pocket.

Q. Had they any cutlasses?

Harper. They had cutlasses.

Q. Had Gadd a cutlass?

Harper. Yes; it was an old one of one Samuel Sonee < no role > 's, (which was broke) who is not taken yet; the Gentleman cried out, Thieves, and we went into Devonshire-street, and cried out, Coach; we all made a noise, that the people might not hear him.

Q. How many of them had cutlees?

Harper. Bannister, Norman, and Morris had.

Q. Had Field a cutlass?

Harper. He had not one then; I believe he never carried one, for he used to tell them it was wrong to cut and slash People after they had robbed them.

Q. Had you a cudass ?

Harper. I never carried a cutlass or pistol; Billingsly, Potbury, and Wells, used to cut and abuse People, and threaten to murder them.

Q. Have not you heard Field complain of their cruelty in cutting People in that manner?

Harper. Yes, I have; and I have heard him say they were worse than Blewitt and Frasier, to cut and slash people in that manner; and told them, if they did so, he would not go with them, and he often persuaded them from it; they were angry with him because he would not buy a hanger, and he used to tell them he had no money; when he had money they told him, you have money now, why don't you buy one? but he made some excuse, and would not buy one, because he did not approve of their proceedings. He frequently told them, is it not enough to rob people without cutting and hacking them? We went that night into Goodman's-fields, and took another Gentleman's watch, but they did not strike him because the man was pretty easy, and went away about his business; then we came up Rosemary-lane, and coming towards Aldgate they attacked another man, but they did not rob him because some people came out of their shops, and we were pursued. Wells had a horse pistol that belonged to Jack the Sailor; he said, shall I fire at them, he turned about and fired, and they all left us.

Prisoner Field. I said to the evidence Harper, how came you to put me into the information, when you know I am not guilty? He said, he had given his information, and he could not help it. Said I, would you send your soul to the devil, to take away the lives of so many poor innocent People? the Thief-takers make a trade of it, and do it for the sake of the reward.

William Day < no role > (Beadle of Portsoken Ward) on the 28th of September, between nine and ten at night, hearing a noise in the street, and a cry of Stop thief, I went out, saw several fellows, and catched at one of them, upon which he cut at me two or three times; I got my hat and staff, and called out, Thieves, murder, Thieves, murder; one of them, a tallish Person, presented a pistol at me, and fired; I stooped, and it happened to miss me.

Q. to Harper. Who fired the pistol?

Harper. Wells did.

Jury. Had any of the others a pistol?

Harper. I believe Jack the Sailor had one, but it was a pocket-pistol, the pistol that Wells had belonged to Jack the Sailor.

Q. What day of the week was this?

Harper. It was on a Friday night.

Day. It was on a Friday night; there was one Rosse stopped that night, and I hearing an outcry went after them; Mr. Rosse was not robbed, but there was one Mr. Winwood robbed that night.

Q. Had you ever any conversation with Harper?

Day. No, never.

Q. How came you to be here?

Day. I am here upon a subpoena upon another account.

Q. Ask him what circumstance he came upon to day?

Day. There was a watchman killed in August last, and I understood that the person who is charged with that fact, was to surrender himself to day. I attend upon that account.

Harper. Billingsly and Jack the Sailor were generally very cruel; for if a person did but turn about to look at them, they would knock them down: there was a piece of a skull taken out of a man's head, occasioned by a blow that they gave him, which would surprize you if you were to look at it.

Wells. I don't know any thing of him.

Harper. What, don't you know me?

Wells. No, I know nothing of you.

Harper. Don't you remember when you went to the Windmill in Cow-cross, in order to kill Mr. Jones the City Marshall, and Mr. Broomer?

Wells. No.

Josiah Risby < no role > . I live in St. John's-street; I am a Carpenter: Joseph Field < no role > was bound Apprentice to me in the year 1738, and served four years of his time with me; he thought he could get into a place where he might learn more than he could with me, as I am chiefly in the jobbing way; he said he wanted to learn framing, and wanted to go away; I told him he should go if he could get a Master, but he did not; he afterwards grew uneasy, and he went away, - this is between two and three years ago; - he never did me any injury during the time he lived with me, or any person that I worked for; since he has been gone I have heard he has been sometimes with his Aunt, and sometimes in the Country, but how he spent his time I can't tell; 'tis a pity he has brought himself under this unhappiness.

Hannah Holt < no role > . I have known the Prisoner ever since he was born; he was born at Hitchin in Hertfordshire, and came of a very good family.

Q. Are you any relation to him?

Holt. I am his own aunt; I don't know any harm of him, he had a very good character in the country, and is as honest a young fellow as ever was born, for what I know.

Q. How has he lived lately?

Holt. Really I can't tell.

Field. I worked three qu arters of a year with one Mr. Austin in the country, and at Sir Danvers Osburne's house near Cliston, and at a Lady's at Hutton.

Q. to Mrs. Holt. Has he lain at your house lately?

Holt. No, he has not; - he has not within these three or four months. All Guilty , Death .

The Jury, on account of Joseph Field's being of a more merciful disposition than his companions, and endeavouring to prevent their cruelty in cutting, and otherwise abusing the Persons they robbed, begged the favour of the Court to recommend him to his Majesty for mercy .

Joseph Field < no role > , otherwise Nobby, William Billingsly < no role > , otherwise Gugg, Thomas Wells < no role > , otherwise Kitt, John Potbury < no role > , otherwise Jack the Sailor, and Henry Gadd < no role > , otherwise Scampey, were indicted (together with William Norman < no role > , otherwise Party, Thomas Giles < no role > , otherwise Chimpin, Samuel Bannister < no role > , and Richard Mozris < no role > , otherwise Irishman, not yet taken) for assaulting Thomas Pestell proceedingsvictim , on the King's highway, in the Parish of St. Lawrence Jury , putting him in fear, &c. and taking from him a gold watch, value 12 l. a gold chain, value 30 s. and two Cornelian seals set in gold, value 10 s. his property , Sept. 22 .

They were also indicted (together with the aforementioned persons not yet taken) for assaulting William Vanham proceedingsvictim on the King's highway, in the same Parish, putting him in fear, &c. and taking from him a watch, value 5 l. a metal chain, value 5 s. and a Cornelian seal, value 5 s. his property , Sept 22 .

As the Prisoners were all capitally convicted upon other indictments, they were not tried upon these.