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

25th April 1750

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: t17500425-14




307, 308. Thomas Lewis proceedingsdefend , and Thomas May proceedingsdefend , were indicted for that they on the king's highway, on John Matthews proceedingsvictim , did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, two gold rings, val. 12 s. one penknife, val. 6 d. and two shillings and three-pence in money numbered, from his person did steal, take, and carry away , March 22 .

John Matthews < no role > . I was coming from the halfway house on this side Hampstead, near the foot of the bridge that leads to Pancras Church , where were four men, and I had a person along with me. The two prisoners came running up, and presented a pistol to my mouth, and demanded my watch. I said I had none; they said, Blast your eyes and limbs, keep down your hat, or I'll blow your brains out. Lewis jobb'd his pistol against my teeth, and made my gums bleed, the other s tood with his pistol to my ear. They rifled my pockets, and took two gold rings, one shillings, two six-pences, one penknife, and three-pence in halfpence. I had met them the night before; the other two robbed the man that was with me; then I came home. After this I went to Mr. Pentelow, the headborough of our parish, who assisted in the taking them.

William Pentelow < no role > deposed, That upon the prosecutor's describing the prisoners, he knew them, having seen them before, being the person who took Lewis on my Lady Albemarle's account. (See No. 200, 201. in the last paper,) and that Lewis snapt a pistol to his breast twice; that he took Lewis in bed in Newtoner's Lane, and that he with the others with him, went and took May at infamous house, the Crown and Cannon in St. Giles's, and that in his breeches he found one of the Prosecutor's rings. It was produced in court, and swore to.

The two prisoners, espcially May, much abused this headborough, as a person that would swear away any person's life for a trifle. But Justice Fielding upon oath declared, he sincerely believed there was not an honestr, or a braver man than he in the king's dominion, and that May talked before him, as though he wanted to have him admitted an evidence, &c.

James Cissel < no role > and John Roberts < no role > , two officers, and Andrew Campbel, confirmed the testimony of Pentelow, as to taking the prisoners, and finding the ring, &c.

Both guilty , Death .

309. Thomas Lewis < no role > , and Thomas May < no role > , a second time, and Benjamin Campbel Hambleton proceedingsdefend , were indicted for that they in a certain field, or open place, near the king's highway, upon William Blacketer proceedingsvictim , did make an assault, putting him in bodily fear, and danger of his life, taking from him one handkerchief, value 11 d. and 5 d. in halfpence , May 22 . Lewis and Hambleton Acquitted , May Guilty , Death .

Thomas Lewis < no role > and Thomas May < no role > , a third time, and Benjamin Campbell Hambleton < no role > , a second time, were indicted for that they, on the king's highway, upon John Mason proceedingsvictim , did make an assault, putting him in bodily fear and danger of his Life, and taking one gold watch, val. 40 s. from the person of the said John , March 21 .

John Mason < no role > . As I was coming over Pancras-Fields , March 21, about 7 at night, Lewis came and laid hold of my shoulder, d - n'd my eyes, and bid me deliver my watch, or he'd blow my brains out. May came up and repeated the same Words. I said pray gentlemen, use me well; they took my watch, and let me go about my business. Hambleton was with them, they had a pistol each, and made use of terrible threatening words. I stood and saw them rob Mr. Matevae who was in company with me.

John Matevae < no role > . I know the three prisoners, I was with Mr. Mason, and was robb'd at the same time of one guinea and ten shillings in money, and that Hambleton and Lewis took it.

Hambleton's Defence. On the 21st of March I was taken very ill with a pain in my side, I went to bed and lay there till the 22d at night; I had some parched oats put to my side: On the Friday morning the 23d, I was going to be blooded, when these people took me up and carried me to the Round-house.

The Truth of which he called Mary Lloyd < no role > to prove, who gave a blundering account of his being ill; being asked how see came to be so certain as to the Day of the Month, her answer was, I am apt to go to church to the evening-prayers, makes me remember it. Lewis, Hambleton, and May, Guilty , Death .

Thomas Lewis < no role > and Thomas May < no role > , a 4th time, and Benjamin Campbel Hambleton < no role > , a 3d time, were indicted for that they in a certain field and open place, near the king's highway, on John Matevae proceedingsvictim , did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, one guinea and ten shillings in money numbered, from his person, did steal, take, and carry away , March 21 .

The Evidence were those of the former Trial.

Lewis and Hambleton, Guilty , Death .

May Acquitted .




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