974. JAMES, otherwise JOSEPH TREBBIS proceedingsdefend , and GEORGE HANDS proceedingsdefend , were indicted for feloniously assaulting Edward Rutter proceedingsvictim , on the King's highway, on the 4th day of October , and putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and feloniously taking from his person and against his will, one silver watch, value 40 s. and 5 s. in monies numbered, his property .

EDWARD RUTTER < no role > sworn.

On the 4th of this month, about twelve at noon, I was going from Harrow on the Hill to Greenford , in a single horse chaise, and I was stopped by two footpads with a brace of pistols, one on one side, and the other on the other, and they swore an oath and bade me deliver my watch, I desired them to take away the pistol, that I might get up on my seat, and give them my money, I gave them my money, which was five shillings, he looked at it, and then he demanded my watch; I said I was loth to part with it, I had had it a great many years; he said, I insist upon it, or you are a dead man: I drove on as fast as I could to the gentleman's house where I was going, and gave the alarm; in consequence of that alarm four or five men on foot, and one on horseback, and himself on horseback, went after them, and took them both, and brought them back to me in the space of an hour.

Did you know them again? - Yes.

Was your watch found? - We took them before the Rev. Dr. Glasse, he said where is the watch you took from the man; and the prisoner Trebbis gave the watch immediately.

You are sure these are the men? - Yes; I swore to them directly.

Mr. Silvester, Prisoner Trebbis's Counsel. You have no doubt in your mind? - Doubt! about what?

About the identity of his person? - No, Sir, none at all, no doubt in the least.

JOHN EVISON < no role > sworn.

I heard the alarm of two footpads from Master Rutter, I pursued them with two of my men, they surrendered themselves to two of my men.

Did they resist? - Yes, I cannot remember the words, but the meaning was, they desired me to stand off, which I refused.

Had they arms? - Yes.

Were the pistols presented to you when you came up to them? - I believe they were, but I cannot be very sure.

Did you seize their pistols? - I did not, I desired they would resign themselves quietly, and they should be treated well, upon those conditions they did.

What did the prosecutor say when you brought them to him; did he know them again? - He did.

Was you present when his watch was found? - I was in the room at the time they resigned the watch.

Mr. Silvester. Did they surrender at once when they were told they should be well used? - Yes, from my persuasions, they resisted at the first, but after a bit of a parley, about five minutes, they surrendered themselves.

Prisoners. We have nothing to say.

- BROOKS sworn.

I am a watch-gilder in King's-head-court, Holborn, I have lived there many years, I have known the prisoner Trebbis ever since his birth; I never heard a word amiss of him till this time.

CHAFFEY MARTIN sworn.

I live at Richmond, close to this young man's friends, I have known him eighteen years, I never heard any thing amiss of him before, he was always an honest, just, good, civil lad; half Richmond would have come for him if necessary.

William Jennings < no role > , who had known him ten years; - Wightman, who had known him fourteen years, and Thomas Drew < no role > , who was butler to Lady Fitzwilliam, with whom the prisoner lived servant, all gave him a very good character.

JAMES, otherwise JOSEPH TREBBIS, GEORGE HANDS < no role > ,

GUILTY , Death .

They were both humbly recommended to mercy by the Prosecutor.

Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Lord LOUGHBOROUGH.