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<p>776. <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-defend409"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-defend409" type="role" value="proceedingsdefend"></interp>
MICHAEL SWIFT <interp inst="t17781021-39-defend409" type="surname" value="SWIFT"></interp>
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</rs>
was indicted for that he <rs id="t17781021-39-off204" type="offenceDescription"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-off204" type="offenceCategory" value="breakingPeace"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-off204" type="offenceSubcategory" value="wounding"></interp>
in the King's highway, with a certain blunderbuss (loaded with gun-powder and divers balls) which he held in both his hands, did wilfully and maliciously shoot at <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-person410"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-person410" type="role" value=""></interp>
Charles West <interp inst="t17781021-39-person410" type="surname" value="West"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person410" type="given" value="Charles"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person410" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
</rs>
</rs>
, against the statute, <rs id="t17781021-39-cd205" type="crimeDate">September 25th</rs>
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.</p>
<p> <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-victim412"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-victim412" type="role" value="proceedingsvictim"></interp>
CHARLES WEST <interp inst="t17781021-39-victim412" type="surname" value="WEST"></interp>
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<join result="offenceVictim" targOrder="Y" targets="t17781021-39-off204 t17781021-39-victim412"></join>
</rs>
sworn.</p>
<p>I am <rs id="t17781021-39-viclabel206" type="occupation">boatswain</rs>
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of the Censor Frigate, a convict ship; I went down into one of the<xptr type="pageFacsimile" doc="177810210030"></xptr>
guard boats; they had hove one of the sets over board that we steady the lighters with to heave the ballast up. <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-person413"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-person413" type="role" value=""></interp>
Michael Swift <interp inst="t17781021-39-person413" type="surname" value="Swift"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person413" type="given" value="Michael"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person413" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
</rs>
jumped into the boat; he stabbed me with a knife, and then took up a blunderbuss, and said, You bloody bugger! if you don't go out of the boat I will blow your brains out! there were others in the boat. Knowing if I went into the river I should be drowned, I asked him where he would have me go to; he said draw along the lighter, which I did; and he bid us all get out of the boat; before we could get out he fired the blunderbuss; it was charged; I had seen the captain charge it, and a brace of pistols; it was in the stern of the boat. If a man, who was in the boat, had not that instant tossed the mouth of it up I believe it would have shot me, and all that were in the boat. When he fired it he gave it to another man to load again.</p>
<p> <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-person414"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-person414" type="role" value=""></interp>
WILLIAM ELBY <interp inst="t17781021-39-person414" type="surname" value="ELBY"></interp>
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</rs>
sworn.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, September the 30th, going along by Wellclose-square I heard a disturbance; I was informed that <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-person415"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-person415" type="role" value=""></interp>
Michael Swift <interp inst="t17781021-39-person415" type="surname" value="Swift"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person415" type="given" value="Michael"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person415" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
</rs>
had escaped from some of the officers. I went after him, he said, If you come after me, you bugger, I will blow your brains out! and he snapped a knife at me, which he had in his hand; I pursued him still, and knocked him down, and secured him; when I took him, he said he was afraid he was a dead man, for he had jumped into the boat, and taken a blunderbuss, and fired it at the boatswain; and had likewise stabbed him in his thigh; he begged we would let him go, for he said he was a dead man if he was taken!</p>
<p> <rs type="persName" id="t17781021-39-person416"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-person416" type="role" value=""></interp>
JOHN FARRELL <interp inst="t17781021-39-person416" type="surname" value="FARRELL"></interp>
<interp inst="t17781021-39-person416" type="given" value="JOHN"></interp>
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</rs>
sworn.</p>
<p>Elby and I took the prisoner; I have no more to say than what Elby has said.</p>
<p>PRISONER's DEFENCE.</p>
<p>I did not fire the blunderbuss at him, nor stab him. The usage of the place is enough to make any man try to escape; they not only starve them, but murther them. I have no witnesses.</p>
<p> <rs id="t17781021-39-verdict207" type="verdictDescription"> <interp inst="t17781021-39-verdict207" type="verdictCategory" value="guilty"></interp>
GUILTY </rs>
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Death </rs>
.</p>
<p>Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.</p>
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