He has been pretty active at House-breaking and Street Robbery for some Time past, tho' he never fell into the Trap till about last November, when being taken up for being concerned with one or two others for breaking into a Dwelling-House in Holborn , and stealing 34 Calves Skins, &c. He was admitted an Evidence against the other two, at the last December Sessions; but his Testimony not being strengthened by any other, the Jury acquitted the other two. In which Testimony he did his own Character no good; for he declared to the Court, that 'twas not out of Regard to publick Justice he confessed the Robbery, and turned Evidence, but because they had quarrelled about selling the Goods, which he had carried to his own Lodgings.

The Fact for which he was convicted was plainly proved upon him, tho' so long ago as the 29th of July last , in which Robbery he shewed himself a desperate Fellow. He suffered accordingly, and died a Roman Catholick .

9.Michael Mac Gennis< no role > This name instance is in set 3556. , aged 32, was born in the Kingdom of Ireland , of Parents whose Circumstances would not admit of giving him any Education; but they brought him up in a sober Way, in the Fear of God, and he was esteemed a quiet, harmless Youth by those who knew him in his early Days. He scarce could give any Account how his Days had passed away, except that he had always worked hard for his Living since he was sent into the World. Destitute of Friends, and left to take care of himself, he came to England young, and whatever other Business he might have followed, that of crying Milk about the Streets has been his chief Employ. He has been married about nine Years, and had several Children, some of which are still alive, which he has left with a disconsolate Widow, who follows the same Calling for a Livelihood. His Behaviour since under Sentence of Death has been very quiet, but he always persisted in denying the Fact, which he did to the last. At first he would deny the very being present at the Time the Murder of Shear was committed; however, being confronted by some who saw him there, he was a little more modest than to continue to deny that Part of the Story; but the giving the Blow he still denied.

After his Conviction there was an Advertisement for a Meeting of some Men, who designed to make it appear that somebody else did the Fact, and somebody was invited to do it, but nobody would. This was the Contrivance of a Set of Men, who have always a light Shade reflected to them from every Scheme they propose, and never suppose a dark one. But whatever Light such a Scheme might cast upon them, the World saw it was with a dark Design proposed, and notwithstanding his persisting in a Denial of the Fact, the Verdict was a very just one according to Evidence, and all they could do by their Meeting did not in the least make it appear to the contrary.

He was bred a Roman Catholick , and of Course, after the Priest had seen him, I could expect to have little to do with him; and tho' I did often speak to him, he had little to answer as to this, or any other Part of his Life. He had been used to attend Executions, and been often seen there, and to his Cost went there once too often: And, indeed, Pity it is, that such Numbers, to the Neglect of all Business, should be so fond of flocking together at these Times, or that there should be so frequent Occasions of giving them Opportunity. But to come to the Point.