Ordinary of Newgate Prison:
Ordinary's Accounts: Biographies of Executed Convicts

29th July 1751

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA175107295107290010

27th July 1751


However, after a Time, upon some Resentment he had taken against some of his Neighbours, he had Recourse to unlawful Means of being revenged; upon Complaint of which, Warrants were issued out against this unfortunate Youth, he being represented as a Person dangerous to the publick Safety. Accordingly he was taken into Custody, and committed to Newgate in Dublin , where, at the same Time, there happened to be a notorious Set of Sharpers confined, whom he contracted an Acquaintance with, and who became, perhaps, the Motives of his breaking thorough the Fences of all Honesty and Virtue. They communicated their different Arts to him, so that he only wanted an Opportunity to carry his instructions into Execution. His poor Father, all this while upon the Rack for his Son's Welfare, was indefatigable in procuring Bail for him, which he shortly effected, and restored him to Liberty; but at the next Sessions he was indicted, and obliged, by the Verdict given against him, to remain in the said Jail for six Months. This Affair cost his Father a great deal of Money; he grew daily more uneasy in his Mind, was quite dejected for his darling Son's Misfortune, and contracted a Disorder that shortly put an End to his Life. Words can scarce paint the Son's Griefupon this Occasion; he was for some Time inconsoleable, till, by the Persuasion of some Friends, he was prevailed on to cease his useless Moans.

As soon as he got his Liberty, having gone through the six Months Imprisonment, he resolved to quit his native Country, and so he embarked for Liverpool . In a few Days after he landed there, he engaged at Play with a Gentleman, and (as there were few more expert at all Sorts of Gaming) won a considerable Sum of Money. Here he went on Board a Privateer, and continued in her till he came to London . He was a good sprightly young Man, and might have been a useful Member of Society, had he betook himself to good Company, instead of which he met with some of his former Fellow Prisoners, who farther corrupted his Principles, and led him into such Excesses as obliterated every Thought of Virtue in him. And now he entered upon Enterprizes that led him on to Destruction, and by the Allurements of his Companions he was prevailed on to go a House breaking.

And the first Expedition he entered upon, was in Bloomsbury-Square , where they found a convenient House for their Purpose, which they entered with great Facility. When they had sufficiently rumaged the said House, and as they were just going off with their Booty, three or four of the Watch happening to come by, and seeing the Door open at that unseasonable Time of Night, put themselves in Readiness to receive the People that should come out; they soon saw a Number of well-freighted sturdy Fellows pushing their Way out in some Confusion; the Watch ordered them to surrender, whilst they, endeavouring to send the burthened People off, attacked the Watch with vast Fury, and forced their Way quite through them; but in the Pursuit Lawler got so desperate a Wound over the Head, that it had near deprived him of Life; however, two of his Friends came Time enough to his Assistance, beat off the Pursuers, and carried him and their Booty in Triumph Home.

In a short Time after, when he was able to go Abroad again, he, together with one of his Associates, met two Gentlemen well dress'd, whom they robbed of their Watches, Rings, and Money, to a pretty handsome Amount.

The next Attempt was made in the Strand , where he stopt a Coach, which he also robbed of a considerable Booty, and got clear off; and various other Robberies and Burglaries, too tedious to mention, he had a Hand in. Besides his Acquaintance in the nightly Expeditions, there was scarce a Day but he made Money at sharping, and taking in People, at the Game called Old Nobb; and he carried on this infamous Way of Life till Harpur was rescued from the Gatehouse, without being detected; but one of his Accomplices making a Discovery, impeached him in his Information. This he had timely Notice of, and provided for his Safety by going to Ireland . He was not long in Dublin when a Hue and Cry pursued him, and he, together with some others, was apprehended, and committed to Newgate in Dublin , and in some Time after transmitted to London , in October, 1749.




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