for the Murder of the said Joseph Brown< no role > , upon clear Evidence, after a short Consultation, the Jury brought them in both Guilty.

Then, as by the late Act for preventing frequent Murders is directed to be done, Mr. Recorder proceeded to pass Sentence of Death upon them, viz. That on the second Day after Conviction, and receiving Sentence, they were to be executed, and their Bodies delivered to Surgeons-Hall to be dissected and anatomized. They seemed to stand upon their Tryal with great Undauntedness, but when they found how the Case stood, and that they were convicted, dreadful Horror began to seize their Minds.

1. Randolph Branch< no role > , was almost seventeen Years of Age, born in the Parish of St. Mary, Whitechapple , of reputable Parents, who brought him up tenderly, and taught him to read and write. He was always a sprightly Lad, not a little given to be unlucky, but by the watchful Care his Parents had over him, before he left them, he was kept from running out into those disorderly Ways which his natural Temper inclined him to. He was at length bound out Apprentice to a Boat-Builder and Shipwright , but Work being no Favourite of his, he served only eight Months, and then withdrew himself from his Master.

He went Home to his Mother, who, tho' she much disapproved of his leaving his Trade, and gave him what Advice she thought necessary; yet nothing could prevail with him, but he was resolved to take his own Course and do as he pleased. He now began to get into bad Company both of Men and Women, and there was no Scene of Iniquity and Debauchery, but he was ripe for it at about fourteen Years of Age, if not sooner. And now he commenced Acquaintance at Mrs. Tytchburne's House, which, he says, has been the Ruin of him, and many another poor young Fellow before him, where all Sorts of iniquitous Practices have for many Years been carried on both Day and Night. And, having with some of his new Acquaintance committed a Robbery, he was in Danger of being taken up for it, which coming to the Ears of his Friends, put them upon concerting Measures how to save him from the Gallows. And, accordingly it was resolved, that he should be sent Abroad out of the Way of such bad Company, as he had now taken to His Mother, he says, greatly concerned at his unpromising Entrance into Life, got a Birth for him to go to Newfourdland . So he went on Board, and continued with the Ship Abroad about eighteen Months.

Tho' young of Years as he was, yet old in Iniquity he grew every Day; and, though he underwent some Hardships while Abroad, yet his wicked Spirit was no Way to be tamed, unless by the Means that the Law was obliged to make Use of at last.

At the July Sessions, 1750, he was tried for stealing 17 Fowls, the Goods of Caleb Smith< no role > , in which Robbery he had two Companions. But, for Want of Evidence, he for that Time got off.