John Watkins proceedingsdefend and Edward Whittaker proceedingsdefend were Indicted for Murthering one Isaack Smith proceedingsvictim a Watchman in Ivy-Lane on the 29th of May last, the manner thus, several persons about 3 of the Clock in the morning of the same day, coming down Paternoster Row, made a noise and seemed very unruly as they came along whereupon the Deceased and another Watchman being upon their Stands, endeavoured to stop them, in order to the rexamining them, or having them before the Constable to give an account of their business at such an unseasonable time; whereupon they resisted and fell to scuffling with the Watchman; whitraker striking up one of their Heels, and Watkins beating down the others Lanthorn, whereupon the Dispute grew very hot, so that after some hard Scuffle with the deceased, Watkins got up his Staff and struck him a blow on the left side of the Head, knocking him down, of which Wound he languished till the 22 of September, and then died. The Prisoners pleaded that the Deceased first assaulted them, and that they were Fruterer s, and going about their lawful occasions to buy Fruit in Newgate Market; but the Chirurgion giving in upon Oath that according to the best of his Skill, the man died of the Wound, whereupon they were both found Guilty of the Murther.

[Death. See summary.]