Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials
13th July 1715
Thomas
Rye
proceedingsdefend
,
Thomas
Harvey
proceedingsdefend
,
Thomas
Stringer
proceedingsdefend
,
William
Harvey
proceedingsdefend
,
Thomas
Oven
proceedingsdefend
,
John
Tyler
proceedingsdefend
, and
Richard
Cannon
proceedingsdefend
, of the Parish of St. Mary le Bow
,
were all indicted, for that they, with above 100 Persons more, did on the 29th of May
last appear in a very riotous and tumultuous manner, to the great Terror and Afright of His Majesty's Subjects; and did assault and evil intreat
Joshua
Gee
proceedingsvictim
, and
William
Gansborne
proceedingsvictim
. Mr. Attorney-General first open'd the Indictment in general as to the Riot: To prove which, and the Words us'd by some of the Rioters, Mr.
James
Cox
< no role >
Swore, That about half an Hour past 9, on the Night aforesaid, his Assistance was desir'd to the Constables between Bow-Church and Queen-street, and there being a very large Mob, their common Cry was, no Hanoverian, no Presbyterian; High-Church for ever; High-Church and Ormond; High-Church and Sacheveral; a Second Restoration; no King George, but King James the 3d. High Church and Ormond, and the Race of the Stenarts for ever. The same Words, or to the same purpose, were sworn to by several others; so that the Riot in general was fully prov'd. After which, the Court proceeded against each particular Criminal; and first,
Thomas
Rye
< no role >
, against whom it was sworn, by Mr. Low, That he saw the Prisoner within 2 Doors of Mr. Gee's, and that he stop several People and ask'd who they were for, crying, High Church and Ormond; and afterwards saw him turn Mr. Gee's Hat round, and heard him say he was a Quaker; and one Jardin (Mr. Gee's Servant) swore he saw him turn his Master's Hat, and strike him on the Face. Against
Thomas
Harvey
< no role >
,
Abraham
Hazard
< no role >
swore, That going down Foster-lane
, he saw him bits at the Constables, and heard him cry, High Church and Ormond: A Watchman swore, That one of his Brother Watchmen being down, Harvey, who was under him, held him so fast by the Neckcloth, that he could not rise; and said he'd die before he'd yield. Another, That he saw him with a stick in his Hand, hollowing, but could not say any thing to words. Against Stringer it was depos'd, That he was seen just by the Poultry Compter
brandishing a stick, and crying, no Hanoverian, no Presbyterian; whereupon he was seiz'd with the Stick in his Hand, and carry'd into the Compter. Mr. Cox swore, That he saw
William
Harvey
< no role >
amongst the Rioters, but could not say he heard him utter any Words; and another depos'd, That he help'd to take him, and that he fought very resolutely against the Constables and Watch. Against
Thomas
Oven
< no role >
it was sworn that he was one in the Riot, and that he sought the Constables, &c. to rescue Harvey, swearing he should not be carry'd away.
John
Tyler
< no role >
was accus'd by
Joseph
Game
< no role >
, who swore, That he saw him in Cheapside amongst the Mob, opposing the Constables. Against
Richard
Cannon
< no role >
, the Evidence was, That a Man in a Night-Gown came to the Constable, and said his House was in danger of being pull'd down, and desir'd Assistance: which being granted, he accus'd Cannon as one who had attempted him; whereupon being required to surrender himself, he resisted, but was knock'd down and taken. This being the Substance of the Evidence against them, some by their Counsel offer'd the following Defence. For Mr. Rye it was pleaded, and sworn to, That he had din'd that day at Whitechapel, and stay'd about that end of the Town till about 10 at night, and behav'd himself very civilly, but was something in Drink: That from thence coming towards his Lodging in Aldersgatestreet , he kept along the pav'd stones, and never mix'd himself with the Crowd; but as he came by Mr. Gee's Door, met the Mob, who were going t'other way, but he kept on his own, and did turn Mr. Gee's Hat half round; but thought he had done no harm, and was gone on about 5 or 6 steps, when Mr. Gee's Man came behind him, seiz'd him, and run him into his Master's Shop. For
Thomas
Harvey
< no role >
it was said, That he with some Neighbours Apprentices had a Bonfire in Carew-lane, and stay'd there till near Three Quarters past 10, and then going to see the Candles in Cheapside , as he and his Friend were returning down Foster-lane, they met a Constable and Watch, to whom Harvey saying something they immediately knock'd him down, beat him soundly, and carry'd him to the Compter. His Master gave him a good Character, and said he was never a Person given to Mobbing, or Rioting upon any Account whatsoever. Thomas Oven's Uncle depos'd on his behalf, That he was at his House till Harvey was carry'd by as a Prisoner; and then, seeing Mr. Thompson (Harvey's Master) go along, he went out to speak to him, and soon after News was brought that he was made a Prisoner too. To this Mr. Attorney-General having reply'd, the Jury found them all
Guilty
of the Riot.
[No punishment. See summary.]