William Nichols proceedingsdefend , of St. Ann Aldersgate , was indicted for Ravishing and carnally knowing Dorcas Reeves proceedingsvictim , an Infant of five Years of Age, the 9th of February last. He was also indicted a second Time for an Assault upon the said Dorcas Reeves . The Mother of the Child depos'd, The Prisoner being her next Door Neighbour, was at her House, when his Sister having call'd to him to look after the House, she being then going out, he went Home, and took the Child along with him, under Pretence of bearing him Company; and some Times after when she came a way he gave her a Half-Penny, bidding her buy some Plumbs: That some Time after the Child complain'd much of her being sore, and pointed to her private Parts. That examining her, she found she was in a very sad Condition, and enquiring of her how it came, she told her the Prisoner had made her kneel upon his Knees had taken up her Coats, and had hurt her sadly. Mr. Bradbury depos'd, That he had seen the Child, and she had been very much injured, that the Parts were much inflamed and excoriated, and that there had been a manifest Perforation: That he also had the Assistance of Mr. Fern the Surgeon, who was of his Opinion, and that the Child had been very much damaged; and that the child did say it had been done to her by the Prisoner. The Child being too young to swear to the Fact, the Jury acquitted him of the Rape, but found him guilty of the Assault.

[Fine. See summary.]

[Imprisonment. See summary.]