216. WILLIAM EDWARDS proceedingsdefend was indicted, for that he, in a certain field and open place, near the king's highway in upon William Randall proceedingsvictim , feloniously did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person two guineas and three shillings, in monies, numbered, the property of the said William Randall < no role > , May the 5th .

WILLIAM RANDALL < no role > sworn.

On Friday evening last, as I was coming from Islington to Bagnigge Wells, I met the prisoner and another man in the green field, near Bagnigge Wells , about a quarter after nine in the evening; the prisoner was five or six yards before the other; he passed me before the other came up; as soon as he had passed me he turned about, d - d me for a rogue, and bid me deliver my money. I turned round and saw the prisoner's cutlass. I struck him over the head with my cane, upon which he reeled; I turned my head over my shoulder to look at the other, and I observed he had his cutlass lifted up to strike at me; I knocked his blow off with my cane; I had my arm extended to keep the prisoner's blow off, and he cut me on the under side of my arm; he followed his blow and cut my little finger entirely off, and the next finger quite through the bone, leaving it hanging only by a little bit of skin; upon which I dropped down and asked for mercy. I told them if they would spare my life they might take my money; then the prisoner put his right hand into my breeches pocket and took out two guineas and three shillings; the other man asked for my watch. I had not my watch about me, I told him so; but he searched for one; then they d - d me and bid me go about my business; and I saw them both go up the field towards White-Conduit-house. I went to Bagnigge Wells and sent for a surgeon.

What reason have you to say it was the prisoner that used you in this manner? - I was engaged entirely with the prisoner, he was the person I met first, I looked at him when I met him.

Had you never seen him before this time? - No.

Had he any disguise over his face? - None at all.

How was he dressed? - He had a brown coat on buttoned.

When did you see him again? - On the Sunday after, at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's. I picked him out from among thirteen other people.

Do you take upon you positively to swear to the person of the prisoner? - I do; he is the person who cut me and wounded me.

What way of life are you in? - A gentleman's servant out of place. I had been to drink tea with a friend. I have been in town seven months. I lived eight years with Dr. Mainwaring at Manchester.

Your resistance seems rather rash, did you see any body in the field likely to give you assistance? - I did not; I did not see that the other man had a hanger till I gave him a blow.

The stroke you first gave was supposing you would have only one man to contend with? - Yes, and then I looked over my shoulders and saw the other drawing his cutlass.

CHARLES JEALOUS < no role > sworn.

Myself and some others were at the apprehending of the prisoner, at a house in Black Boy-alley.

Was that in consequence of any warrant granted on this complaint? - No; we went round the fields upon the prosecutor's complaint; we could see nobody in the fields; we then went to Black Boy-alley, there we saw the prisoner in a house sitting by the fire eating his supper.

Was that the same evening? - No, the next evening. A person came up in the morning who had found the gentleman's finger. We took the prisoner immediately toSir John Fielding < no role > 's. Mr. Randall was sent for; he came up in the evening; the prisoner was put amongst some of us and some strangers; that was on the Sunday after; we were all together to the number of fourteen. Mr. Bond sent a little boy for the prosecutor to come out of the room into the yard where we were; when he came into the yard Mr. Bond desired him to go round and see if there was any body there whom he knew. He immediately pitched upon the prisoner.

What did the prisoner say? - He said, he was innocent of it. Randall told him he was the man who committed the robbery and cut his fingers off. None of us at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's ever saw Randall from the time he came to give information, till he came up on the Sunday evening.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I am very innocent of it. I hope you will have mercy on me. I have not a friend in the world to speak for me. I am a sawyer.

To the prosecutor. Was it a light night? - Yes. I could see his face very well.

GUILTY ( Death .)

Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron PERRYN < no role > .