Ordinary of Newgate Prison:
Ordinary's Accounts: Biographies of Executed Convicts

14th October 1772

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA177210147210140004

26th June 1772


George Lovell< no role > This name instance is in set 1437. was indicted for that he in a certain field, and open place near the King's highway on Jeremiah Godwin< no role > , did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person four half guineas, two quarter guineas, one nine shilling piece, a six-and nine-pence, and one shilling in money, numbered, the property of the said Jeremiah.

He was a second time indicted for that be on the King's highway, on Thomas Collier< no role > did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a silver watch, value fifty shillings, the property of the said Thomas.

George Lovell< no role > , alias Gypsey George, was born at Rumford , in Essex , and followed the trade of a tinker about that neighbourhood in the summer, and in the winter he used to come to town, and lodged in St. Giles's , where he became acquainted with Crookall and Ford (since executed) who soon introduced him into the company of their acquaintances. From that rime (using his own expression) ?he commenced thief.? He acknowledged that he had been concerned in many robberies, though he had done very little in house-breaking. Being asked what he meant by the expression of Doing little? he said, That it signified, that he only found things of small value, as his chief business had been in picking of pockets; and that he used to attend at the play-houses for that purpose. He said that he bad been twelve times before the justices, but had always escaped, as there was not sufficient proof against him. Being desired to tell who was the person that was concerned with him in the robberies, he said, that it was Benjamin Murphey< no role > .

As soon as he found himself in the death-warrant he wept bitterly; and as he could neither read nor write, great pains were taken to instruct him in his preparation for eternity. Being asked how frequently he had gone to church? he said, that he never had attended the duties of a Sunday in his life-time. He constantly went up to chapel, where he behaved as became his unhappy situation, and owned the justice of his sentence. He was thirty years of age.

John Devine< no role > (with James Dempsey< no role > , since respired) was indicted for that he on the King's highway, on Richard Glover< no role > , Esq : did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a gold watch, value fourteen pounds, a steel watch-chain, value two shillings, two cornelians set in gold, value fifty shillings, a brass watch-key, value one penny, a papier Machee snuff-box, value six-pence, a silk handkerchiefs value six-pence, and nine shillings in money, numbered, the property of the said Richard.

It appeared on the trial, that on Friday, the 26th of June , the prosecutor was stopt about half after nine, in a post-chaise, between Kingsland Turnpike and Islington by three or four men; that one of them thrust a pistol through the left side window of the chaise; he then opened the door, that another man on the other side




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