1, 2, 3, 4. (M.) JOHN RANN proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 1255. , WILLIAM DAVIS, otherwise SCARLET proceedingsdefend , DAVID MONRO proceedingsdefend , and JOHN SAUNDERS proceedingsdefend were indicted for that they, on the king's highway, on Robert Simmonds < no role > did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a guinea, and three shillings and sixpence in money, numbered , Nov. 13 . *

Robert Simmonds proceedingsvictim . I am a vintner at Hampstead. As I was coming to town in the coach, about a quarter before six in the evening, I think it was last Saturday was three weeks, the coach was stopt by five people; they took from me a guinea and three shillings and sixpence; they behaved exceeding civil, and rather begged for the money than used any violent means.

Q. Was it light or dark?

Simmonds. Rather light.

Q. Was it so light that you could observe their faces?

Simmonds. Not to be positive.

Q. Did you observe their dress?

Simmonds. Not at all.

Q. Were they armed?

Simmonds. I saw a pistol in one of their hands, that was all.

Thomas Shed < no role > . I drove the coach; it was stopt by five people; three met me on the road; the other two came out of the field; one of them held a pistol to me, and said if I did not stop he would blow my brains out; I desired him to put the pistol down; he did, and behaved exceeding civil.

Q. Do you know any of them?

Shed. I cannot say I did.

Joseph Davis < no role > . I was in the coach with Mr. Clark and Mr. Simmonds when the coach stopped; Mr. Clark called to the man and bid him go on; one said, if he did he would blow his brains out; I gave three shillings.

Q. Do you know who they were?

Davis. Monro held the hat for the money. I was leaning out of the window when I delivered the money.

Q. Was Monro dressed as he is now?

Davis. I could not discern the colour of his clothes; I said to the gentlemen that were in the coach, that it was either dark brown or black.

Q. Are you sure to his face?

Davis. I am not positive; he answers much to the person; it was only star light; I delivered three shillings to them.

John Clarke < no role > . In consequence of an information that was made at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's of a robbery; we went on the road that night, but finding nobody on the road, we went and searched disorderly houses; at the Three Tuns near Knave's Acre, we found the four prisoners, and another man whose name is Scott. On searching Monro I found some shot in his pocket.

Richard Bond < no role > . I was with Mr. Clarke on the 13th of November, just after the robbery. On searching Monro, I found some shot in his pocket, and there was a pistol found in the room where they were, loaded with a slug; they were charged then as disorderly; the next morning they were taken before Sir John Fielding < no role > .

Q. What time was it they were found at this house?

Bond. Between ten and eleven o'clock; they were in a little room behind the bar. The evidence, Scott, was discharged on Sunday morning; Sir John Fielding < no role > looked upon him to be an honest man; he was in his working dress; the Wednesday following he surrendered himself. On the Monday before that Monro sent to Sir John Fielding < no role > , and my brother, who is clerk to Sir John Fielding < no role > , sent a card for him, and he was brought up.

Q. Was he admitted as an evidence?

Bond. Yes; but Sir John found he told him yes.

Court. What he said at the time he was admitted an evidence for the crown, is not to be made use of against him afterwards.

John Scott < no role > . I am a tin-plate-worker, and live in Rupert-street: the prisoners and I made an agreement to go out last Saturday was three weeks; we met with this coach a little on this side the lane going up to Chalk-farm on this side Hampstead; it was near six o'clock; we robbed them of one guinea and six shillings and sixpence in silver.

Q. Had you any arms?

Scott. Yes, pistols and sword.

Q. Who held the pistol?

Scott. John Saunders < no role > held the pistol to the coachman, and David Monro < no role > received the money out of the coach door in his hat; we went on a little way; we met a horse and a man standing by it; we demanded his money.

Court. You need not mention that.

Scott. Then we went home, and after that we went to the Three Tuns at the back of Knave's Acre; we were in a little back room; a little after ten o'clock Mr. Bond and the other two gentlemen came in to us; they said they were after an information, and they searched us; this pistol was found under the table; it belonged to me.

Q. What became of the rest of the arms?

Scott. I do not know; I believe the sword is at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's.

Rann's Defence.

I know no more of the matter than the child unborn.

Davis's Defence.

I know no more of it than the child unborn.

Monro's Defence.

I know nothing at all of it.

Saunders's Defence.

I am innocent of the fact.

For Davis.

William Bagwell < no role > . I belong to the Customs: I have known Davis six or seven years; he was intended for some office; he has had a pretty education; he lived with his father.

Q. He is a man of substance?

Bagwell. I know nothing to the contrary.

Q. Does Davis bear the character of an honest man?

Bagwell. I looked upon him as a very good lad.

Q. Before this had you ever heard any harm of him?

Bagwell. People will talk when young men are out of employ.

James Huff < no role > . I have known him ever since he was born; he has as good a character as any person I know; his friends are people of character.

Michael Daniel < no role > . I am a painter by trade; I have known him fourteen years; he always bore a good character.

William Haggett < no role > . I live in Peter-street: I have known him about half a year; I never saw any harm by him or heard any.

Charles Davis < no role > . I am his father: he has been delirious several times; twice with a fever and once with the small-pox; he has been twice under Dr. Monro; he was five months at one time, and six at another, that he did not know how even to feed himself; he was always a good lad. I allowed him a sum weekly for pocket money while he was out of employment.

For Saunders.

John Car < no role > . I keep a tobacconist's shop in Gray's-inn-lane: I have known Saunders from his infancy; his father is head porter in Gray's-inn; he always behaved very upright; since he came from school he has had the care of gentlemens chambers, and always maintained a good character.

John Hadley < no role > . I have known Saunders ten or eleven years; he has always bore a good character; I never heard any thing amiss of him before.

James Mills < no role > . I am a victualler in Gray's-inn-lane: I have known him seven years; I have trusted him with hundreds of pounds; he looked after Mr. Rooke's chambers; he has received money at the bankers for me, thirty pounds at a time, and he always behaved honestly; I would trust him with one hundred pounds now if he was at liberty.

Q. Where is Mr. Rooke?

Mills. Mr. Rooke is out of town.

Peter Davis < no role > . I am under-steward of Gray's-inn: I have known him ever since he was a child; I never heard any thing amiss of him in my life.

Thomas Barrell < no role > . I am a scavenger belonging to Gray's-inn; I have known him ever since he was a baby; I never heard an imputation upon his character before this affair.

John Jones < no role > . I have lodged at Mr. Saunders's upwards of three months; the prisoner bears a very good character; I always found he kept good hours since I have been in the house; I never saw him the least disguised in liquor, nor ever saw any ill behaviour by him.

John Hall < no role > . I am a servant belonging to the Honourable Society of Gray's-inn: I have known him from a child; I never heard any harm of him.

For Monro.

Ann Denman < no role > . Monro had been cleaning a gun that day, that I lent him to go out a sparrow shooting; I gave him a few shot, I believe as much as would fill a tobacco pipe. I have known him from a child; I know no harm of him; I do not believe he ever wronged any body in his life; I have been entrusted in a gentleman's house, and when they have wrote for plate, I have sent Monro to the plate chest, and there never was any thing missing.

Robert Story < no role > . I have known him for nine years; I never heard any thing amiss of him; he always behaved honestly.

Richard Jones < no role > . I have known him about five years; I have trusted him with five or six guineas at a time, to get change, to pay the poor of Marybone; he always brought me the change honestly.

All four acquitted .

They were a second time indicted for robbing Joseph Davis proceedingsvictim (another person in the coach) of three shillings .

No evidence was given.

All four acquitted .