affected, and said but little; and when he arrived at Tyburn, and got
out of the coach and mounted the cart, he took leave of Dr. Porter and
the Ordinary in the most affectionate manner.
After some time spent in prayer, he was turned off, on April the 19th
1779; and having hung the usual time, his body was carried to Surgeons
Hall for dissection.
JAMES DONALLY.
EXECUTED FOR ROBBERY.
This offender was one of a class of the most mischievous and most daring
robbers; and the case which we have to relate, is one of a most
atrocious nature,--the extortion of money by means of threats to charge
the person imposed upon with a detestable crime, an offence which, we
regret to say, has been but too prevalent in later years.
In the month of February, 1779, James, alias Patrick Donally, was
indicted at the sessions held at the Old Bailey, for "that he, on the
king's highway, in and upon the Honourable Charles Fielding, did make an
assault, putting him in corporeal fear and danger of his life, and did
steal from his person, and against his will, half-a-guinea, on the 18th
of January:" and there was also a second count, which imputed to him a
similar offence on the 20th of the same month, in robbing the prosecutor
of a guinea.
From the evidence adduced, it appeared that the prosecutor was the
second son of the Earl of Denbigh. Between six and seven o'clock on the
evening of the 18th of January, he was going from the house of a lady,
with whom he had dined, to Covent Garden Theatre, when, on passing
through Soho-square, the prisoner came up to him and demanded some
money. Mr. Fielding was surprised at this address, and requested to know
upon what ground he applied to him; upon which the prisoner immediately
said, that if he did not comply, he would take him before a magistrate,
and impute to him the commission of a foul crime. Terrified by the
insinuation, he handed half-a-guinea to him, which was all the money
then in his possession, and returning to the house which he had just
quitted, he borrowed half-a-guinea of the servant, in order that he
might pursue his original intention of going to the theatre. On the 20th
of the same month he was in Oxford-road, when the prisoner again
accosted him, and saying that he could not have forgotten what passed
the other night in Soho-square, declared that he must have money, or
else, that he would follow up the intention which he had before
expressed, and added that he knew it would go hard with him, unless he
could prove an _alibi_. Mr. Fielding at this time was without money, but
going to Mr. Waters, a grocer in Bond-street, he borrowed a guinea from
him, which, under the influence of fear, he handed to the prisoner. On
the 12th February, a third attempt at extortion was made by the
prisoner; but in this instance, owing to the great resemblance between
Mr. Fielding and his brother Lord Fielding, he mistook the latter for
the former; Lord Fielding was on Hay-hill, when the prisoner accosted
him in terms implying that he had seen him before. His lordship,
however, expressed himself at a loss to know what he meant, when he
asked him if he did not remember giving him a half-guinea in
Soho-square, and a guinea at the grocer's in Bond-street? Lord Fielding
utterly denied all recollection of either affair, and said that the
prisoner should go before a magistrate to explain his meaning. The
prisoner assented, and they proceeded together in the direction of
Bow-street; but they had not gone many paces before the prisoner held
back, and said that he would go no further. Lord Fielding became rather
alarmed, and, being terrified by the prisoner's threats, he allowed him
to escape. On the Tuesday following, however, as he was passing near the
same spot, a voice, which he recognised as that of the prisoner, called
out, "My Lord, I have met you again," and the prisoner at the same time
coming from behind him, his Lordship seized him by the collar; the
prisoner declared that he had been used ill when he last saw his
Lordship, upon which the latter declared that he had used him too well,
and would take care now that he should not get away again.
Donally now desired to be treated like a _gentleman_, saying he would
not be dragged, but would go quietly, and Lord Fielding, not seeing any
person who was likely to assist him, and apprehending a rescue, told him
that, if he would walk along quietly to the next coffee-house, he would
not drag him. They walked down Dover-street together; but the prisoner
increasing his pace, Lord Fielding followed, and seized him. He fell
down twice, but was again seized as soon as he arose.
By this time a crowd was assembled; Major Hartly, and two other
gentlemen, happened to come by, and with their aid, the prisoner was
secured, and conveyed to Bow-street, where the magistrates, on hearing
the evidence, thought that the crime amounted to a highway robbery, and
committed him for trial accordingly.
Donally in his defence, acknowledged that he had met Lord Fielding
twice; that he had addressed him with decency, and desired him to hear
something respecting his brother; and that Sir John Fielding had made
the Honourable Charles Fielding carry on the prosecution. He did not
deny the receipt of the guinea at the grocer's in Bond-Street; but
averred that he did not deserve death on account of the charge against
him.
The jury, having considered the whole evidence, brought in a verdict of
"Guilty;" but Mr. Justice Buller, before whom the offender was tried,
reserved the case for the opinion of the judges on a point of law.
On the 29th of April, 1779, the judges met, and gave their opinion on
this case, pronouncing it a new species of robbery to evade the law, but
which was _not_ to be evaded; and the prisoner therefore underwent its
sentence, which he had, with most abominable wickedness, brought upon
his own head.
Another diabolical villain of this description, named John Staples, was,
on the 6th of December, 1779, hanged at Tyburn, for extorting money from
Thomas Harris Crosby, Esq. by charging him with an abominable crime.
MORGAN PHILLIPS.
EXECUTED FOR MURDER AND ARSON.
The case of this malefactor so strongly resembles that of a person named
Edward Morgan, an account of whose crime we have already given, that we
are induced to hope, for the sake of humanity, that some mistake has
arisen in describing them as separate offences.
The crime for which the person whose case we are now considering, most
justly suffered, was attended with extraordinary acts of cruelty.
The inhabitants of Narbeth, a small village in the county of Pembroke,
were, in the middle of one night in the month of March, 1779, alarmed
with the appearance of fire bursting from a farm-house near the
turnpike. Before they could render assistance the house was nearly razed
to the ground, and the family were missing. On examining the ruins the
remains of the owner, Mr. Thomas, an old and respectable farmer, were
found on a bench in a leaning posture, but so much burnt that it was
impossible to determine whether he had been first murdered, or had
perished by the flames.
Proceeding in the search, the next unhappy victim found was his niece, a
fine young woman of about thirty years of age, whose body lay across the
feet of a half burnt bedstead, with a thigh broken, and an arm missing.
Among the ruins of another room was discovered the body of a labouring
man, much burnt, but with a large wound on the back of his head, from
which much blood had issued; and Mrs. Thomas' servant-woman, who was
exceedingly robust, was also found dead at the entrance of one of the
rooms, with several deep wounds in her head, and her hair clotted with
blood. Her body was not so much burned as the others; and near her was
discovered a large kitchen spit, half bent, with which it was
conjectured she had opposed the murderers, for there could now be no
doubt that the horrid scene which presented itself was the work of some
person who, for the sake of plundering the house, had massacred its
inhabitants and had then fired the premises, in order to conceal his
bloody crimes. So horrible a deed excited universal attention, and every
means was taken to secure its author.
A man named John Morris, a lazy, worthless character, who had been
already in custody upon other charges, was apprehended on suspicion of
being concerned in the affair; but he effectually put an end to all
hopes of eliciting any information from him by throwing himself into a
coal-pit, in spite of the efforts of the constables, in whose care he
was, to restrain him, where his mangled remains were afterwards found.
At length suspicion fell on Morgan Philips, and he, finding the general
belief to be that he was guilty of this most horrible crime, at length
confessed that he and Morris had been its perpetrators; that they had
broken into the house of the farmer, and having murdered the family,
from whom they met with considerable resistance, they had carried off
all the valuable property which they could find, and had then set fire
to the farm to prevent discovery.
The prisoner being put upon his trial at Haverfordwest, his confession
was read to him, and assented to as being true; and its leading points
being corroborated by other witnesses, he was found guilty, and suffered
death at the same place on 5th April, 1779.
[Illustration: _The London Riots._
_p. 295_]
JAMES MATHISON.
EXECUTED FOR FORGERY.
This offender was tried on Thursday, the 20th of May, 1779. There
perhaps never appeared in any court of justice so ingenious a man in his
style as this person. His practice for some time past had been to go to
the Bank, and take out a note; this he counterfeited, passed the copy,
and, after some time, returned the original. His frequent applications
at length exciting suspicions, which were increased by his appearance in
life, and other circumstances, he was taken up. When brought before
Justice Fielding, he was there known to be the person charged with
forgeries upon the bank at Darlington. The particular forgery now
charged on him was for making and uttering a note for payment of twenty
pounds, with intent to defraud Mr. Mann, of Coventry, and the Bank of
England. The note was produced in court, and the witnesses were brought
to prove its having been negotiated by him.
This fact being established, the next circumstance in consideration was
to prove that the note was absolutely a counterfeit one. This his
prosecutors were totally unable to do by any testimony they could
adduce, so minutely and so dexterously had he feigned all the different
marks. The note itself was not only so made as to render it altogether
impossible for any human eyes to perceive a difference; but the very
hands of the cashier and the entering clerk were also so counterfeited
as entirely to preclude a positive discrimination even by those persons
themselves. The water mark in the paper, too, namely, "Bank of England,"
which the bankers had considered as an infallible criterion of fair
notes, a mark which could not be resembled by any possible means, was
also hit off by this man, so as to put it out of the power of the most
exact observer to perceive a difference. Several paper-makers were of
opinion that this mark must have been put on in the making of the paper;
but Mathison declared that he put it on afterwards by a peculiar method,
known only to himself. The extreme similitude of the fair and false
notes had such an effect upon the judge and jury that the prisoner would
certainly have been discharged, for want of evidence to prove the
counterfeit, if his own information, taken at Fielding's, had not been
produced against him, which immediately turned the scale, and he was
found guilty.
He was executed at Tyburn, pursuant to his sentence, on July 28th 1779.
At the place of execution he made a speech which took up some minutes;
wherein he acknowledged his guilt, and hoped for forgiveness from the
Almighty. He also warned others to avoid the crime for which he
suffered, and forgave his prosecutors.
THE RIOTS OF LONDON.
BEGINNING ON THE 2ND JUNE, 1780, WITH THE EXECUTION OF THE RIOTERS.
The history of London, from its earliest epoch, exhibits the occurrence
of no event of a more calamitous nature, or more pregnant with mischief,
than the riots of 1780. A commotion so rapid, and so daring in its
progress, was perhaps never known. The sovereignty of the King, and the
safety of the property of the subject, rested on laws which were
unsupported; the magistrates were confessedly intimidated; and all good
and loyal citizens were seized with a terror and panic, which were alone
dispelled by the restoration of tranquillity through the instrumentality
of the military force.
The origin of the riot is ascribed to the passing of an act of
Parliament, about two years previously, for "relieving his majesty's
subjects, of the Catholic Religion, from certain penalties and
disabilities imposed upon them during the reign of William III." A
petition to Parliament was framed for its repeal, and a general meeting
of a body of people, forming the Protestant Association, headed by Lord
George Gordon, was held on the 29th May, at the Coachmakers' Hall,
Noble-street, Aldersgate-street. At this meeting the noble lord moved
the following resolutions.
"Whereas no hall in London can contain forty thousand persons,
"Resolved,--That this association do meet on Friday next in St.
George's-fields, at ten o'clock in the morning, to consider the most
prudent and respectful manner of attending their petition, which will be
presented the same day to the House of Commons.
"Resolved,--For the sake of good order and regularity, that this
association, in coming to the ground, do separate themselves into four
divisions, viz.--the London division, the Westminster division, the
Southwark division, and the Scotch division.
"Resolved,--That the London division do take place of the ground towards
Southwark; the Westminster division second; the Southwark division
third; and the Scotch division upon the left, all wearing blue cockades,
to distinguish themselves from the papists, and those who approve of the
late act in favour of popery.
"Resolved,--That the magistrates of London, Westminster, and Southwark,
are requested to attend; that their presence may overawe and control any
riotous or evil-minded persons who may wish to disturb the legal and
peaceable deportment of his majesty's subjects."
His lordship having intimated that he would not present the petition
unless twenty thousand persons attended the meeting, and the resolutions
having been published and placarded through the streets, on the day
appointed a vast concourse of people from all parts of the City and its
environs assembled in St. George's-fields. The main body took their
route over London-bridge, marching in order, six or eight in a rank,
through the City towards Westminster, accompanied by flags bearing the
words "No Popery." At Charing-Cross, the mob was increased by additional
numbers on foot, on horseback, and in various vehicles, so that by the
time the different parties met together, all the avenues to both houses
of Parliament were entirely filled with the crowd. The rabble now took
possession of all the passages leading to the House of Commons, from the
outer doors to the very entrance for the members; which latter they
twice attempted to force open; and a like attempt was made at the House
of Lords, but without success in either instance. In the meantime, Lord
George Gordon came into the House of Commons with an unembarrassed
countenance, and a blue cockade in his hat, after "riding in the
whirlwind and directing the storm;" but finding it gave offence he took
it out and put it in his pocket; not however before Captain Herbert, of
the navy, one of the members, threatened to pull it out; while Colonel
Murray, another member, declared that, if the mob broke into the house,
he (looking at Lord George) should instantly be the victim.
The petition having been presented, the populace separated into parties,
and proceeded to demolish the Catholic chapels, in Duke-street,
Lincoln's Inn Fields, and Warwick-street, Golden-square; and all the
furniture, ornaments, and altars of both chapels were committed to the
flames. After various other outrages, the prison of Newgate was
attacked. They demanded from the keeper, Mr. Ackerman, the release of
their confined associates: he refused to comply; yet, dreading the
consequence, he went to the sheriff's to know their pleasure. On his
return he found his house in flames; and the jail itself was soon in a
similar situation. The doors and entrances were broken open with
crowbars and sledge-hammers; and it is scarcely to be credited with what
rapidity this strong prison was destroyed. The public office in
Bow-street, and Sir John Fielding's house, adjoining were presently
destroyed, and all their furniture and effects, books, papers, &c.
committed to the flames. Justice Coxe's house in Great Queen-street,
Lincoln's Inn Fields, was similarly treated; and the two prisons at
Clerkenwell set open, and the prisoners liberated. The King's Bench
Prison, with some houses adjoining, a tavern, and the New Bridewell,
were also set on fire, and almost entirely consumed.
The mob now appeared to consider themselves as superior to all
authority; they declared their resolution to burn all the remaining
public prisons; and demolish the Bank, the Temple, Gray's Inn, Lincoln's
Inn, the Mansion House, the royal palaces, and the arsenal at Woolwich.
The attempt upon the Bank of England was actually made twice in the
course of one day; but both attacks were but feebly conducted, and the
rioters easily repulsed, several of them falling by the fire of the
military, and many others being severely wounded.
To form an adequate idea of the distress of the inhabitants in every
part of the city would be impossible. Six-and-thirty fires were to be
seen blazing in the metropolis during the night.
At length the continued arrival of fresh troops, from all parts of the
country, within fifty or sixty miles of the metropolis, intimidated the
rabble; and soon after the disturbances were quelled.
The Royal Exchange, the public buildings, the squares, and the principal
streets, were all occupied by troops; the shops were closed; while
immense volumes of dense smoke were still rising from the ruins of
consumed edifices.
During the riots, many persons, terrified by the alarming outrages of
the mob, fled from London, and took refuge at places at a considerable
distance from town. The following account was written by Dr. Johnson to
Mrs. Thrale, who had gone into the country for safety; and may not prove
uninteresting. The doctor was an eye-witness to many of the scenes which
he depicts:--
"On Friday, the 2d of June, the good Protestants met in St. George's
Fields, at the summons of Lord George Gordon, and, marching to
Westminster, insulted the Lords and Commons, who all bore it with great
tameness. At night the outrages began by the demolishing the Mass-house
near Lincoln's Inn.
"On Monday, Mr. Strahan, who had been insulted, spoke to Lord Mansfield,
who had been insulted too, of the licentiousness of the populace; and
his lordship treated it as a very slight irregularity.
"On Tuesday night they pulled down Fielding's house (the public office
in Bow-street), and burnt his goods in the street. They had gutted, on
Monday, Sir George Saville's house; but the building was saved. On
Tuesday evening, leaving Fielding's ruins, they went to Newgate, to
demand their companions, who had been seized for demolishing the chapel.
The keeper could not release them but by the mayor's permission, which
he went to ask. At his return he found all the prisoners released, and
Newgate in a blaze. They then went to Bloomsbury, and fixed upon Lord
Mansfield's house, which they partly pulled down; and, as for his goods,
they totally burnt them. They went to Caen Wood (his lordship's
country-seat); but a guard was there before them. They plundered several
Papists, and burned a Mass-house, and some dwelling-houses in
Moorfields, the same night.
"On Wednesday I walked with Dr. Scott, to look at Newgate, and found it
in ruins, with the fire yet glowing. As I went by, the Protestants were
plundering the Sessions House at the Old Bailey. There was not, I
believe, a hundred; but they did their work at leisure, in full
security, without sentinels, and without trepidation, as men lawfully
employed in full day. Such is the cowardice of a commercial place!
"On Wednesday they broke open the Fleet Prison, the King's Bench and
Marshalsea Prisons, Wood-street Compter, and Clerkenwell Bridewell. At
night they set fire to the Fleet and the King's Bench, and I know not
how many other places; and one might see the glare of conflagration fill
the sky from many parts.--The sight was dreadful. Some people were
threatened: Mr. Strahan advised me to take care of myself. Such a time
of terror you would have been happy in not seeing.
"The king said in council 'That the magistrates had not done their duty,
but that he would do his own;' and a proclamation was published,
directing us to keep our servants within doors, as the peace was now to
be preserved by force.
"The soldiers were sent out to different parts, and the town is now
quiet. They are stationed so as to be everywhere within call; there is
no longer any body of rioters, and the individuals are hunted to their
holes, and led to prison: Lord George Gordon was last night sent to the
Tower.
"Mr. John Wilkes was this day in my neighbourhood, to seize the
publishers of a seditious pamphlet.
"Several chapels have been destroyed, and several inoffensive Papists
have been plundered: but the high sport was to burn the gaols. This was
a good rabble trick. The debtors and the criminals were set at liberty;
but of the criminals, as has always happened, many are already retaken;
and two pirates have surrendered themselves, and it is expected they
will be pardoned.
"Government now acts with its proper force; and we are all now again
under the protection of the king and the law. I thought it would be
agreeable to you to have my testimony to the public security; and that
you would sleep more quietly when I told you that you were safe.
"There has been, indeed, an universal panic, from which the king was the
first that recovered. Without the concurrence or assistance of his
ministers, or even the assistance of the civil magistrates, he put the
soldiers in motion, and saved the town from calamities such as a
rabble's government must naturally produce.
"The public has escaped a very heavy calamity. The rioters attempted
the Bank on Wednesday night, but in no great numbers; Jack Wilkes headed
the party that drove them away. It is agreed, that if they had seized
the Bank, on Tuesday, at the height of the pause, when no resistance had
been prepared, they might have carried away whatever they had found."
The number of persons killed in this dreadful riot is variously stated.
Many persons, strangers to the attempt, were destroyed by the
necessarily indiscriminate fire of the soldiers and militia; and
although it is impossible to calculate the precise number who lost their
lives, from the circumstance of many being carried off by their friends,
it is believed to be about 500.
Lord George Gordon, the leader and instigator of these riots, was
subsequently tried in the Court of King's Bench, and by some good
fortune escaped conviction. There was little doubt that he was
occasionally subject to aberrations of intellect. His death took place
some years afterwards in the King's Bench Prison. He had been indicted
for a libel on Marie Antoinette, the late unfortunate French queen, and
the Count d'Ademar, one of the ministers of state, and having been
convicted, fled from punishment; and was afterwards apprehended in
Birmingham, attired in the garb of a Jew, with a long beard, &c., where
he had undergone circumcision, and had embraced the religion of the
unbelievers. He died professing the same faith.