not worth chronicling, unless some special circumstance occurs in
connection with them.
"The pickpockets are all turned highwaymen. Thus far the
metropolis has been delivered from these free-booters: and the
relief is certainly owing to the new Police Bill."--(_Times,
March 9, 1793._)
* * * * *
"At Oxford, a person was convicted of having robbed the Worcester
and Oxford Coach, near Woodstock, of a portmanteau, and this
peculiar circumstance attended it:--The man committed the
offence, was taken, indicted, tried, and convicted, within
_twelve_ hours after the commission of the crime. He was indicted
for petty larceny only."--(_Times, March 28, 1793._)
* * * * *
"Mr. Burdon, the Member for the County of Durham, had 25,000
guineas in his chaise when he was stopped, the other evening by
footpads, who robbed him of 25 guineas only. Mr. Burdon was
carrying down this sum, for the relief of the Durham
Bank."--(_Times, April 26, 1793._)
A shocking trade had sprung up, which was not long in developing. As
Science grew, so was a knowledge of Anatomy becoming of more vital
importance to the medical profession--but subjects for operation were
scarce. True, those malefactors who were hanged, and had no friends,
were given over to the Surgeons for dissection, but this means of
supply, fell far short of the demand--which, however, was met, by the
ghastly device of robbing the grave-yards of their newly buried dead.
Here are some contemporary records of the doings of these ghouls:--
"Friday, a gang of persons, called _Resurrection men_, were
apprehended between two, and three, o'clock in the morning, near
the Churchyard at Hampstead; they had dug up the body of a Mr.
John Lloyd, who had been buried the day before, put it into a
sack, and a hackney-coach was waiting to receive it; but, by the
vigilance, and resolution, of the watchmen, they lost their prey;
for, having stopt the coach, they found the body in it, and two
men, whose names are Tom Paine, and Peter Mackintosh, together
with their shovels, and tools, for opening the coffin. They were
both carried before Master Montague, together with John Peach,
the driver of the Coach, and were committed to gaol upon the
fullest evidence. There were two others of the party, who made
their escape. One of them had the appearance of a Gentleman, and
is supposed to be a surgeon."--(_Times, March 15, 1794._)
* * * * *
"On Monday evening, a set of Resurrectionists, were apprehended
at a house near the Turnpike, Mile end. That morning, a coach was
observed to stop at this house, and an ill looking man came out
of it with a sack; containing as it was supposed, a body, which
he carried into the house, and returned immediately with a large
hamper:--they then drove off to a neighbouring public-house,
when, after a short stay, they took up some others, and were
traced to the Launch, at Deptford. In the meantime, the parish
officers were informed of the circumstance. About six in the
evening, the coach again returned with a similar lading, which
was deposited in the house. Some constables, accompanied by a
number of people, surrounded the house, and forcing an entrance,
they found two men, and a woman, drinking tea on a bench, at one
end of which lay the bodies of two children. They were secured:
and, on entering an adjoining room, the bodies of six adults were
discovered, unmutilated; besides which, the floor was strewed
with limbs, in a state too shocking for public
description."--(_Times, March 20, 1794._)
"A very particular account has been sent to this Paper, of the
late shocking discovery of dead bodies at Mile-End: but we deem
it unfit for publication, as the circumstances are too horrid to
meet the public eye. Every room in the house was a scene of the
most shocking brutality, and it is supposed there were upwards of
100 bodies, some whole, others mangled. The remains found at this
house have since been removed to Bethnal Green church-yard, for a
second interment. We most sincerely hope that his Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury will move for a bill in Parliament,
making it _death_ to rob a church yard."--(_Times, March 22,
1794._)
* * * * *
(Adv.) "Robberies in Churchyards and Burial Grounds.
"Some persons having been discovered, on the evening of the 8th
February last, conveying dead Bodies in Sacks, from the
Burial-Ground belonging to the Parish of St. Mary, Lambeth, and
who, upon the alarm being raised, made their escape; a reward of
One hundred Pounds, for apprehending them, was immediately
offered by the Churchwardens, to be paid upon their conviction:
and the first opportunity was taken of assembling the
Parishioners in Vestry, in order to consider by what means they
might secure the offenders, bring them to punishment, and
prevent, in future, such depredations. A Committee was
accordingly appointed for this purpose, and discoveries of
similar robberies in Church-yards, and Burial-grounds, in, and
near, this Metropolis, have been made, the recital of which,
together with an account of the horrid traffic in which many have
been long engaged, with impunity, cannot fail to excite the
indignation of the Public, and which it is intended, in a short
time, to give them, taken from Affidavits made before
Magistrates, and from other evidence procured on this melancholy
occasion. It will be needless to say, that the Relatives, and
Friends, of those who have been lately buried there, before this
discovery, have suffered great anguish of mind, and it is not
doubted but that all will concur in adopting measures, which may
effectually check such abominable practices. For this desirable
end, an application to Parliament, early in the next Session, is
deemed highly necessary, as, at present, the punishment is found
to be by no means sufficient to prevent the crime. The Parishes
therefore, within the Bills of Mortality, and near London, will,
it is hoped, approve of such application, and it is intended that
a Circular Letter shall be sent to them, to invite them to join
in it. In the meantime, the Committee of the Parish of Saint
Mary, Lambeth, will be glad to receive any communications from
any other Parishes, on this subject, under cover, directed to
Thomas Swabey, Vestry Clerk, Lambeth."--(_Times, April 21,
1794._)
* * * * *
"Early on Tuesday Morning, some suspicion being entertained that
the Pesthouse burial-ground, in Old-Street-Road, had been
frequently violated, the parish watchmen were ordered to keep a
good look out, when a hackney coach was observed, waiting near
the spot. Upon the watchman's approaching it, he was assaulted,
and beaten, by three men, who then made off: but afterwards,
springing his rattle, the assistants took the coachman into
custody, who had three sacks in his coach, two of them containing
the body of a man each, and the other, three children. Several
other bodies, which had been dug up for the purpose of carrying
away, were found under the wall of the burying-ground: and, it is
generally believed, that almost all the bodies deposited therein,
for 5 weeks past, have been stolen, which, upon an average, must
have been 15 per week. The hackney-coachman, who owned he was to
have had ten guineas for his night's fare, was committed to the
New Prison, Clerkenwell. This fellow, it should seem, was
hardened to his business: for, though put into the cage with the
bodies he was carrying off, he slept so sound, that it was with
some difficulty he was awakened by the visit of a _brother-whip_,
previous to his going before a Magistrate."--(_Times, Dec, 23,
1796._)
Sentence of death was passed on Criminals for offences we should now
think totally inadequate to that punishment--but although sentenced,
those convicted of the lighter offences--were almost all respited, and
transported for life.
"At the Assizes for York and County, the following prisoners
received sentence of death, viz., T. Jewitt, for stealing four
heifers: Saml. Bathurst, for privately stealing in a shop; Wm.
Atkinson, and Hannah Hobson, for riotously assembling and pulling
down the house of John Cooper, of Whitby: John Holt and Richard
Watson, for house breaking, and three others for
sheep-stealing."--(_Times, March 30, 1793._)
"A petition from Wm. Brunskill, (commonly called _Jack Ketch_)
was presented to the Court of Aldermen, stating that he was the
public executioner, and, on that account, could not get any other
employment: that he was obliged to keep an assistant, though his
allowance was so small, and his income so trifling, as to be
insufficient to maintain himself, and family, and praying
relief.--The Court referred the same to the Sheriffs."--(_Times,
Jan. 30, 1794._)
The next paragraph, which is very brief, tells its own story.
"There is now a man confined for debt in Newgate, who has been a
prisoner there, over fifteen years, for a debt, the original sum
of which does not exceed forty-five shillings."--(_Times, April
25, 1793._)
In Dec. 1794, and Jan. 1795, there was a terrible frost--and, in the
latter month, we hear that seven men, attempting to pass over the ice,
to a Collier, by Ratcliffe Highway--were drowned--and how--two days
afterwards--two watchmen were frozen to death at Bloomsbury. Hard
indeed must have been the lot of the poor debtors, and we may fancy
the anxious scrutiny of the box, which the debtor whose turn it was,
would rattle outside the bars of Ludgate, making the while his
monotonous, and melancholy, whine, "Pity the poor debtors; pity the
poor debtors." Some hearts were softened towards them, and they were
sensibly grateful for such seasonable assistance.
"Advt.--The unfortunate DEBTORS in LUDGATE PRISON beg leave, thus
publicly, to return their grateful Thanks to LADY TAYLOR, of
Spring Gardens, for her munificent Benefaction of 149 lbs. of
Beef, 21 half Peck Loaves, 21 sacks of Coals, and 66 lbs. of
Cheese, each Article being of the best quality.
"At the same time, they entreat the LORD MAYOR to accept their
unfeigned Thanks, for his kind present of a Guinea, which was
equally divided among the unfortunate Debtors.
"_N.B._ The smallest Benefaction from their fellow Citizens and
other liberal minded persons, will at all times be thankfully
received, particularly at this inclement season of the
year."--(_Times, Dec. 29, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The unfortunate DEBTORS, in Ludgate Prison, beg leave to return
their grateful Thanks, to the Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR, for 448
lbs. of Beef and Mutton of the best sort, which he has sent them
since the 10th day of Nov., also for two Chaldron, and an half,
of Coals sent yesterday."--(_Times, Jan. 1, 1795._)
* * * * *
"As the Debtor and Creditor Bill comes on to-morrow, it is
recommended to its noble framer, to try the pulse of the Law
Lords, by introducing a clause which shall interdict the Marshal
of the King's Bench, and the Warden of the Fleet, from taking a
shilling per week from each debtor for his bed, unless as the
very foundation, and cause of this fee originally was, that the
Keeper of the Prison furnishes the Debtor with furniture to the
amount of £30. The Keepers have very handsome salaries, and
therefore, there should be no exactions from the prisoners.
Indeed the nature of their imprisonment interdicts such a
practice, for how is the insolvent man to find money? ex-nihilo,
nihil fit."--(_Times, May 8, 1793._)
* * * * *
"Were any one Lord in the House of Peers to move that the Royal
Assent to Acts of Parliament should be given in _plain English_,
and not in old _Norman French_, the House would unanimously adopt
the idea of banishing, in future, the _barbarous_ language of
that Country."--(_Times, May 10, 1793._)
"A curious matter was heard yesterday before the Borough Police,
respecting the wife of a gentleman at Sheerness, who had eloped
with a black servant. They were pursued to the Nags Head in the
Borough on Sunday, where _Blackey_ fired a pistol at his
pursuers, for which he was taken up and committed. The Lady had
two children by her husband. The matter, we understand is _made
up_."--(_Times, Feb. 11, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The manner in which the _Black_ business was settled, in the
Borough, was this:--The husband took her two children, and all
the property he found in the coach, desired his wife to go where
she pleased, (after she said she'd live with no one but the
Black) and _Mungo_ was taken by a press gang, and put on board
the tender."--(_Times, Feb. 12, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Monday last two Bailiff's followers made a seizure for rent at a
house in Kingswood, near Bristol: an alarm being given, they were
surrounded by a number of colliers, who conveyed them to a
neighbouring coal-pit, and let them down, where they were
suffered to remain till about two the next morning, when they
were had up, and, each having a glass of gin, and some
gingerbread, given him, were immersed again into the dreary
bowels of the earth, where they were confined, in all, near
twenty four hours. On being released they were made to pay a fine
of 6s. 8d. each, for their lodging, and take an oath never to
trouble, or molest, any of them again."--(_Times, April 25,
1795._)
* * * * *
"The friends of an apprentice to a stocking-weaver, at Lambeth,
brought the lad to this office (Public Office, Bow St.) to shew
one of the modes of punishment adopted by the master, when the
boys committed any fault. It consisted of an iron collar,
fastened round the neck, by a padlock. The lad said that he had
worn it for above a month, and that he understood it was his
master's intention he should wear it till he was out of his time.
The master living in the county of Surrey, Mr Bond could not
interfere in the business, but advised the parties to go to
Union-Hall, in the Borough. The master of the apprentice alluded
to, we understand, has got between 60 and 70 boys, most of whom
he has had from the different workhouses in the county of
Surrey."--(_Times, Aug. 27, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Owing to the high price of victualling, the demand for shipping
and risque of capture, or the price of insurance, the contract
for conveying the last convicts from Great Britain, and Ireland,
to Botany Bay, was £80 per man; and the expence exceeding all the
good that could arise to either country, from the banishment, or
the evil that could arise from the continuance in either country,
of the miscreants.
"It is a known fact, that so far are the miscreants, who usually
come under sentence of transportation, from considering it a
punishment, that they laugh at the joke, and consider it a very
great benefit.--Adventurous spirits like those, averse to all
manner of industry, insensible to ignominy, and totally
unconscious of any such feelings as the _amor patriæ_, delight in
nothing more, than shifting the scene, and being conveyed to a
distant country, from that in which they have no hope of
existing, but at the perpetual risk of the gallows.
"It is more than probable that severe flagellation, such as
military codes prescribe, would prove infinitely more formidable
in detering villainy: and it is, at least, worth the experiment
of a statute, which costs nothing, to try whether the penalty of
500, or 1000 lashes, which would not cost the country one
shilling, would not prove a stronger barrier against larcenies,
and clergyable felonies, than transportation to Botany Bay, at
the enormous expense of £60 or 80 per man, which operates in
reality as a heavy penalty on the Republic of honest men, and a
bounty on villainy. Besides, have we not copper mines, coal
mines, canals, and other such places of employment, at home, for
those criminals, which, at present, alienate the husbandmen, and
honest labourers of the country, from the business of
agriculture. The labour of criminals, in this way, would prove a
benefit to the country, and some compensation to the State, their
crimes had injured."--(_Times, Sept. 9, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The _Calamities of War_. Amongst the distresses it has
occasioned, it is a lamentable fact, that _five Attornies_ have
been deprived of an honest livelihood, and have actually entered
as foremast men, on board a frigate in the Thames."--(_Times,
Nov. 2, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Lord Chancellor was occupied on Friday, and Saturday, with
hearing an important cause. Earl Pomfret _v._ Sir Ch. Turner.
"It respects a very valuable lead mine, in the vale of
Arkinghall, Yorkshire. Such is the expedition of our laws, that
this cause has lasted _only ninety three years_, being first
instituted in the year 1703!!!"--(_Times, Apr. 12, 1796._)
* * * * *
"The King _v._ Middleton.
"The defendant was convicted of enticing a number of Artificers
from this country, to go to Kentucky in America; a rule was
afterwards obtained, to shew cause why the judgment should not be
arrested, for reasons, which appeared insufficient to the Court.
That Rule therefore, was discharged, and the Defendant received
judgment according to the Statute, that is, he was ordered to
_pay a fine of £500, and to be confined in Newgate for the space
of one year_."--(_Times, June 10, 1796._)
* * * * *
"On Saturday _John Paviour_ (one of these persons called _Bullock
Hunters_) was tried at the Old Bailey--for driving a bullock out
of Smithfield Market, early on the morning of the 23rd May last
and was found guilty--DEATH. It is hoped therefore, that this
prosecution will greatly check, if not wholly put an end to that
pernicious practice, by which not only the Property, but the
lives of the Public are so much endangered, in and about this
metropolis."--(_Times, June 28, 1796._)
* * * * *
"The trial which was to have come on at the Assizes in York,
concerning estates in Cleveland, for which a Special Jury was to
be summoned, of _four Knights, and their twelve Esquires, girt
with swords_, is deferred until next Assizes."--(_Times, July 27,
1796._)
* * * * *
"Yesterday, a Jew was convicted at the Public Office Bow Street,
for selling a hat, in the street, without a stamped lining,
contrary to the late Act of Parliament, and was sentenced to be
imprisoned for two months, in the House of Correction. Hatters
selling Hats, without a stamped lining, are liable to the penalty
of £10. In the above case, imprisonment is the only mode of
punishment."--(_Times, Sept. 3, 1796._)
* * * * *
"Certainly the number of Lawyers, which is _only_ computed to be
20,000 in Great Britain, is not so much their fault, as our own.
We can neither marry, nor die, without them: but then there is no
living for them."--(_Times, Sept. 28, 1796._)
* * * * *
"The number of Attornies posted up for admission next term,
outside the Court of King's Bench, are _eighty-two_. Surely some
stop should be put to this growing evil, for there is not a
doubt, but that, with an increase of Attornies, must consequently
follow an increase of litigation. For where the numbers surpass
all reasonable bounds, they will have recourse to the most
desperate means to excite business."--(_Times, Jan. 31, 1797._)
* * * * *
"The convict who was lately executed at Leicester, and who
adopted the singular mode of travelling, in a post chaise, to the
place of execution, was no less remarkable for his crimes, than a
copious fund of low humour. He got the following notice put up in
the most frequented houses in the town, 'Wanted an agreeable
companion, in a post chaise, to go a journey of _considerable_
length, and upon _equal_ terms. Enquire for particulars at the
Castle.' It is almost superfluous to mention that upon the
_terms_ being made known, the gentleman could not find a
partner."--(_Times, Sept. 8, 1797._)
The following is a somewhat curious Police Case (_Times_, Jan. 17,
1798): "Robert Richards, and William Packer, were indicted on a charge
of assaulting Ryan Thackars, on the 30th of December, and robbing him
of half a guinea, a 7s. piece, and 1s. 6d., in silver, his property.
"The Prosecutor was a Jew, and a common informer, in which character
he had gone, on the above mentioned day, to the Fleet Prison, to serve
the wife of Mr. Richards, with a notice to answer to an information
for wearing hair powder without a licence. On his serving the Notice,
Mr. Richards called him back, but he refusing to return, the other
assaulted him, threw him down upon his back, said he knew him very
well, that he was a damned informer, and that he should be pumped.
Then the two Prisoners dragged him to the pump, and, with the
assistance of others, kept pouring water upon him, for a quarter of an
hour. A pail of water was afterwards thrown, by somebody, on his face.
His clothes were all torn: and, when they let him go, he missed his
money. Being asked by the Court if he could charge the Prisoners with
having robbed him, he answered he could not; nor was the money found
on them when apprehended. The Recorder then told the Jury, that as no
charge was made out against the prisoners, they must acquit
them.--_Not Guilty._"
"BASE COIN FINISHED AT NEWGATE.
"A very singular circumstance occurred a few days ago at the gaol
of Newgate: One of the Magistrates of Police having received
information that a person of the name of _Pullen_, a notorious
offender who was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for dealing
in base money, had been carrying on his former trade, while in
confinement: that the base money of the similitude of a shilling,
being previously prepared of blanched copper, with King William's
head faintly impressed on one side, and plain on the other, was
brought into the prison privately by Agents whom he employed:
that after the Cells were locked up, this adroit Coiner prepared
a liquid in which very thin pieces of silver were mixed, which,
being rubbed upon the Copper shillings, instantly give them the
appearance of worn down coin of the Mint: that he was assisted in
the operation by several of the prisoners in the same ward, some
of whom were his associates in iniquity, and convicted of
offences against the Mint Laws: That his customers came regularly
to the prison, and purchased the base money so finished at _two_
for _one_, paying sixpence for each shilling, although
intrinsically not worth a halfpenny: that the dies, and some
other implements for coining belonging to these delinquents, had
been actually lodged in their trunks at Newgate, and they were
brought there privately, on every alarm of danger from officers
of justice, as a place of greater security. This information
having been communicated to Sir William Staines, one of the
present Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, with the zeal for the
public good which characterises the active Magistrate, he went
alone to Newgate, early in the morning, before the cells were
unlocked, and caused the trunks, and boxes, belonging to the
persons convicted of offences against the Mint Laws, to be
searched; and, in a trunk concealed under _Pullen's_ bed, were
found no less than £107, 2s. of base money, of the similitude of
shillings, ready for circulation, and a machine for rounding, or
milling, the edges of half crowns; and in another trunk belonging
to an associate of _Pullen_, were found two plain dies, and two
others for halfpence, and farthings. It would appear that some
other dies for halfcrowns, and shillings, which had been
deposited for some time in a trunk belonging to _Pullen_, were
removed, together with the book he kept for entering the names of
his customers who visited him, for the purpose of purchasing base
money for the town, and country, circulation.... The Lord Mayor
and Sheriffs have investigated the means by which these nefarious
practices have been carried on, and, we are happy to learn, that
it arose entirely from the arts, and devices, so familiar to
criminals, without the knowledge, or privity, of the Turnkeys.
The result is, that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs are taking
immediate steps for establishing such rules, as will probably
prevent a repetition of the same evil."--(_Times, Nov. 29,
1796._)
PRIZE FIGHTING AND DUELS.