The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

 C-- G-- , was indicted for the Murder of   Henry Mead , by giving him a Mortal Bruise, with a Cane, value 1.s. on the left side of his Head, near the Forehead, on the 4th of June , of which he languish'd till the [Text unreadable in original.] and then dy'd. It appear'd by the Evidence for the [Text unreadable in original.] That the Deceas'd was a Hackney-Coachman , and set C. G--- down in  Coventry-Street ; and not being [Text unreadable in original.] with what was given him for his Fare, he gave ill language; whereupon the Prisoner having can'd him, he cry'd out, went into a Sword Cutler's Shop, and borrow'd a Candle to see the number of his Coach, which he wrote down; and the Coachman asking where he liv'd, he then told him, and went away, the Coachman stay'd behind, and talking with some People, to whom he said, he believ'd he was pretty even with the Gentleman for he had torn his Linnen; and did not at that time complain of any Bruise he had receiv'd. The Deceased's [Text unreadable in original.] swore, That when he came home with his Coach, [Text unreadable in original.] told him he had been so beaten as he never was in [Text unreadable in original.] and some other Witnesses confirm'd his Complaint [Text unreadable in original.] His Wife swore, That after he came home, he told her he had been severely beaten, and should not be able to go abroad any more; And being ask'd if he had gone abroad afterwards, would not own that he did; Other Evidence depos'd, That she came [Text unreadable in original.] his House on the 6th, in order to have his blood let,

that he did bleed then, and twice more by order of the Apothecary, who was of opinion that he had a Pluretick Fever, his greatest Complaint being then in his Side; which Evidence was strength'd by that of the Apothecary. Four Surgeons, who were concer'd in the opening of the Body, depos'd, That they examin'd it as exactly as they could, and that there was no Bruise in any part of it, but that his Lungs were inflam'd, and stuck to his Chest, in which they found a Spoonful of Matter; from whence they gave their several opinions, that he dy'd of a Pluretick Fever; And Dr. Sloan, who visited him, declar'd upon Oath he was of the same Opinion, and prescrib'd him Medicines accordingly. The Prisoner said in his Defence, That the Coachman took him up, and carry'd him to Covent-Garden, and from thence to Coventry-street, at the upper end of the Haymarket, in doing which he was not half an Hour, and when he sat him down, he gave him 18d. but that he demanded 6 d. more, and was very insolent; whereupon he struck him a Blow or two; and the Deceas'd catching him by the Collar, tore his Linnen, and would have done him further Mischief; but he got clear of him, and then thrash'd him again; and that having taken the Number of his Coach, he readily told him, where he liv'd, but never heard anything of him till he was dead, and then this Prosecution was brought on, as he believ'd, to get Money out of him. The Cane was produc'd in Court, and sworn to be that which the Prisoner had with him that Day, which was a small light Thing, without a Ferril. and had been split about 3 Inches, two Months before this Accident happen'd, so there was no room to believe that could be the Instrument of such a Bruise as was set forth in the Indictment. The Jury having consider'd the whole Matter, acquitted him.