The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

409.   WILLIAM BUXTON was indicted for that he in the king's highway in and upon   Elizabeth the wife of   Solomon Fell feloniously did make an assault, putting her in corporal fear and danger of her life, and stealing a green purse, value 4 d. a guinea, a crown piece, and 6 s. in money, the property of the said Solomon, from the person of the said Elizabeth , June 29th .

Mrs.   ELIZABETH FELL sworn.

On Sunday evening last, coming between  Southgate and  Hanwell , in my own coach, with my daughter and a lady, I believe it was about eight o'clock, a young man came up and asked very civilly for my money, he neither swore an oath nor put his pistol into the coach, but I saw a pistol in his hand, which he held at a distance from the coach; I gave him a guinea, six shillings, and a crown piece, in a silk purse; I cannot swear to his person; he was on horseback, and I believe on a roan coloured horse; it was rather dark; I was alarmed at his coming up; my daughter, in her fright, gave him her watch, though he asked for nothing but money; he then asked

the, Madam, is this all your money? I said, Yes. What, said he, have you none left to pay turnpikes? I said, No. He said, then I will give you some silver. While he was putting his hand in his pocket to get some silver, the footman got down from behind to take the silver, he seized his hand and wrenched the pistol out of it; the prisoner got away; the footman pursued him; the coachman drove as fast as he could after him, and they took him: the coachman brought the watch back.

Miss HARRIOTT PLEASANCE FELL, sworn.

I was in the coach with my mamma when it was robbed.

Did the prisoner ask for money? - Yes; I saw my mamma give him her purse; I do not know what was in it; I was frightened at the man's coming up.

  WILLIAM WALKER sworn.

I am coachman to Mr. Fell; I saw a man pass another coach, and drive past ours; I saw a pistol in his hand; Mrs. Fell thought he was a drunken man; I said, he might be a little in liquor, but he was a  highwayman; he turned back, and called to me, and bid me stop twice; I stopped; he came up to the coach and asked for money, and my mistress gave him her purse.

What became of him after he quitted the coach? - He turned round, and while he was feeling for some money to give my mistress to pay turnpikes, my fellow servant wrenched the pistol out of his hand, and told him he was a dead man; he replied, he had another pistol, but immediately rode off; we pursued him as fast as we could; my fellow servant got hold of his horse's bridle; I jumped off the coach-box, and pulled him backwards on the ground.

Had he another pistol? - We found no other upon him; we found a green purse and three watches upon him.

  RICHARD WRIGHT sworn.

I am footman to Mr. Fell: I wrenched the pistol out of the prisoner's hand, and my fellow servant and I took him and carried him to a public house; we found upon him a green purse and three watches.

Did you find any other pistol upon him? - No.

Was the pistol loaded? - No; when I said he was a dead man I snapped it at him, but it was not loaded.

[   Daniel Abbot , the constable, produced the purse, with the money in it, and the watch.]

Mrs. FELL. I believe the purse to be mine; the money in it tallies exactly with the money I lost.

  SOLOMON FELL , Esq; sworn.

I had quitted my coach and got on horseback; I got home just before the coach; I was surprized to see the horses come galloping, and my servants informed me that they had got a  highwayman at the Coach and Horses, and they asked me what should be done; I went to the Coach and Horses and saw the prisoner; I ordered the constable to search him; they had not searched him then: we found on him two silk purses, and my daughter's watch; one purse contained the money my wife lost, the other contained a piece of foreign silver, four guineas and a half in gold, and some silver; I ordered them to go to Mr. Chithero's a justice of the peace.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

I have nothing to say; I leave myself to the jury and to your lordship; I hope you will have mercy upon me, as it is the first offences I am under instructions in the excise-office,

GUILTY . Death .

Recommended by Mr. Fell, the prosecutor, to his Majesty's mercy.

Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice NARES.