The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

   

A   Sexton was Indicted for killing a man ; the business hapned thus, The Boys being abroad in Procession, the Prisoner led one party, and meeting with those of another Parish, who had a   Parish Clarke going before them, these two Leaders fell out about the Bounds and Limits of their respective Parishes, and several words of heat and passion having past between them, the Prisoner suddenly snatcht a Cudgel from one of his Boys, and laid the other Man over the Head with it, so unlucky a blow, that he fractured his Skull, whereof he shortly after died: there were a multitude of Witnesses examined, which made the Trial very tedious; but after a full hearing, the Jury brought it in Manslaughter .

 

Another  person was tried about the Death of a  Man , who upon a quarrel went by consent to a Fencing School, to play two or three Hits at Backsword; but it was the Prisoners ill luck to hit his Adversary a little too severely, so that it was alleadged that the Blows occasioned his Death, which in some time

after happened; but it not being sufficiently proved that this was the real cause, the Prisoner was acquitted .

 

A   boy was Cast for his Life for Felony, he came privately into a   Gentleman 's house in  St. Gile's , and hiding himself had stoln a Silver Tankard, and two Silver Spoons ; but the Maid discovering him, he slily set the Tankard down again, and flinging down the Maid, got out of the house and fled; but she making pursuit after him, found he was got into an Ale-house by Red Lion Fields, where he was at first denied, but upon search discovered, yet had time enough to dispose of the Spoons, which were found in the next Room; and because they were not taken about him, he had the impudence to plead Innocency: But though he were but young in years (not above Fourteen) yet it appeared he had been an old Thief, having been burnt in the Hand in February last; so that he was found Guilty .

 

The next was an object of Pitty, a little   Boy about Twelve Years of Age, newly come to be an Apprentice at a Shop in  Fleet street , about the seventeenth instant June, being about the time when the Trained Bands of London went out to Muster, finding in his Masters Dining Room, up one pair of Stairs, a Musquet which had been in use upon that occasion, had a Childish desire to be doing something like a Soldier; and to try whether the Piece were charged or not, put the Gunstick into the

Barrel; and perceiving there was a Charge in it, scrap'd together some loose corns of Powder scattered on the Table, and put them into the Pan; but being suddenly called down by his Mistriss, to serve some Customers in the Shop, assoon as that business was dispatcht got up again, and having forgot that he had left the Rammer in the Barrel, goes towards the Balcony, and fires the Musquet at random into the Street, in the middle of the day: and so unfortunately it happened, that an  ancient Citizen passing by over the way at that instant, the aforesaid Gunstick driven by the force of the Powder gave him a mortal Wound in the Back, a little below the left Shoulder; so that immediately falling, before or almost assoon as he could be taken up and got into the next Shop, he died , being only heard to pronounce these words, Ah Lord! I am killed ---- I am a dead man. In the mean time the Boy little thought what mischief he had done, and was only troubled at the loss of the Gunstick, which he missed assoon as he had discharged the Piece. But many people hearing the report of the Gun, and seeing from whence it proceeded, presently ran thither to enquire; going up stairs they finde the Boy with the Gun, who confessed he had shot it off; but when they told him, he had killed a Man, he struck his hand on his Breast, crying out, Ah! What shall I do, I am undone: testifying that he did not intend or imagine any hurt to any Creature, and expressing much sorrow for the same, as he did now likewise upon his Tryal. Some pieces of the Gunstick were produced in Court by the Chyrurgeon, which were taken out of the Gentleman's Heart. The Jury could do no less than bring it in Manslaughter ; the Court having declared their opinion before, that under these Circumstances it must be more than Chance-medley since he shot off the Gun premeditately and voluntarily, though the killing the man was accidental.

 

There was a long Tryal upon a Writ of Restitution against a   Quaker , who it seems out of pure Conscience to gratifie himself and friends by under-selling his Neighbours, had been moved to trade in stolen goods, there being no less than one hundred and fifty dozen of Kids-leather Gloves (as was testified) bought by him of a Thief and his wife at twelve shillings a dozen, within these three years last past ; for which the Jury brought in Eighty pounds against him : upon which 'tis odds if he do not amongst his party make a sad complaint of grievous Persecution.

 

A  Country-fellow was tried for having two Wives ;

the  first he married neer Tame in Oxfordshire, and liv'd with her several years, and had two pretty children (a Boy and a Girl) which were brought into Court to see the wickedness of the Father: After that he left that Wife, and at  Harrow on the Hill married  another , whom only he was pleased to own in Court; so that there needed no proof on her behalf: and as for the first woman she proved her marriage by the Clerk that was present, and by her Mother and several others, who testified a long Cohabitation, &c. so that he was found guilty , but seemed not much to lay that to heart, flattering himself with coming off by his Clergy, but in vain; for when afterwards he came to the Book, the Ordinary returned a Non legit, and he received sentence of death with the rest.

 

Another  Fellow , living about  White chapel , was Indicted for having two Wives ; but only the  last , whom he owned, appeared, who having told her Story, and being commanded out of the Court, briskly beckned her hand to her Husband, as he stood at the Bar, and cryed out aloud, Come John, come away with me; and indeed he might, if he had but paid his Fees, and a mind to it, soon after follow her; for he was necessarily brought in not guilty , when no body was to accuse him.

 Two women Convicts detained in Newgate in order for transportation, for their several Crimes, had laid a plot according to the usual Policy of that place, to get a little money before they went (for we have scarce charity enough to think twas out of pure Conscience) which was, to send to several persons whom they had formerly robbed, acquainting them that they could inform them where the things lost were disposed of; and accordingly upon a treaty and a small spill in the hand, and somewhat more promised, they did, naming two others to whom, as they said, they had sold the things ('twas most Plate) at very underrates, as Silver Tankards at Three Shillings the Ounce, and the like; and freely confessed several Circumstances of themselves being concerned in the Felony, imagining that after his Majesties Pardon,

or rather Remission or change of the Sentence of Death into Transportation, they could not here have been called to any account for past Crimes; but the Court made them sensible of their mistake, by assuring them, that only extended to the Facts for which they were then convicted, and now they were arraigned for these Felonies of their own Confession and so unluckily it happened, that both the persons they brought into trouble as Accessaries were now acquitted, and themselves cast as Principals.

 

A  Woman received Sentence to be pressed to Death for refusing to plead, not only the last Sessions, but continuing now in the same obstinacy, though several times importuned by the Court not to cast away her Life, being only charged with stealing of Plate upon which if found Guilty, she might at worst have had the favour of Transportation; but in kindness to some Cronies in Goal, whom she would first have released, she continued still resolute not to take any Tryal, unless they might be discharged; whereupon the Court proceeded to pronounce Judgment against her as aforesaid.

 

Several other Felons, &c. were tryed, which would be too tedious to relate: upon the whole matter there were five that received Judgement of death Three men and Two Women; Seven burnt in the Hand; Four begg'd Transportation; and Three to be whipt for Petty Lacerny; And so the Sessions ended with the Moneth.