 The Preface of Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals Vol. 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals Vol. 2 by author L. Hayward. The Preface In the Preface to my former volume I endeavored to give my reader some idea of the English Crown Law, in order to show how consistent it was with right reason, how perfectly just, and at the same time how full of mercy. In this I intend to pursue the thread of that discourse and explain the methods by which justice in criminal cases is to be sought and the means afforded by our law to accuse the guilty and to prevent punishment from falling on the innocent. In order to do this the more regularly, it is fit we begin with the apprehension of offenders and show the care of the legislature in that respect. In sudden injuries, such as assaults on the highway, attempts to murder or commit any felony whatsoever, there is no necessity for any legal officer to secure the person who is guilty, for every private man hath sufficient authority to seize and bring such criminal, either to a constable or to a justice of the peace, in order to have the fact clearly examined and such course taken therein as may conduce to the impartial distribution of justice. And because men are apt to be scrupulous of interesting themselves in matters which do not immediately concern either their persons or their properties, so the law hath provided punishments for those who, for fear of risking their private safety or advantage, suffer those who offend against the public to escape unpunished, hence hundreds are liable to be sued for suffering a robber to escape, and that method of pursuit which is called hue and cry is permitted, if no probable way may be left for felons to escape. Now a hue and cry is raised thus. The person robbed, for example, goes to the constable of the next town, tells him the case, described the felon, and the way he went. Whereupon the constable, be it day or night, is to take the assistance of those in his own town and pursue him according to those directions immediately, at the same time sending with the utmost expedition to the neighboring towns, who are to make like pursuit, and to send like notice until the felon be found. So desirous is our law of bringing offenders to justice, and of preserving the roads free from being infected with these vermin. For better affecting of this, besides those means prescribed by the customs of our ancestors, of later times rewards have been given to such as hazarded by their own persons in bringing offenders to justice, and of these as far as they are settled by acts of parliament and thereby rendered certain and perpetual, I shall speak here, though not of those given by proclamation, because they've been only for a stated time. People must hereafter have been misled by our account, when that time has expired. Highwaymen becoming, some time after the Revolution, exceedingly bold and troublesome, by an act made in the reign of William and Mary, a reward of forty pounds is given for apprehending anyone in England or Wales, and prosecuting him as so to be convicted, which forty pounds is to be paid by the sheriff on a certificate of the judge or justices before whom such a felon was convicted, and in case a person shall be killed in endeavoring to apprehend or making pursuit after such robbers, the said forty pounds shall be paid to the executors or administrators of such persons upon the like certificate. Moreover, every person who shall take, apprehend, or convict such a person, shall have as a reward the horse, furniture, arms, money or other goods of such robbers as shall be taken with him, the right or title of his Majesty's body's politic or corporation, lords of manners, or persons lending or letting the same to such robbers notwithstanding, excepting only the right of those from whom such horses, furniture, arms, money, or goods were before feloniously taken. A like reward of forty pounds was, by another act in the same reign, given to such as shall apprehend any person convicted of any capital crime relating to the coin of this land. By an act also made in the reign of the late King William, persons who apprehend and prosecute to conviction any who feloniously steal goods to the value of five shillings, out of any house, shop, warehouse, coach house or stable, or shall assist, hire or command any person to commit such offense. Then such person so taking as aforesaid, shall have a certificate gratis from the judge or justices, expressing the parish or place where such felony was committed, which certificate shall be capable of being once assigned over, and shall exempt its proprietor or assignee from all parish and ward offices, in the parish or ward where in the felony was committed. By an act in the fifth year of the late Queen, persons apprehending one guilty of burglary, or of feloniously breaking into a house in the daytime, and prosecuting to conviction, shall receive over and above the certificate before mentioned, the sum of forty pounds, as in the case of apprehending and highwaymen. An act passed in the sixth year of the late King. Whoever shall discover, apprehend, or prosecute to conviction without benefit of clergy, any person for taking money or other reward, directly or indirectly, to help persons to their stolen goods, such persons not having apprehended the felon who stole the same, and brought him to trial, and given evidence against him, shall be entitled to a reward of forty pounds for every offender so convicted, and shall have the like certificate, and like payment without fee, as persons may be entitled to for apprehending highwaymen. The next point after offenders are once apprehended, is to carry them before a proper magistrate, viz, a justice of the peace, and this leads us to say something of the nature and authority of that office. My Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord High Steward of England, the Lord Marshall, and the Lord High Constable, each of the Justices of the King's Bench, and as many say, the High Lord Treasure of England, have as incidental to their offices, a general authority to keep the peace throughout the realm, and to award process for their sorority thereof, and to take recognizances for it. The master of the roles has also like power, either incident to his office, or at least by prescription. As to the ordinary constructors or justices of the peace, they are constituted by the King's Commission, which is at present granted on the same form as was settled by the judges in the thirty-third year of Queen Elizabeth, by which they are appointed and assigned every one of them jointly and separately to keep the King's peace in such a county, and cause to be kept all statutes made for the good of the peace and the quiet government of the kingdom, as well within liberties, as without, and to punish all those who shall offend against the said statutes, and to cause all those who come before them, or any of them, who threaten any people as to the burning of their houses, in order to compel them to be kept in prison until they shall find it. As to the other powers committed to these justices, it would be too long for me to explain them, and therefore, after this general act, I shall go on to take notice of the manner in which the person accused is treated, when brought before them. First the justice of the peace examines as carefully as he can into the nature of the offense, and the weight there is of evidence to persuade him of the just ground there is for accusing the person before him, and after he has thoroughly considered this. If the thing appear frivolous or ill-grounded, he may discharge the person, or if he think the circumstance is strong enough to require it, he may take the bail of the party accused, or if the nature of the crime is more heinous, and the proof direct and clear, he is bound by an instrument under his hand and seal called Mitimus, to commit the offender to safe custody until he is discharged according to law. In carrying to prison for any crime whatsoever, if the party so carried escape himself, or if he be rescued by others, he and they are guilty of a very high misdemeanor, and in some cases, those who assist in making the rescue may be guilty of felony or high treason. But if a prisoner be once committed to jail for felony, and afterwards break that prison and escape, such breach of prison is felony by the statute Defraginibus prisonum, and shall be tried for the same as in other cases of felony, and suffer on conviction. My readers will find mention made of a case of this nature in respect to one Roger Johnson, who some years ago was tried for breaking the prison of Newgate, while he remained a prisoner there under a charge of felony, and making his escape. But so tender is the English law that when there appeared a probability that one Fisher, not then taken, broke down the wall of the prison and that Johnson took advantage of that hole and made his escape, he was found not guilty, for want of due proof that he actually did break that hole through which he escaped. The prisoner being in safe custody, a bill is next to be preferred to the grand jury of the county, in which the nature of the crime is properly set forth, and after hearing the evidence brought by the prosecutor to support the charge, they return the bill to court, marked Billavera, or Ignoramus. In the first case the prisoner is required to be tried by the petite jury of twelve, and to abide their verdict. In case of the latter, he is to be discharged and freed from that prosecution. But the grand jury must find or not find the bill entire, for a Billavera to one part and an Ignoramus to another renders the whole proceeding void and is of the same use to the prisoner as if they had returned an Ignoramus upon the hole. Many without knowing the law have taken occasion to be very free with its precedents, and to treat them as things written in barbarous Latin, in which an unreasonable, if not ridiculous, nicety is sometimes required. But when this comes to be thoroughly examined, we shall find that the proceedings are exactly conformable to reason. For if care and circumspection be necessary in deeds and writings relating to civil affairs, ought it not a fortiori to be more so where the life, liberty, reputation, and everything that is dear and valuable to the subject is at stake. Therefore, since there are technical words in all sciences, surely the law is not to be blamed for preserving certain words to which they have a fixed particular and determined meanings for the expressing of such crimes, as are made more or less copable by the legislature. Thus Merdreavid is absolutely necessary in an indictment charging the prisoner with murder. Kaipit is the term made, use of an indictments of larceny. Mehamaavid expresses the fact charge in an indictment of Maine. Filonis is absolutely necessary in all indictments of felony of what kind so ever. Burglarider is the Latin word made use of to express that breaking which from particular circumstances our law has called burglary, and appointed certain punishment for those who are guilty thereof. Prodiatory expresses the act of indictment of treason, and even if these are not Latin words, justified by the usage of Roman authors. The certainty which they give to those charges in which they are used, and which could not be so well expressed by circumlocutions, is a full answer to that objection, since the proceedings before a court aim not at elegancy, but at justice. But let us now go on to the next step taken to bring the offenders to judgment. The bill having been found by the grand jury, the prisoners brought in to the court where is to be tried, and set to the bar in the presence of the judges who are to try him. Then he is usually commanded to hold up his hand, but this being only a ceremony to make the person known to the court may be admitted, or the person indicating saying I am here will answer the same end. Then the proper officer reads the indictment which has been found against him in English, and he hath so done. He demands of the prisoner whether he be guilty or not guilty of the fact alleged against him, to which the prisoner answers as he thinks fit, and this answer is styled his plea. The tenderness which the English law on occasions expresses towards those who are to be brought to answer for crimes alleged against them, requires that this arraignment, the prisoner be totally free from any pain or duress which may disturb his thought and hinder his liberty of pleading as he thinks fit, and for this reason, even in cases of high treason, irons are taken off during the time the prisoner is at the bar, where he stands without any marks of contumely whatsoever. But in case the prisoner absolutely refuses to answer, or an impertinent manner delay or trifle with the court, then he is deemed a mute. But if he speaks not at all, nor gives any sign by which the court shall be satisfied that he is able to speak, then an inquest of officers, that is, of twelve persons who happen to be by, are to inquire whether his standing mute arises from his contempt of the court, or be really an infirmity under which he labors from the hands of God. If it be found the latter, then the court, as counsel for the prisoner, shall hear the evidence with relation to the fact, and proceed therein as if the prisoner had pleaded not guilty. But if, on the contrary, the court or the inquest shall be satisfied that the prisoner remains a mute only from obstinacy, then in some cases judgments shall be awarded against him as if he had pleaded or were found guilty, and in others he shall be remitted to his penance. That is to suffer what the law calls peneforte and dori, which is pressing of which the readers will find an account in the subsequent life of Bernworth, alias Frazier, and therefore I shall not treat further of it here. If, from conviction of his own guilt and a consciousness that it may be fully proved against him, the prisoner plead guilty to the indictment, it is considered as the highest species of conviction, and as soon as it is entered on the record the court proceeds to judgment without further proceedings on the indictments. But if the prisoner plead not guilty, and put himself or trial upon his country, then a jury of twelve men are to pass upon the defendant, and upon their verdict he is either to be acquitted or convicted. And with respect to this jury, the English law pairs again more equitable than perhaps any other in the world, for in this case as the jury comes severly to the book to be sworn, to triumph partially between the king and the prisoner of the bar. According to the evidence that is given upon the indictment, the prisoner is even then at liberty to accept against, or as the law terms it, to challenge, twenty of the jury preemptorily, and as many more as he thinks fit on showing just cause. So also, if the prisoner be an alien, the jury are to be half aliens and half English. So tender is our constitution, not only the lives of its natural born subjects, but also of those who put themselves under its protection, that it has taken every precaution which the wet of man could devise to prevent prejudice, partiality, or corruption from mingling in any degree with the sentences pronounced upon offenders, or in the proceedings upon which they are founded. Last of all we are to speak of the evidence or testimony which is to be given for or against the prisoner at the time of his trial. And first with respect to the evidence offered for the crown, if it shall appear that the person swearing shall gain any great and evident advantage by the event of trial in which he swears, he shall not be admitted as a good witness against the prisoner. Thus in the case of Rhodes, tried some years ago for forging letters of attorney for transferring South Sea Stock belonging to one Mr. Hashem, the prosecutor, Mr. Hashem was not admitted to swear himself against the prisoner, because in case of conviction six thousand pounds of stock must have replaced to his account. But to this, though a general rule, there are some exceptions on which the compass of discourse will not permit us to dwell. It is also a rule that a husband or wife cannot be admitted to testify against the prisoner, but to this also there are some exceptions, as in the Lord Adley's case, footnote, this was Mervin, Lord Adley, Second Earl of Castle Haven, a man of lothsome profligacy, who was tried by his peers on charges of unnatural offenses, and executed in 1631, and footnote, where he was charged withholding his lady until his servant committed a rape upon her by his command. Also in marriages contracted by force against the form of the statute, in that case it is provided that the woman, though a wife, may be admitted as evidence, as also in some other cases which we have not room to mention. Persons convicted of perjury, forgery, etc., are not to be admitted as legal witnesses, but that the record of their contrition must be produced at the time the objection is made, for the court will take no notice of hearsay and common fame in such respect. An infidel also, that is one who believes neither the old nor the new testament, cannot be a witness, and some other disabilities there are which being uncommon, we shall not dwell upon here. Yet it is necessary to take notice that whatever is offered as proof against the defendant shall be heard openly before him, that he may have an opportunity of falsifying it, if he be able. And as in all cases, except high treason, no counsel is permitted to the prisoner except in matters of law, because every man is supposed to be capable of defending himself as to matters of fact. Yet the court is always counsel for the prisoner and never fails of instructing and informing him of whatever may conduce to his benefit or advantage, and if any difficult points of law arise, counsel are assigned to him, and are permitted to argue in his behalf with the same freedom that those who do are appointed by the Crown. From this succinct account of the method in use in England, of doing justice in criminal cases, I flatter myself my readers will very clearly see how valuable those privileges are which we enjoy as Englishmen, how equitable the proceedings of our courts of justice, and how well constructed every part of our Constitution is for the preservation of lives and liberties of its subjects. If there remained room for us to compare the judicious proceedings in use here with those slight, rigorous, and summary methods which are practiced in other countries, the value of these blessings which we enjoy would be considerably enhanced. But as this preface already exceeds its intended length, we must refer this to a more proper opportunity, and conclude with putting our readers in mind that by the careful perusal of this and the preface to the first volume, they will have competent notion of the Crown Law, the reasons on which it is founded, the method in which it is prosecuted, and the judgments on criminals which are inflicted thereby, matters highly useful in themselves, as well as absolutely necessary to be known, in order to a proper understanding of the following pages. End of the preface. Chapter 1 Of the Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals Volume 2 by Arthur L. Hayward Chapter 1 The Life of William Sperry, Footpad and Highwayman There is not anything more extraordinary in the circumstances of those who form a life of rapine and plunder come to its natural catastrophe, a violent and ignominious death than that some of them from a life of piety and religion have on a sudden fallen into so opposite a behaviour, and without any stumbles in the road of virtue take, as it were, a leap from the precipice at once. This malefactor, William Sperry, was born of parents in very low circumstances, who afforded him and his brother scarce any education, until having reached the age of fourteen years, he and his younger brother before mentioned, were both decoyed by one of the agents for the plantations, to consent to their being transported to America, where they were sold for about seven years. Footnote There was great competition to secure white labour in the American plantations. Infamous towns circulated amongst the poor, and any who were starving or wished for personal reasons to emigrate engage themselves with a shipmaster or an officekeeper, to allow themselves to be sold for a term of years in return for their passage money. On arrival at their destination these poor wretches were sent to the plantations, and lived as slaves until the term for which they had contracted had expired. In Virginia and Maryland, where most of them went, they were driven to work on the tobacco fields with the negroes, and were worse treated than the blacks as being a release-hold property, whereas the negroes were free-hold. End footnote After the expiration of the term, William Sperry went to live at Philadelphia, the capital of Pennsylvania, one of the best plantations the English have in America, which receives its name from William Penn, the famous Quaker, who first planted it. Here, being chiefly instigated there too by the great piety and unaffected purity of morals, in which the inhabitants of that colony excel the greater part of the world, Sperry began with the utmost industry to endeavour at retrieving his reading, and the master with whom he lived, favouring his inclinations, was at great pains and some expense to have him taught writing. Yet he did not swerve in his religion, nor fall into Quakerism, the predominant sect here, but went constantly to the church belonging to the religion by law established in England, read several good books, and addicted himself with much zeal to the service of God. Removing from the house of his kind master to that of another planter, he abated nothing from his zeal for devotion, but went constantly from his master's house to church at Westchester, which was near five miles from his home. Happening not long after to have the advantage of going in a trading vessel to several ports in America, he addicted himself with great pleasure to this new life, but his happiness therein, like all other species of human bliss, very shortly faded for one morning, just as the day began to dawn, the vessel in which he sailed was clapped on board, and after a very short struggle, taken by Lowe, the famous pirate, footnote, Captain Edward Lowe was one of the bloodied of the pirates, he served under Lowe until 1722, when he smarted on his own account. After many atrocities he was taken by the French and hanged, some time in 1724. A full account of him is given in my edition of Johnson's History of the Pirates, issued in the same series as the present volume. End footnote. Sperry, being a brisk young lad, Lowe would very feign have taken him into his crew, but the lad having still virtuous principles remaining, earnestly entreated that he might be excused. On the score of his having discovered to Lowe a mutinous conspiracy of his crew, the generosity of that pirate was so great that, finding no offer he could make, made any impression, he caused him to be set safe on shore in the night, on one of the Leeward Islands. Notwithstanding that Sperry did not at that time comply with the instigations of the pirate, yet his mind was so much poisoned by the sight of what passed on board, that from that time he had an itching towards plunder and the desire of getting money at an easier rate than by the sweat of his brow. While these thoughts were floating in his head, he was entertained on board one of his Majesty's men of war, and while he continued in the service, saw a pirate vessel taken, and the men being tried before a court of Admiralty in New England. Every one of them was executed except five, who manifestly appeared to have been forced into the pirate's service. One would have thought this would have totally eradicated all liking for that sort of practice, but it seems it did not, for as soon as Sperry came home into England and had married a wife by which his inclinations were chained, though he had no ability to support her, and falling into very great necessities he either tempted others or associated himself with certain loose and abandoned young men, for as he himself constantly declared he was not led into evil practices by the persuasions of any. However it were the deeds he committed were many, and he became the pest of most of the roads out to the little villages about London, particularly towards Hamsted, Islington and Marlborough, of some of which, as our papers serve, we shall inform you. Sperry and former of his associates hearing that gaming was very public at Hamsted, and that considerable sums were won and lost there every night, resolved to share part of the winnings, let them light where they would. Footnote. Belsai's house was opened as a place of amusement about 1720 by a certain Howe, who called himself the Welsh Ambassador. At first it was a fashionable resort, but it soon became the haunt of gamblers and harpies of both sexes. End footnote. In order to do this they planted themselves in a dry ditch on one side of the foot-road, intending when it was darker to venture into the coach-road. They had hardly been at their posts a quarter of an hour before two officers came by. Some were for attacking them, but Sperry was of a contrary opinion. In the meanwhile they heard one of the gentlemen say to the other, There's D. M., the gamester behind us. He has won at least sixty guineas tonight. Sperry and his crew had no further dispute whether they should rob the gentleman in red or no, but resolved to wait the coming of so rich a prize. It was but a few minutes before M. appeared in sight. They immediately stepped into the path two before him and two behind, and watching him to the corner of a hedge, the two who were behind him, caught him by the shoulders, turned him round, and hurrying him about ten yards and pushed him into a dry ditch. This they had no sooner done, but they all four leaped down upon him and began to examine his pockets. M. thought to have talked them out of a stricter search by pretending he had lost a great deal of money at play, and had but fifty shillings about him, which with a silver watch and a crystal ring he deemed very ready to deliver, and it very probably would have been accepted if they had not had better intelligence. But one of the oldest of the gang perceiving after turning out all his pockets that they could discover nothing of value, began to exert the style of a high-women upon an examination and adjust the game-set in these terms. Nobody but such a rogue as you would have given gentlemen of our faculty so much trouble. Sir, we have received advice by good hands from bell-size that you won sixty guineas today, at play, produce them immediately, or we shall take it for granted you have swallowed them, and in such a case, sir, I have an instrument ready to give us an immediate account of the contents of your stomach. M. in a dreadful fright put his hand under his arm, and from thence produced a green purse with a fifty-pound back-note and eighteen guineas. This they had no sooner taken them, tying him fast to a headache, they ran across the fields in search of another booty. They ran out the time, being a moonlight night, until past eleven. There being so much company on the road that they found it impossible to attack without danger. As they were returning home, they heard the noise of a coach driving very hard, and upon turning about, saw it was that of Sir W. B., himself on the box, two ladies of pleasure in the coach, and his servants a great way behind. One of them seized the horse on one side and another on the other, but Sir W. drove so very hard that the pull of the horses brought them both to the ground, and he at the same time encouraging them with his voice and the smack of his whip. So he drove safe off, without any hurt, though they fired two pistols after him. About three weeks after this they were passing down Drury Lane and observing a gentleman going with one of the fine ladies of the hundreds into a tavern thereabouts, who knew him, and that he had married a lady with a great fortune to whom his father was guardian, and that they lived altogether in a great house near Lincoln's Innsfield, immediately thought on a project. They slipped into an ale house where he wrote an epistle to the old gentleman, informing him that they had a warrant to apprehend a lewd woman who was with child by his son, but that she had made her escape and was now actually with him in a tavern in Drury Lane, wherefor being apprehensive of disturbance and being unwilling to disgrace his family, rather than take rougher methods they had informed him in order that by his interposition the affair might be made up. As soon as they had written this letter they dispatched one of their number to carry it and deliver it as if by mistake to the young gentleman's wife. This had the desired effect for in less than half an hour came after the wife and another of her trustees, who happened to be paying a visit there when the letter came. They no sooner entered the tavern but hearing the voice of the gentleman they asked for without ceremony they opened the door, and finding a woman there always believed and there followed a mighty uproar. Two of the rogues who were best dressed had slipped into the next room and called for half a pint, as if by accident they came out at the noise and under inquire in the occasion took the opportunity of picking the gentleman's pockets of twenty-five guineas, one gold watch, and two silver snuff boxes, which it is to be presumed were never missed until the hurry of the affair was over. The last robberies Sperry committed was upon one Thomas Golding, not far from Bromley, who not having any money about him Sperry endeavored to make it up by taking all his clothes. Being apprehended for this at the next sessions at the Old Bailey he was convicted for this offense and having no friends could not entertain the least hopes of pardon. From the time that he was convicted and indeed from that of his commitment he behaved like a person on the brink of another world ingenuously confessing all his guilt and acknowledging readily the justice of that sentence by which he was doomed to death. His behaviour was perfectly uniform and as he never put on an air of contempt towards death so, at its nearest approach he did not sing exceedingly terrified therewith, but with great calmness of mind prepared for its dissolution. On the day of his execution his countenance seemed rather more cheerful than ordinarily and he left this world with all exterior signs of true penitence and contrition on Monday the 24th of May 1725 at Tyburn being then about 23 years of age. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals, Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Tracy Duckett Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals, Volume 2 by Arthur L. Hayward Chapter 2 The Life of Robert Harpham A Coiner In my former volume I have taken occasion in the life of Barbara Spencer to mention the laws against coining as they stand at present in this kingdom. I shall not therefore detain my readers here with the unnecessary introduction but proceed to inform them that a multitude of false guineas being talked of, the natural consequence of a few being detected, great pains were taken by the officers belonging to the Mint for detecting those by whom such frauds had been committed. It was not long before information was had of one Robert Harpham and Thomas Broome who were suspected of being the persons by whom such false guineas had been made. Upon these suspicions, search warrants were granted, and a large engine of iron was discovered at Harpham's house with other tools supposed to be made use of for that purpose. On this the mob immediately gave out that a cartload of guineas had been carried from Lentz because those instruments were so cumbersome as to be fetched in that manner. Though the truth indeed was that no great number of false guineas had been coined, though the instruments undoubtedly were fitted and made use of for that purpose. Harpham who well knew what evidence might be produced against him never flattered himself with hopes after he came to Newgate, but as he believed he should die so he prepared himself for it as well as he could. At his trial the evidence against him was very full and direct. Mr. Pinkett deposed flatly that the instruments produced in court and which were sworn to be taken from the prisoner's house could not serve for any other purpose than that of coining. These instruments were an iron press of very great weight, a cutting instrument for forming blanks, an edging tool for indenting, with two dies for guineas and two dies for half guineas. To strengthen this William Fornham deposed in relation to the prisoner's possession and Mr. Gornby swore directly to his striking a half guinea in his presence. Mr. Oakley and Mr. Tardley deposing further that they flattered very considerable quantities of a mixed metal for the prisoner, made up of brass, copper etc., sometimes to the quantity of thirty or forty pound weight at a time. The defence he made was very weak and trifling, and after a very short consideration the jury brought him in guilty of the indictment, and he, never entertaining any hopes of pardon, bent all his endeavours in making his peace with God. Some persons in the prison had been very civil to him, and one of them, presuming thereon, asked him where in the great secret of his art of coining lay. Mr. Harpham thanked him for the kindnesses he had received of him, but said that he should make a very bad return for the time he had been given to him by the law of repentance, if he should leave behind him anything of that kind which might further detriment his country. Some instances were also made to him that he should discover certain persons of that same profession with himself who were likely to carry on the same frauds long after his decease. Mr. Harpham, notwithstanding the answer he had made to the other gentleman, refused to comply with this request, for he said that the instrument seized would actually prevent that, and he would not take away their lives and ruin their families when he was sure they were incapacitated from coining anything for the future. However, that he might discharge his conscience as far as he could, he wrote several pathetic letters to the persons concerned, earnestly exhorting them for the sake of themselves and their families to leave off this wicked employment and not hazard their lives and their salvation in any further attempt to do so. Having thus disengaged himself from all worldly concerns, he dedicated the last moments of his life entirely to the service of God, and having received the sacrament the day before his execution, he was conveyed the next noon to Tyburn in a sledge, where he was not a little disturbed, even in the agonies of death, by the two molten insults the mob offered to Jonathan Wilde, which he complained much of and seemed very uneasy at. In the same day, with the last mentioned malifactor, appealing to be about two or three and forty years of age. Section 3 of Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals, Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jeffrey Wilson, Ames, Iowa. Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals, Volume 2, by Jeffrey Wilson, Ames, Iowa. Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals, Volume 2, by Arthur L. Hayward. The Life of the Famous Jonathan Wilde, Thief Taker. As no person in this collection ever made so much noise as the person we are now speaking of, so never any man, perhaps, in any condition of life, whatever, had so many romantic stories fathered upon him in his life. Or so many fictitious legendary accounts published of him after his death. It may seem a low kind of affectation to say that the memoirs we are now giving of Jonathan Wilde are founded on certainty and fact. And that though they are so founded, they are yet more extraordinary than any of those fabulous relations pushed into the world to get a penny, at the time of his death, when it was a proper season for vending such forgeries, the public looking with so much attention on his catastrophe and greedily catching up whatever pretended to be the giving and account of his actions. But to go on with the history in its order. Footnote A few additional particulars concerning Wilde may be of interest. Soon after he came to London he opened a brothel in the infamous Lucaners Lane in partnership with Mary Milliner. After a time they quitted it to take an alehouse in Cock Alley Cripplegate. He then drifted into business as a receiver and instigator organizing regular gangs which operated in every branch of the thieving trade. On account of the number of criminals he brought to justice as a result of their disloyalty to himself, the authorities winked at and tolerated his proceedings. And in January 1724 he had the impudence to petition for the freedom of the city, as some recognition for the good services he had rendered in this direction. A few months later, however, his reputation became sadly blown upon and in January 1725 he was implicated in an affair with one of his minions a sailor named Johnson who had been arrested and had appealed to Wilde for help. A riot was engineered in which Johnson made his escape, but information was laid against the thief-taker himself who, after lying in hiding for three weeks, was arrested and committed to Newgate which he only left to attend his trial and to take his last ride to Tibern. End of footnote Jonathan Wilde was the son of persons in a mean and low state of life yet for all that I have ever heard of them both honest and industrious. Their family consisted of three sons and two daughters whom their father and mother maintained and educated in the best manner they could from their joint labors. He as carpenter and she by selling fruit in Wolverhampton Market in Staffordshire which in future ages may perhaps become famous in the place of the celebrated Mr. Jonathan Wilde. He was the eldest of the sons and received as good an education as his father's circumstances would allow him. Being bred at the free school to read and write to both of which having attained to a tolerable degree he was put out an apprentice to a buckle maker in Birmingham. He served his time with much difficulty and came up to town in the service of a gentleman of the long robe about the year 17004 or perhaps a little later but not liking his service or his master being not altogether so well pleased with him he quitted it and retired to his old employment in the country where he continued to work diligently for some time but at last growing sick of labour and still entertaining a desire to taste the pleasures of London up hither he came a second time and worked journey work at the trade to which he was bred but this not producing money enough to support those expenses Jonathan's love of pleasure threw him into he got pretty deeply in debt and some of his creditors not being endued with altogether as much patience as his circumstances required he was suddenly arrested and thrown into Wood Street counter having no friends to do anything for him and having very little money in his pocket when this misfortune happened he lived very hardly there scarce getting bread enough to support him from the charity allowed to prisoners and from what little services he could render to prisoners of the better sort in the jail however as no man wanted a dress less than Jonathan so nobody could have employed it more properly than he did upon this occasion he thereby got so much into the favour of the keepers that they quickly permitted him the liberty of the gate as they call it and he thereby got some little matter for going on errands this set him above the very pinch of want and that was all but his fidelity and industry in these mean employments procured him such esteem amongst those in power there that they soon took him into their ministry and appointed him an underkeeper to those disorderly persons who were brought in every night and are called in their cant rats Jonathan now came into a comfortable subsistence having learnt how to get money of such people by putting them into the road of getting liberty for themselves but there says my author he met with a lady who was confined on the score of such practices very often and who went by the name of Mary Milliner and who soon taught him how to gain much greater sums than in this way of life by methods which he until then never heard of and will I am confident to this day carry the charms of novelty to most of my readers of these the first she put upon him was going on what they called the twang which is thus managed the man who is the confederate goes out with some noted woman of the town and if she fall into any broil he is to be at a proper distance ready to come into her assistance and by making a sham quarrel give her an opportunity of getting off perhaps after she has dived for a watch or a purse of guineas and was in danger of being caught in the very act this proved a very successful employment to Mr. Wilde for a time Maul and he therefore resolved to set up together and for that purpose took lodgings and lived as man and wife not withstanding Jonathan then had a wife and a son at Wolverhampton and the fair lady was married to a waterman in town by the help of this woman Jonathan grew acquainted with all the notorious gangs of loose persons within the bills of mortality and was also perfectly versed in the manner by which they carried on their schemes he knew where and how their enterprises were to be gone upon and after what manner they disposed of their ill-got goods into their possession having always an intriguing head Wilde set up for a director amongst them and soon became so useful to them that though he never went out upon any of their lays yet he got as much or more by their crimes as if he had been a partner with them which upon one pretence or other he always declined he had long ago got rid of that debt for which he had been imprisoned in the counter and having by his own thought projected a new manner of life he began in a very little time to grow weary of Mrs. Milliner who had been his first instructor what probably contributed there too was the danger to which he saw himself exposed by continuing a bully in her service however they parted without falling out and as he had occasion to make use of her pretty often in his new way of business so she proved very faithful and industrious to him in it though she still went on in her old way it is now time that both this and the remaining part of the discourse should be intelligible to explain the methods by which thieves became the better for thieving where they did not steal ready money and of this we will speak in the clearest and most concise manner that we can it must be observed that anciently when a thief had got his booty he had done all that a man in his profession could do with the attitudes of people ready to help them off with whatever effects he had got without any more to do but this method being totally destroyed by an act passed in the reign of King William by which it was made felony for any person to buy good stolen knowing them to be so and some examples having been made on this act few or no receivers to be met with those that still carried on the trade took exorbitant sums for their own profit leaving those who had run the hazard of their necks in obtaining them the least share of the plunder this as an ingenious author says had like to have brought the thieving trade to not Jonathan quickly thought of a method to put things again in order and give new life to the practices of the several branches of the ancient art and mystery called stealing the method he took was this as soon as any considerable robbery was committed and Jonathan received intelligence by whom he immediately went to the thieves and instead of offering to buy the whole or any part of the plunder he only inquired how the thing was done where the persons lived who were injured and what the booty consisted in that was taken away then pretending to chide them for their wickedness in doing such actions and exhorting them to live honestly for the future he gave it them as his advice to lodge what they had taken in a proper place which he appointed them and then promised he would take some measures for their security by getting the people to give them some what to have them restored them again having thus weedled those who had committed a robbery into a compliance with his measures his next business was to divide the goods into several parcels and cause them to be sent to different places always avoiding taking them into his own hands things being in this position Jonathan or Mrs. Milliner went to the persons who were robbed and after condoling the misfortune observed that they had an alliance with a broker to whom certain goods were brought some of which they suspected to be stolen and hearing that the person to whom they thus applied had been robbed they said they thought it the duty of one honest body to another to inform them thereof and to inquire what goods they were they lost in order to discover whether those they spoke of were the same or know people who had such losses are always ready after the first fit of passion is over to hearken to anything that has a tendency towards recovering their goods Jonathan or his mistress therefore who could either of them play the hypocrite nicely had no great difficulty in making people listen to such terms in a day or two therefore they were sure to come again with intelligence that having called upon their friend and looked over the goods they had found part of the goods there and provided nobody was brought into trouble and the broker had something in consideration of his care they might be had again he generally told the people when they came on this errand that he had heard of another parcel at such a place and that if they would stay a little he would go and see whether they were such as they described theirs to be which they had lost this practice of Jonathan's if well considered carries in it a great deal of policy for first it seemed to be an honest and good natured act to prevail on evil persons to restore the goods which they had stole and it must be acknowledged to be a great benefit to those who were robbed thus to have their goods again upon a reasonable premium Jonathan or his mistress all the while taking apparently nothing their advantages arising from what they took out of the gratuity left with the broker out of what they had bargained with the thief to be allowed of the money which they had procured him such people finding this advantage in it the rewards were very near as large as the price now given by receivers since receiving became too dangerous and they reaped a certain security also by the bargain with respect to Jonathan trivance placed him in safety not only from all the laws then in being but perhaps would have secured him as securely from those that are made now if covetousness had not prevailed with him to take bolder steps than these for in a short time he began to give himself out for a person who made it his business to procure stolen goods to their right owners when he first did this he acted with so much art and cunning that he acquired a very great reputation as an honest man not only from those who dealt with him to procure what they had lost but even from those people of higher station who observing the industry with which he prosecuted certain malefactors took him for a friend of justice and as such afforded him countenance and encouragement certain it is that he brought more villains to the gallows than perhaps any man ever did and consequently by diminishing their number made it much more safe for persons to travel or even to reside with security in their own houses and so sensible was Jonathan of the necessity there was for him to act in this manner that he constantly hung up two or three of his clients at least in a twelve month that he might keep up that character to which he had attained and so indefatigable was he in the pursuit of those he endeavored to apprehend that it never happened in all his course of acting that so much as one single person escaped him nor need this appear so great a wonder if we consider that the exact acquaintance he had with their gangs and the haunts they used put it out of their power almost to hide themselves so as to avoid his searches when this practice of Jonathan's became noted and the people resorted continually to his house in order to clear of the goods which they had lost it produced not only much discourse but some inquiries into his behavior Jonathan foresaw this and in order to evade any ill consequence that might follow upon it upon such occasions put on an air of gravity and complained of the evil disposition of the times which would not permit a man to serve his neighbors and his country without censure for do I not do the greatest good when I persuade these wicked people who have deprived them of their properties to restore them again for a reasonable consideration and are not the villains whom I have so industriously brought to suffer that punishment which the law for the sake of its honest subjects thinks fit to inflict upon them in this respect I say does not their death show how much use I am to the country why then added Jonathan should people usperse me or endeavor to take away my bread this kind of discourse served as my readers must know to keep wild safe in his employment for many years while not a step he took but trod on felony nor a farthing did he obtain but what deserved the gallows two great things there were which contributed to his preservation and they were these the great readiness the government always shows in detecting persons guilty of capital offenses in which case we know tis common to offer not only pardon but rewards to persons guilty provided they make discoveries and this Jonathan was so sensible of that he did not only screen himself behind the lenity of the supreme power but made use of it also as a sort of authority and behaved himself with presuming air and taking upon him the character of a sort of minister of justice this assumed character of his however ill founded proved of great advantage to him in the course of his life the other point which as I have said contributed to keep him from any prosecutions on the score of these illegal and unwarrantable actions was the great willingness of people who had been robbed to recover their goods and who provided for a small matter they could regain things for a considerable worth were so far from taking pains to bring the offenders to justice that they thought the premium a cheap price to get off thus by the rigor of the magistrate and the lenity of the subject and claimed constant employment and according as wicked persons behaved they were either trust up to satisfy the just vengeance of the one or protected and encouraged that by bringing the goods they stole he might be enabled to satisfy the demands of the other and thus we see the policy of a mean and scandalous thief taker conducted with much prudence, caution and necessary courage as the measures taken by even the greatest persons upon earth nor perhaps is there in all history an instance of a man who thus openly dallied with the laws and played with capital punishment as I am persuaded my readers will take a pleasure in the relation of Jonathan's maxims policy I shall be a little more particular in relation to them than otherwise I should have been considering that in this work I do not propose to treat of the actions of a single person but to consider the villainies committed throughout the space of a dozen years such especially as have reached to public notice by bringing the authors of them to the gallows but Mr. Wilde being a man of such eminence as to value himself in his lifetime on his superiority to meaner rogues so I am willing to distinguish him now he is dead by showing a greater complacence in recording his history than that of any other hero in this way whatsoever nor to speak properly was Jonathan ever an operator as they call it that is a practiser in any one branch of thieving no, his method was to acquire money at an easier rate and if any title can be devised suitable to his great performance it must be that of director general of the united forces of highwaymen, housebreakers footpads, pickpockets and private thieves now according to my promise for the maxims by which he supported himself in this dangerous capacity in the first place he continually exhorted the plunderers that belonged to his several gangs to let him know punctually what goods they at any time took by which means he had it in his power to give for the most part a direct answer to those who came to make their inquiries after they had lost their effects either by their own carelessness or the dexterity of the thief if they complied faithfully with his instructions he was a certain protector on all occasions and sometimes had interest enough to procure them liberty when apprehended either in the committing a robbery or upon the information of one of the gang in such a case Jonathan's usual pretense was that such a person who was the man he intended to save was capable of making a larger and more effectual information for which purpose Jonathan would sometimes supply him with memorandums of his own and thereby establish so well the credit of his discovery as scarce to fail of producing its effect but if his thieves threatened to become independent and despise his rules or endeavour for the sake of profit to vend the goods they got some other way without making application to Jonathan or if they threw out any threatening speeches against their companions or grumbled at the compositions he made for them in such cases as these Wilde took the first opportunity of talking to them in a new style telling them that he was well assured they did very ill acts and plundered poor, honest people to indulge themselves in their debaucheries that they would do well to think of amending before the justice of their country fell upon them and that after such warning they must not expect any assistance from him in case they should fall under any misfortune the next thing that followed after this fine harangue was that they were put into the information of some of Jonathan's creatures or the first fresh fact they committed and Jonathan was applied to for the recovery of the goods he immediately set out to apprehend them and laboured so indefatigably therein that they never escaped him thus he not only procured the reward for himself but also gained an opportunity of pretending that he not only restored goods to the right owners but also apprehended the thief as often as it was in his power as to instances I shall mention them in a proper place I shall now go on to another observation that in those steps of his business which was most hazardous Jonathan made the people themselves take the first steps by publishing advertisements of things lost directing them to be brought to Mr. Wilde who was empowered to receive them and pay such a reward as the person that lost them thought fit to offer and in this capacity Jonathan appeared no otherwise than as a person on whose honour this sort of people could rely by which his assistance became necessary for retrieving whatever had been pilfered after he had gone on in this trade for about 10 years with success he began to lay aside much of his former caution and gave way to the natural vanity of his temper taking a larger house in Old Bailey than that in which he formerly lived giving the woman who he called his wife abundance of fine things keeping open office for restoring stolen goods appointing abundance of under- officers to receive goods carry messages to those who stole them bring him exact intelligence of the several gangs and the places of their resort and in fine for such other purposes this their supreme governor directed his fame at last came to that height that persons of the highest quality would condescend to make use of his abilities when at an installation public entry or some other great solemnity they had the misfortune of losing watches, jewels or other things whether of great real or imaginary value but as his methods of treating those who applied to him for his assistance has been much misrepresented I shall next give an exact and impartial account thereof that the fabulous history of Jonathan Wilde may not be imposed upon posterity in the first place then when a person was introduced to Mr. Wilde's office it was first hinted to them that a crown must be deposited by way of fee for his advice when this was complied with a large book was brought out then the loser was examined with much formality as to the time, place and manner that the goods became missing and then the person was dismissed with a promise of careful enquiries being made and of hearing more concerning them in a day or two when this was adjusted the person took his leave with great hopes of being acquainted shortly with the fruits of Mr. Wilde's industry and highly satisfied with the methodical treatment he had met with but at the bottom this was all grimace Wilde had not the least occasion for these queries except to amuse the persons he asked for he knew beforehand all the circumstances of the robbery much better than they did nay, perhaps he had the very goods in the house when the faults came first to inquire for them though for reasons not hard to guess he made use of all this formality before he proceeded to return them when therefore according to his appointment the inquirer came the second time Jonathan took care to amuse him by a new scene he was told that Mr. Wilde had indeed made enquiries but was very sorry to communicate the result of them the thief truly who was a bold impudent fellow rejected with scorn the offer which pursuant to the losers instructions had been made him insisted that he could sell the goods at a double price and in short would not hear a word of restitution unless upon better terms but not withstanding all this says Jonathan if I can but come to the speech of him I don't doubt bringing him to reason at length after one or two more attendances Mr. Wilde gave the definite answer that provided no questions were asked and so much money was given to the porter brought them the loser might have his things returned at such an hour precisely this was transacted with all outward appearances of friendship and honest intention on his side and with great seeming frankness and generosity but when the client came to the last article what Mr. Wilde expected for his trouble then an air of coldness was put on and he answered with equal pride and indifference that what he did was purely from a principle of doing good as to the gratuity for the trouble he had taken he left it totally to yourself you might do it in what you thought fit even when money was presented to him he received it with the same negligent grace always putting you in mind that it was your own act that you did it merely out of your generosity and that it was no way the result of his request that he took it as a favour not as a reward by this dexterity in his management he fenced himself against the rigor of the law in the midst of these notorious transgressions of it for what could be imputed to Mr. Wilde he neither saw the thief who took away your goods nor received them after they were taken the method he pursued in order to procure you your things again was neither dishonest or illegal if you will believe his account on it and no other than his account could be gotten according to him it was performed after this manner after having inquired amongst such loose people as he acknowledged he had acquaintance with and hearing that such a robbery was committed at such a time and such and such goods were taken he there upon had caused it to be intimated to the thief that if he had any regard for his own safety he would cause such and such goods to be carried to such a place in consideration of which he might reasonably hope such a reward naming a certain sum if it excited the thief to return the goods it did not thereby fix any guilt or blame upon Jonathan and by this description I fancy my readers will have a pretty clear idea of the man's capacity as well as of his villainy had Mr. Wilde continued satisfied with this way of dealing in all human probability he might have gone to his grave in peace without any apprehensions of punishment but what he was to meet within a world to come but he was greedy and instead of keeping constant to this safe method came at last to take the goods into his own custody giving those that stole them what he thought proper and then making such a bargain with the loser as he was able to bring him up to sending the porter himself without ceremony whatever money had been given him but as this happened only in the two last years of his life it is fit I should give you some instances of his behavior before and these not from the hearsay of the town but within the compass of my own knowledge a gentleman near Covent Garden who dealt in silks had bespoke a piece of extraordinary rich damask on purpose for the birthday suit of a certain Duke and the lace men having brought such trimming as was proper for it the bursar had made the hole up in a parcel tied it at each end with blue ribbon sealed with great exactness and placed on one end of the counter in expectation of his graces servant who he knew was directed to call for it in the afternoon accordingly the fellow came but when the Mercer went to deliver him the goods the piece had gone and no account could possibly be had of it as the master had been all day in the shop so there was no possibility of charging anything either upon the carelessness or dishonesty of servants after an hours fretting therefore seeing no other remedy he even determined to go and communicate his loss to Mr. Wild in hopes of receiving some benefit by his assistance the loss consisting not so much in the value of the things as in the disappointment it would be to the noblemen not to have them on the birthday upon this consideration a hackney coach was immediately called and away he was ordered to drive directly to Jonathan's house in the old Bailey as soon as he came into the room and had acquainted Mr. Wild with his business the usual deposit of a crown being made and the common questions of the how, when and where having been asked the Mercer being very impatient said with some kind of heat Mr. Wild the loss I have sustained though the intrinsic value of the goods very little lies more in disablaging my customer tell me therefore in a few words if it be in your power to serve me if it is I have 30 guineas here ready to lay down but if you expect that I should dance attendance for a week or two I assure you I shall not be willing to part with above half the money good sir replied Mr. Wild have a little more consideration I am no thief sir nor no receiver of stolen goods so that if you don't think fit to give me time to inquire you must even take what measures you please when the Mercer found he was like to be left without any hopes he began to talk in a milder strain and with abundance of entreaties fell to persuading Jonathan to think of some method to serve him and that immediately Wild stepped out a minute or two as if to the necessary house as soon as he came back he told the gentleman it was not in his power to serve him in such a hurry if at all however in a day or two he might be able to give him some answer the Mercer insisted that a day or two would lessen the value of the goods one half to him and Jonathan insisted as peremptorily that it was not in his power to do anything sooner at last a servant came in a hurry and told Mr. Wild there was a gentleman below desired to speak with him Jonathan bowed and begged the gentleman's pardon told him he would wait on him in one minute and without staying for a reply withdrew and clapped the door after him in about five minutes he returned with a very smiling countenance and turning to the gentleman said I protest sir you are the luckiest man I ever knew I spoke to one of my people just now to go to a house where I know some lifters resort and directed him to talk of the robbery that had been committed in your house and to say that the gentleman had been with me and offered thirty guineas provided the things might be had again but declared if he did not receive them in a very short space he would give as great a reward for the discovery of the thief whom he would prosecute with the utmost severity the story has had its effect and if you go directly home I fancy you'll hear more news of it yourself than I am able to tell you but pray sir remember one thing that the thirty guineas was your own offer you are at free liberty to give them or let them alone do which you please tis nothing to me but take notice sir that I have done all for you the power without the least expectation of gratuity away went the Mercer confounded in his mind and wondering where this affair would end but as he walked up south Hampton street a fellow overtook him patted him on the shoulder and delivered him the bundle unopened telling him the price was twenty guineas the Mercer paid it him directly returning to Jonathan in half an hour's time readily expressed abundance of thanks to Mr. Wilde for his assistance and begged him to accept of the ten guineas he had saved him for his pains Jonathan told him that he had saved him nothing but supposed that the people thought twenty demand enough considering that they were now pretty safe from prosecution the Mercer still pressed the ten guineas upon Jonathan who after taking them out of his hand returned him five of them and assured him that was more than enough adding, tis satisfaction enough sir to an honest man that he is able to procure people their goods again this you will say was a remarkable instance of his moderation I will join to it as extraordinary an account of his justice, equity or what else you will please to call it it happened thus a lady whose husband was out of the kingdom and had sent over to her drafts for her assistance to the amount of between fifteen hundred and two thousand pounds lost the pocket book in which they were contained between Bucklarsbury and Magpie Alehouse in Leadon Hall Street the merchant lived upon whom they were drawn she however went to the gentlemen and he advised her to go directly to Mr. Jonathan Wilde accordingly to Jonathan she came deposited the crown and answered the questions he asked her Jonathan then told her that in an hour or two's time possibly some of his people might hear who it was that had picked her pocket the lady was vehement in her desires to have it again and for that purpose went so far at last as to offer a hundred guineas upon that Wilde made answer though they are of much greater value to you madam yet they cannot be worth anything like it to them therefore keep your own counsel say nothing in the hearing of my people and I'll give you the best directions I am able for the recovery of your notes in the mean while if you will go to any tavern near and endeavor to eat a bit of dinner I will bring you an answer before the cloth is taken away she said she was unacquainted with any house thereabouts on which Mr. Wilde named the Baptist head footnote a well-known tavern in Old Bailey end of footnote the lady would not be satisfied unless Mr. Wilde promised to eat with her he at last complied and she ordered a fowl and sausages at the house he had appointed she waited there about three quarters of an hour when Mr. Wilde came over and told her he had heard news of her book desiring her to tell out ten guineas upon the table in case she should have an occasion for them as the cook came up to acquaint her that the fowl was ready Jonathan begged she would see whether there was any woman waiting at his door the lady without minding the mystery did as he desired her and perceiving a woman in a scarlet riding hood walk twice or thrice by Mr. Wilde's house her curiosity prompted her to go near her but recollecting she had left the gold upon the table upstairs she went and snatched it up without saying a word to Jonathan and then running down again went towards the woman in the red hood who was still walking before his door she had guessed right for no sooner did she approach towards her but the woman came directly up to her and presenting her pocket book desired she would open it and see that all was safe the lady did so and answering it was all right the woman in the red riding hood said here's another little note for you madam upon which she gave her a little billet on the outside of which was written ten guineas the lady delivered her the money immediately adding also a piece for herself and returning with a great deal of joy to Mr. Wilde told him she had got her book and would now eat her dinner heartily when the things were taken away she thought it was time to go to the merchant thinking it would be necessary to make Mr. Wilde a handsome present she put her hand in her pocket and with great surprise found her green purse gone in which was the remainder of fifty guineas she had borrowed of the merchant in the morning upon this she looked very much confused but did not speak a word Jonathan perceived it asked if she was not well I am tolerably in health sir answered she but I am amazed that the woman took but ten guineas for the book and at the same time picked my pocket of thirty nine Mr. Wilde hereupon appeared in as great a confusion as the lady and said he hoped she was not in earnest but if it were so begged her not to disturb herself she should not lose one farthing upon which Jonathan begging her to sit still stepped over to his own house and gave as may be supposed necessary directions for in less than half an hour a little Jew called Abraham that Wilde kept bolted into the room and told him the woman was taken and on the point of going to the counter you shall see madam said Jonathan turning to the lady what exemplary punishment I'll make of this infamous woman then turning himself to the Jew Abraham says he was the green purse of money taken on her yes sir replied his agent oh la then said the lady I'll take the purse with all my heart I would not prosecute the poor wretch for the world would not you so madam replied Wilde well then we'll see what's to be done upon which he first whispered his emissary and then dispatched him end of section three chapter continues in section four