The true narrative of the procedings [sic] at the Sessions-House in the Old-Baylx [sic]¨ Which began on Wednesday the 26th of this instant April, 1680. and ended on Fryday the 28th following. Giving an account of most of the remarkable trials there, viz. for high-treason, murders, fellonies and burglaries, &c. with a particular relation of their names, and the places of their committing their facts, with the number of those condemned to die, burnt in the hand and to be whipt.

THE TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE PROCEDINGS AT The Sessions-House IN THE OLD-BAYLX.

Which began on Wednesday the 26th of this instant April, 1680. and ended on Fryday the 28th following. Giving an Account of most of the Remarkable Trials there, viz. for High-Treason, Murders, Fellonies and Burglaries, &c. with a particular Relation of their Names, and the places of their Committing their Facts, with the number of those Condemned to die, burnt in the hand and to be whipt.

AT the Sefflons of Oyer and Terminer, holden at the Sessions house in the Old Bayly: for the City of London, Coun∣ty of Middlesex, and Goal delivery of Newgate, the pro∣ceedings were as followeth.

William Cadman, was Arraigned and tryed for Fellonioufly taking and bearing away twenty yards of broad Cloth, being the Goods and Chattels nf one Mr. Feild, living in the Parish of St. Martains Ludgate, the surcumstances thus, the Prisoner coming by the Shop of the aforesaid Mr. Field, and watching his opertu∣nity, snatcht it off from the Stall, and running away with it, was discovered by a stranger, who came accidentally by, and calling to the Apprentice, biding him, Look if he had lost nothing, who immediately missing the parcel, ran after the Prisoner, who see∣ing himself pursued droped it from under his Arm, he plead∣ed not Guilty, and denyed that he ever had it, but the proof being very plain, he was Convicted of the Fellony.

Richard Cooper, Thomas Weare, and M••nger Linsey were indicted for Murthering one Thomas P••obe a Constable in the Hermitage, the circumstances thus, one Richard Cooper being by profession a Waterman, having his Boat lying at the Hermitage Stairs, left his Boy to look to it, whilst he went to wait on a Gentleman whom he was to carry, he being then with several friends at a house hard by, but in Coopers absence 7 Scotch men belonging to a Vessel which lay at Anchor in the River came from drinking and having a Long boat to carry them on Ship board, so that coming to the water-side, and halling their Boat to Shoar, they crus••ied Coopers Boat wherein was his Boy; at which the boy fell to calling them Names, and as they reported struck one of them over the Arm with the Boat staff, and then run to call his Ma∣ster, who coming, found the Scotchmen in his Boat, and desired them to come out, which they refusing, several sharp words pas∣sed, they threatning to beat him, so that several people that were upon the Key, fearing some hurt might be done, went and called the deceased out of his Bed to keep the Peace, who after some time came with his staff and commanded the Scotchmen to come out of the Boat which the two now Prisoners did, but after some dispute, the other followed close upon the Constable, and with the Oar of a Ship-boat koocked him down, and before he could recover himself, he received another blow with a Boat-hook, which proved so Mortal that within five days he died, but it be∣ing dark during the Skirmish, it could not be justly determined who gave him the blowes, yet a Man swore positively against Co••∣per, but it being proved that he was of the Constables Party, and that there was never any mallice between them, the which the wife of the deceased attested, so that the whole Evidence being doubtful, neither of them were found Guilty.

Walter Gilman alias Fowler, was Arraigned and Indicted for Felloniously breaking open the House of one M••. Jackson, and taking thence 190 pounds of money, and a Gold-watch, He and as it supposed more of his Accomplices taking a pain of Glass down on the back-side of the house, came in and taking off the the Bar from the Fore-dore, opened the Lock with a picklock-Key, and then ransacing the House, went away with this and se∣veral other Goods, as Linnen Cloaths and other things of vallue after this Robbery Mr. Jackson putting out bills for the staying of such Goods, had notice from a Watchmaker that the watch was brought to to be sold or pawned and that he had stopt the party, upon which he was apprehended, at his Trial he pleaded that be bought it of one in Bishopsgate-street, who was gon into France, so that qeiog found in many stories, he was brought in Guilty.

William Hall was Indicted, for a Fellony and Burglary, for breaking and fel∣loniously entering the dwelling house of Richard Harbourd in Spittle-field, there being no person therein, Richard Harbourd coming home, and espying a light in his House, and knowing himself had the Key; stood amazed but going nearer found his door broak open, and a man standing upon the outward step, who see∣ing him come up towards him, run fot it, and by running down an Ally, made an escape, but searching farther, he found the now Prisoner just coming down Stairs, who likewise endeavoured to escape, but he laying hold of him secured him, the Prisoners plea was that, He being afraid of Bayliffs supposed himself pursued and finding that door open, ran in there for shelter, but such excuses being weak and frivolous upon full Evidence, he was btought in guilty of Bur∣glary with an intent to steal, though no goods was taken away by reason of the timely prevention.

Edward Batchelor, Matthew Barringer and Walter Gilbert; received their Tryals first for a Fellony, in stealing two yards and a half of Cloath from one George Groom living in Shadweil, coming into his House on a pretending errand, whilst one of them, held the young man there present in talk, the rest conveyed away Cloath, being vallued at about thirty shillings.

The next Indictment against them was, that after their having committed the former Robbery, they went to the House of one Mr. Campion of the same Pa∣rish; where calling for Wine; they continued Revelling and Singing a conve∣nient time, till watching a convenient opertunity, they broke open a Desk and a Trunk that stood in the acjacient Rooms, and took from thence two Sures of Cloathes, a Campaign, Linnen; and Monys to a considerable Vallue, and so pay∣ing their Reckoning departed, but the people of the House, having some mi∣strust of them went up stairs and found how they had Plundered: but pursuing them immediately they were all taken in number five, two of which not yet ment••oned viz. Morrice Hunt and Cornelius Fullum, pleaded Guilty; upon their being apprehended, they threw down all the Goods, they had taken, as well the Cloath••n the first Indictment, as the rest, and upon search about forty picklock Keys were found about them, thr former three pleaded that the two latter brought them into that Premenire and that they were Innocent, but the Court and Iury, not thinking so, they were found Guilty of both the Indictments.

Richard Speckman, was likewise Arraigned and tryed for a Fellony and Bur∣glary committt••d on the fourth of December last, upon the House of Mary Wood∣ward on Blackwall Marsh, the Circumstances thus, the Prisoner in the Company of three or four more coming in to Drink, they stayed there till it began to grow late, and the House standing somwhat distant from Neighbours, they seized the Maid, and bound her, and then the Mistress Likewise, after which the Prisoner was set to guard her, whilst the rest of the Gang Plundered the House taking from thence one holland Apron, two cambrick laced Hancarchiefs vallued at twelve shillings, one half-Guiny, five broad peices of Gold, six pounds in Mo∣nies, and about 5 or 6 shilling, more the Prisoner took out of the aforesaid Ma∣ry Woodwards Pocket, she telling she thought he would not have served her so, to which he replied, he believed she did not; so that having got their Booty, they departed, but the Prisoners being apprehended, the next day upon suspici∣on of several Robberies, he was challenged for this in Newgate; and now upon his Trial the woman and her Maid swearing positively that he was the Man that, held them; he was found Guilty of the Fellony and Robbery.

Thomas Nevil was Indicted for a Fellony and Burglary committed upon the Shop of William Phillips in Watling street, and stealing thence 82 Muffs, vallu∣ed at ••0 pounds as likewise another Indictment for stealing 2 Horses, and also for breaking the Goal of Newgate, to all which, he voluntarily pleaded Guilty, nor could he be perswaded to do otherwise, his reason was, because he knew it would be proved against him, and that he had no hopes of Life, &c.

John Bigs, Tho Purdie, and John Ekius were Indicted for two notorious Fello∣nies and a Burglary, the first was, for that they in the Company of John Ralphs and Clement Suel atr••••••cy executed, broke open the house of John Benning in the Parish of Wilsden and after having bound all the Family except the Maid, they ransack'd the House, and carried away in Plate monies and other Goods to the vallue of 200 pounds, The next Fellony was committed in the house of one William Charles living in the Parish of Pancridg, taking away three silver spoons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Holland Pinners and several other parcels of Goods and monies, all which Bigs confessed, and pleaded Guilty to, and the rest not denying but they were in both the Robberies, they were Convicted.

William S••vage was Indicted for a Fellony and Burglary, for that he comeing to a house in Coleman street, and there taking a Lodging for some considerable time, gave as he declared six pence in earnest, but taking his opportunity the first night to pack up several pair of Sheets, 2 pair of Curtains and Vallains, Rugs, Blankets and other things to the Vallue of seven or eight pounds, and going down stairs about two or three of the Clock in the Morning, carried them away, but shortly after being apprehended, in White-Chappel, he would have compoun∣ded the Fellony, the which not taking effect, he was Committed, and upon his Trial found guilty of the Fel••ony only.

Elleone•• Davis and Ann Rye, two notorious Shoplifts the latter of which being burnt in the hand, were tried for stealing three pieces of silk from Alderman Lewis in Corn∣wall, they coming three of them into the Shop pretending to cheapen Silks and Di∣aper, the former watching her opportunity, put three pieces of Silk into her Coat, but going out hastily dropped one of them in the street; which several persons called after her to take it up, she refused, and thinking she was pursued, not far from thence threw the rest upon the Ground, which raised a suspicion in some that they were sto∣len Goods, whereupon she and the other Prisoner were apprehended, and being brought back, it was found to be so, it being proved against them that they were confederates, they were brought in Guilty.

John Anderson took his Trial for killing of Edmund Harvy, the circumstances were, that a sudden quarrel by reason of words arising between them, they went to cuffing, and after that they went into the Fields beyond Arrundel House, and there drew upon each other, and before any one could come ro part them (though several that had notice of it followed them) Harvy was run into the right Pap 4 inches deep, of which wound he immediately died, but there being no former Mallice proved, the Jury found it Man-slaughter.

Samuel Johnson being Arraigned for High-Treason, for that he had put away several false pieces of Coin, and being taken in the house of Elizabeth Marsh convicted last Seff∣ons, it was objected in his Indictment, that he had Coined ten Elizabeth and ten of King Charles the first shillings, but there being no positive proof thereof he was acquiteed.

G••orgs Dugdale a Bailiff, was indicted for the Murthering of Alice Green in St. Giles's in the Fields, for he having Arrested the Father of the deceased, who was but a Child, and as it is supposed, her Eather striving with the Prisoner, the deceased came about her Father drying, and laying hold of the Prisoner, with his stick knocked her down, and beating her so unmercifully, that of the bruises and wounds she in a short time died, so that upon full Evidence of the barbarous Cruelty, he was found Guilty.

Mary Bird of St. Giles's-Cripple-Gate, was likewise Indicted for the Murthering of one Sarah Roberts, it being proved against the Prisoner that she did strike and beat the deceased, of which blowes she fell into a Feavour, of which and the bruises (she being delivered before her time, of a dead Child which had several bru••ses upon the head and Breast) as likewise the woman dying in a day or two afterwards, laying the cause of her death to the Prisoner; who upon plain proof of her beati••g her, was found Guilty of Murder.

There were in all fifteen Condemned to dye, ten Men and five women, vix. John Bigs, Tho. Purdie, John Ekins, George Dugdale, Tho. Shaw, Walter Gilman Richard Spek∣ma, Robert Gale, Thomas Newel, William Hall, Mary Bird, Ann Rye, Elio•…•… Davis, Eli∣zabeth Brown, Elizabeth Oliver. 10 burn'd in the hand, 1 to be Transported •• to be whipt.

FINIS.