The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
William DAVIS - theft, 04 Dec 1771.
John RYMELL (coachman to Mr. Andrews at Maidenhead), witness.
Verdict: Guilty
Punishment: Death
Transcription:
40. (M.) WILLIAM DAVIS was indicted for feloniously robbing a mail, in which were sent by the post, a certain bag of letters called the Isle of Wight-bag against the statute, &c.
The 2 d count or taking out of a mail, in which were sent and conveyed by the post, a letter before sent by Job White, by the post from the Isle of Wight, directed to John Brown, Edward Weston Phillips, and William Buswell, of London, linen-drapers, against the statute, &c.
The 3d count for stealing and taking out of a mail, in which letters were sent by the post, one other letter sent by the said Job White, by the post from the Isle of Wight, directed to the said Messrs. Brown, Phillips, and Buswell, London; and containing therein a bill of exchange, directed to Messrs. Eade and Wilton, for the payment of ten pounds eleven shillings to Sarah Coade at ten days sight, for value received, against the statute, &c.
The 4th count for stealing and taking one letter, sent by Job White, directed by Messrs. Brown, Phillips, and Buswell, from, and out, of a certain bag of letters, called the Isle of Wight-bag, sent by the post, against the statute, &c.
The 5th count for feloniously stealing and taking out of the said bag of letters, called the Isle of Wight-bag sent by the post, one letter before sent by the said Job White, from the Isle of wight, directed to Messrs. Brown, Phillips, and Buswell, and containing a certain paper writing, in the words and figures following:
Portsmouth Com.
"16 Oct. 61 Gentlemen, at ten days sight pray pay unto Mrs. Sarah Coade or order the sum of ten pounds eleven shillings, for value received, without further advice, from gentlemen, your humble servant, Edward Crafts. To Messrs. Eade and Wilton, at King Edward Stairs, Wapping," against the statute, &c.
The 6th count charges it the same as the fourth, for a letter sent by Richard Brown the elder, and directed to Mr. T. Webb and Co. No. 29. Grace-church-street, London.
The 7th count for the like letter, containing a certain paper-writing, purporting to be a bill of exchange, with the name William Sharpe and Son, directed to Mr. George Macaulay, for the payment of thirty pounds to Mr. Richard Brown, or order, against the statute, &c.
The 8th count for a letter sent by William Grosmith, and John Shepherd, and directed to Mr. Henry Pidgeons distiller in the Borough, London, against the statute, &c.
The 9th count for the like letter containing a bill of exchange, subscribed William Sharpe and Son, and directed to Mr. George Macauley, for the payment of thirty pounds to Samuel King or order, for value in account, &c. against the statute.
The 10th count for feloniously stealing, and taking a packet out of the said bag of letters, called the Isle of Wight-bag, sent by the post, against the statute, &c.
The 11th count for feloniously stealing, and taking out of the said bag one packet, sent by John Clark the elder and John Clark the younger, by the post from the Isle of Wight, and directed to Mr. Isaac Jemmet, against the statute.
The 12th count for the like packet containing two paper writings, putporting to be two bills of exchange subscribed Samuel Coade and Co. for the payment of twenty-two pounds to Mrs. Mary Coade, or order, for value received in account, and the other is directed to Mr. Samuel Bernard, Graff Huber, and Co. for the payment of eighteen pounds to Mrs. Mary Coade; for value in account, against the statute.
Job White. I am a rider to Messrs. Brown, Phillips, and Roswell, in Corbet-court, Grace-church-street: on the 21st of October I was in the Isle of Wight; I dispatched a letter from there, directed to Messrs. Brown and Co. the contents was a ten-pounds bank note and a bill of exchange for 10 l. 11 s. I have in this memorandum book an entry of the particulars that I made at the time; it was drawn on Eade and Wilton, payable to Sarah Coade or order ( a draft shewn the witness.)
White. This is it.
It is read.
Gentlemen, at ten days sight, pray pay to Mrs. Sarah Coade, or order the sum of ten pounds eleven shillings for value received, without further advice from gentlemen, your humble servant.
Edward Craff.
To Messrs. Eades and Wilton at King Edward Stairs, Wapping.
White. There was the endorsement of Sarah Coade upon it when I sent it; the acceptance has been written since. I put this letter myself into the post-office at Newport in the Isle of Wight on the 21st of October, about one o'clock.
William Clark. I live at Newport in the Isle of Wight. I inclosed four Bills in letter on the 21st of October last, directed to Mr. Isaac Jemmet, Queen-street, Borough, London; one of them 22 l. one of 18 l. one of 50 l. and one of 74 l. which I put into the post myself.
Council. Who were the bills of 22 l. and 18 l. drawn upon?
Clark. Upon Samuel Barnard, Graff Huber, and Company, by Samuel Coade and Co. of Exeter payable to Mary Coade, or order. (The bills produced and read.)
Exon, 21 Sept, 1771. 22 l.
30 days after date, pay to Mrs. Mary Coade, or order 22 l. for value in account as per advice from Samuel Coade and Co.
To Mr. Samuel Bernard, Graff Huber and Co. merchants in London.
Exon, the 28 Seqt. 1771.
30 days after date, pay to Mrs. Mary Coade, on order 18 l, value in account, per advice from Samuel Coade, and Co.
To Messrs. Samuel Barnard, Craff Huber, and Co. merchants in London.
Richard Brown. I live at Newport in the Isle of Wight. I put a letter in the post-office there on the 21st of October, directed to Mr. T. Webb, at No. 29, Grace-church-street, London, in which was in closed a bill drawn on the top of the sheet, the letter was wrote at the bottom. The bill was drawn on George Macaulay for 30 l. 31 days after date, payable to Richard Brown or order.
A bill shewn the witness.
Brown. This is the bill. There was only Richard Brown endorsed upon it when I sent it.
It is read.
Newport, Oct. 5, 1771, 30 l.
30 days after date, pay Mr. Richard Brown or order 30 l. value received, and place it as advised by William Sharpe and Son.
To Mr. George Macaulay, at Mr. George Abels, London.
Endorsed Richard Brown, Richard Jarvis, and Tesdale Webb.
John Shepherd. I live at Cows in the Isle of Wight. I sent a letter on the 21st of October, directed to Mr. Henry Pigeon, distiller in the Borough.
Q. What did that letter contain?
Shepherd. A bill for 30 l. drawn by William Sharpe and Son.
A draft shewn the witness.
Shepherd. This is the bill; the letter was wrote on the same paper.
It is read.
Newport, October 16, 1771.
30 l.
30 days after date, pay Mr. Samuel King or order, 30 l. value in account, and place it at advised.
William Sharpe and Son.
To Mr. George Macaulay, at Mr. George Abels, London.
Shepherd. I delivered this letter to David Dore, and ordered him to put it into the post-office.
David Dore. I live with Mr. Shepherd at Cows in the Isle of Wight.
Q. Do you remember Mr. Shepherd's giving you a letter in October last?
Dore. Yes; I put it in the post-office the same day.
Q. Do you remember who it was directed to?
Dore. No.
Q. Has Mr. Shepherd any partner?
Dore. Yes; Mr. Grossmith.
Q. Has the any other partner?
Dore. I believe not.
Q. What day was it you put the letter into the post-office?
Dore. I believe the 21st; my master gave me a charge with it; he said it was something particular.
Cross Examination.
Q. Did you take any notice of the day of the month at the time you carried the letter?
Dore. No.
Hannah Taylor. I keep the post-office at Newport in the Isle of Wight. I put all the letters in a bag on the 21st of October then I sealed the bags, and forwarded it as usual about one o'clock at noon, which is the usual time of its going off, by one Lawrence of Cows.
Cross Examination.
Q. What kind of bag was it put in?
Taylor. A leather bag.
Q. Is there any lock to it?
Taylor. No; we tie it about, and then seal the string.
Q. What is the first place that the bag goes to from you?
Taylor. To Cows.
Ann Todd. I keep the post-office at Cows. The Isle of Wight bag came safe sealed up on the 21st of October. I take all the Newport letters out; I take my own letters out and stamp and mark them; then the other bag goes back again.
Q. How many letters did you forward to Southampton?
Todd. About fifty-four letters charged; one paid letter; and about eight or ten franks.
Q. What size was the bag you put them in at Newport?
Todd. A very small leather bag tied up; and Isle of Wight was wrote upon one end of it. I sealed it up and delivered it myself to James Hoskins, who is master of the packet, who carried it to Southampton.
Cross Examination.
Q. What time of day was the bag brought to you?
Todd. A little before three: I sent it out immediately. It is usual for the packet-man to stand at the office-door till it is done.
Q. You opened the Newport bag?
Todd. Yes, I took all the letters out, and put my own with them.
Q. Those that are for your neighbourhood you don't put in again?
Todd. They have nothing to do with the London bag.
James Hoskins. I am master of the packet. On the 21st of October I received a packet, sealed, from Mrs. Todd, which I was to convey to Southampton. I delivered it to my servant, Tho. Biles, when I got on shore, to deliver it to the post-house at Southampton.
Thomas Biles. I sailed with James Hoskins; he is master of the packet. On the 21st of October he delivered me the bag of letters: I delivered it at the post-office, either to Mrs. Kello or the maid, I am not sure which.
Elizabeth Lukeman. I live at Mr. Hugh Kello's, who keeps the post office at Southampton. I received the Isle of Wight bag of letters on the 21st of October, and carried it into the office; it was sealed in the usual manner.
Q. How come you to be to particular as to the day?
Lukeman. About a week or ten days after, a letter came from the general post-office, that they had not received the Isle of Wight hag; that brought it fresh into my memory. I opened the bag, and took the letters out that were for Southampton, and then put the bag in the usual place, which is a sort of a cupboard.
Cross Examination.
Q. Was the cupboard locked?
Lukeman. No; the bag was there from seven to twelve.
Q. And the letters were all loose?
Lukeman. No, the lower past is sealed; the bag has two ties; the bye letters are put at the top.
Council for the Crown. Did you see it next day?
Lukeman. Yes.
Q. Was it sealed then?
Lukeman. Yes.
Hugh Kello. I am post-master at Southampton. I saw the Isle of Wight bag on the 21st of October in the evening; and I saw it the next morning.
Q. Was it sealed when you saw it in the evening on the morning?
Kello. I cannot say I observed that particular. I sent it the next day at twelve o'clock to Winchester by Leonard Bowles.
Cross Examination.
Q. What sort of a seal is it sealed with?
Kello. The seal is about the size of a sixpence; it has Cowes on it.
Leonard Bowles. I live with Mr. Kello at Southampton. I received on the 22d of October a bag of letters as usual. I delivered it at Winchester as I received it, to Richard Helps, at the post-office at Winchester. The bags are put into a portmanteau.
Q. How many bags are sent from Southampton to Winchester?
Bowles. Eight on a Sunday.
Q. to Lukeman. How many went on the 22d?
Lukeman. Eight.
Richard Helps. I am clerk to Mr. Green, who keeps the post-office at Winchester. I received the bag of Leonard Bowles on the 22d of October. The bags were all sealed.
Q. How many bags did you receive?
Helps. I did not count them. I sent away all that I received by Thomas Marsley. the post-boy, to Altham.
Cross Examination.
Q. What time did you receive them?
Helps. About two o'clock; they were kept in the office till I sent them off. which was in about a quarter of an hour.
Thomas Marsley. On the 22d of October I received the mail of Mr. Helps, and carried it to Alton, where I delivered it to Mr. Carton, at the post-office.
Matthew Easton. I received the mail on the 22d of October, about six in the evening, from Winchester. There were nine with the Altham bag.
Q. How many bags did you dispatch from Altham to Harford-Bridge?
Easton. The whole complement is fifteen when we send the mail off for London.
Q. Did you send fifteen bags?
Easton. I am not certain.
Q. But did you send all the bags you received from Winchester?
Easton. Yes, I delivered them to John Trimmer, my rider.
John Trimmer. I am post-boy from Altham to Harford-Bridge.
Q. Did you carry the bags on the 22d of October last?
Trimmer. Yes; there were fifteen bags.
Q. How long had you been post-boy?
Trimmer. That was my first time. I delivered them at the post-house to the ostler.
Noah Britewell. I live at the post-office at Harford-Bridge. I received the Altham mail on the 22d of October from this man. I took out eight bags, and forwarded the rest, in the usual manner, to Staines, I delivered them to James Whalley. they came in about half after ten: they went to Staines that night.
Q. What are you?
Britewell. I have been ostler there fifteen years.
James Whalley. I am post-boy at Harford-Bridge. I received the mail on the 22d of October of Britewell. I delivered it safe at Staines to Mr. Jackson. We carry it there in a close cart, which is lock'd.
Thomas Jackson. I am post-master at Staines. I received the mail of James Whalley on the 23d of October, in the morning, about three o'clock. It was taken out of that cart, and conveyed in my cart to Hounslow by Thomas Martin.
Q. Was your cart locked?
Jackson. No, it is an open cart.
Q. You delivered it to him as you received it, and took no bags out?
Jackson. Yes.
Q. Is not there a bag from Harford-Bridge to Staines?
Jackson. There is seldom more than two or three letters, which come loose.
Thomas Martin. I received the mail from Mr. Jackson at Staines, in the usual manner, on the 23d of October, about three o'clock in the morning. I put it into the open cart, and drove it to Hounslow.
Q Do you know the prisoner?
Martin. Yes, I saw him on the 23d of October, in the morning, just at the outer gate of the inn.
Q. How was he dressed?
Martin. In a rug blue coat.
Q. Short or long?
Martin. It came below his knees.
Q. Had you ever seen him before?
Martin. Yes, I had brought him from Staines to Hounslow six times.
Q. Did you at that time know him to be the same man that had been with you before?
Martin. Yes; he came up to me; he asked me to let him go in the cart to Hounslow. I took him in. As he was going over Hounslow-Heath, he said he was mortal sleepy. He had sat by the side of me till then. Then he laid down a-top of the Altham mail; I had more mails in my cart. He lay there till I came to Hounslow; then he gave me a shilling, and said it would be the last time he should come, for they were cold nights. He went away, and I saw him no more. I delivered the mail to John Broadwood.
Q. Did you examine it at Hounslow?
Martin. No.
Q. What time did you arrive at Hounslow?
Martin. About half after four o'clock.
Cross Examination.
Q. You say the prisoner has gone with you several times; did you know him very well?
Martin. Yes.
Q. Have you always said so?
Martin. Yes.
Q. Did you never, upon being taken to some particular place to see whether you knew the prisoner, pitch upon some other person?
Martin. No.
Q. What place did you see the prisoner at?
Martin. Newgate: As soon as I went up, I saw him, and pitched upon him.
Q. Did not you take a person whose name is William Greenville Hoare for the person?
Martin. No, I did not.
Q. Did you hear the prisoner's name mentioned in Newgate before you pointed him out?
Martin. No.
Q. Who was along with you?
Martin. My master, Mr. Lander, and Mr. Commings.
Q. Did any body before that call the prisoner by his name?
Martin. No.
Q. Did Mr. Commings speak to the prisoner as he came in?
Martin. Yes.
Q. Did he call him by his name?
Martin. I cannot tell.
Q. Had not you heard talk it was one Davis that had done this?
Martin. Yes.
Q. Was not you taken out presently after you went into the room?
Martin. Yes, but I had fixed upon the prisoner before I went out of the room?
Q. How long had you been in the room before you fixed upon this gentleman?
Martin. I pointed to him directly as I went into the room.
Q. You said nothing to him, did you?
Martin. No; they talked to him for ten minutes.
Q. What did you say to the gentleman when they took you out?
Martin. I said that was the same man.
Q. Did you go into the room any more?
Martin. No.
Council for the Crown. Before you went there, did you receive any directions to say nothing in the room?
Martin. Yes; but I whispered to this gentleman, Mr. Commings, while I was in the room, that he was the same man.
John Brotherhood. I am post-boy at Hounslow.
Q. How old are you?
Brotherhood. I was fourteen last May.
Q. Do you remember the last witness coming to Hounslow with the mail-cart?
Brotherhood. Yes.
Q. Was any body along with him?
Brotherhood. Yes, that gentleman, the prisoner; it was between five and six o'clock, I believe. I took it out of the open cart, and put it into an enclosed cart. The prisoner came with me as far as Knightsbridge, and there I left him. I came on to the general post-office in Lombard-street; I got there between seven and eight o'clock, and delivered the mail in the same manner as I received it.
Cross Examination.
Q. Who did you live with at Hounslow?
Brotherhood. Mr. Brooks, at the King's Head.
Q. You was a-bed when the mail came in, I believe?
Brotherhood. Yes; the mail was in the cart when I came down, and it was shifted into the enclosed cart.
Q. Did you see the prisoner when you came down?
Brotherhood. Yes; he stood in the yard when I came down.
Q. What day in the week was it?
Brotherhood. It was Wednesday morning the 23rd of October, I think.
Q. How do you know that?
Brotherhood. By the way Bills.
Q. How long was you before you set off?
Brotherhood. I set off as soon as I had harnessed: the horses and shifted the mail.
Q. Did you ever see the prisoner before?
Brotherhood. No, but I am sure he is the same man.
Q. Did you ever before see him come in the cart from Staines to Hounslow?
Brotherhood. No.
Council for the Crown. Do you usually drive the mail?
Brotherhood. Not constantly; I go with the expresses.
William Skuse. I am an assistant for the west road at the post-office in London. My business is at night to forward the mail out, and receive them in the morning. I received the mail from Hounslow on the 23d of October.
Q. What time did you receive it?
Skuse. About eight o'clock in the morning, The Isle of Wight bag was missing.
Cross Examination.
Q. Did the bags immediately come to you?
Skuse. I stood by and saw them opened; it had not been opened before I saw it.
Mr. John Brown. Mr. White is one of my riders; he was about this time in the Isle of Wight.
Q. Did you receive any letters from him enclosed the 23d of October?
Brown. No.
Q. Nor any bank bill, or bill of exchange enclosed in a letter, dated the 21st of October?
Brown. I did not.
Cross Examination.
Q. Where do you live?
Brown. In Corbet court, Gracechurch-street.
Q. Do you send to the post-office for your letters, or have them delivered at your house?
Brown. They are delivered at my house.
Q. But if such a letter did come, you might not receive it yourself?
Brown. I should by my clerks.
Q. to Mr. Isaac Jemmet. Did you receive a letter, dated the 21st of October, containing a bill of exchange from John Clerk and Son, in the Isle of Wight?
Jemmet. No.
Q. Where do you live?
Jemmet. In Queen-street, in the Park, Southwark.
Q. to Mr. Tesdale Webb. Did you receive a letter from the Isle of Wight on the 23d of October, including a bill of exchange for 30 l. from Mr. Brown?
Webb. I did not.
Cross Examination.
Q. You have some clerk, I suppose, that receives your letters?
Webb. I receive them myself if I am in the counting-house.
Q. to Mr. Henry Pidgeon. Did you receive a letter from the 26th to the 31st of October, inclosing a bill of 30 l. from Mr. Shepherd, at Newport in the Isle of Wight?
Pidgeon. I did not.
Q. Do you know by whom drawn, to whom payable, or what endorses were upon it?
Hodgson. No.
Q. Shall you know it if you see it again?
Hodgson. Yes.
(The draft of 10 l. 11 s. shewn the witness.)
Hodgson. This is the bill.
Q. Were there three names on the back of it at the time you carried it to be accepted, or no?
Hodgson. I think there were.
Lewis Higden. I am a cutler in Leadenhall-street, The prisoner came to my shop on the 2d of November, and bought a couple of lancets of me. I knew him when he was apprentice in the Minories to one Mr. Williams. I knew his person, but did not know his name, I had not seen him so many years. He asked me to get him a porter to take a draft to Wapping. I sent for a porter, and saw the prisoner give a bill to the porter.
Q. Did you see him write any thing?
Higden. No. This was in the morning. He desired the porter, when he sent him, to leave the cash with me. They would not pay the bill, because it was not due, but accepted it; in the porter brought the bill back, and gave it me, and said they had told him to go on Wednesday for the money. The prisoner called again in the afternoon, and desired me to keep it till Wednesday, and then send the same porter for the money. He called on Wednesday morning. I was out; I left it with my wife, who gave it him. He called on Tuesday night, when I was out, and desired to have the bill again.
(The bill of 10 l. 11 s. shewn the witness.)
Higden. This is the bill.
Mary Higden. The prisoner came on the Tuesday night before the bill was due, and asked if my husband was at home; I told him he was out; the prisoner said he called for the note he had left with my husband, for the gentleman it belonged to was come to town himself, and he would return it him; and he might take it himself; I told him if he called the next morning he should have it; my husband left it with me the next morning; I gave it to the prisoner, and he look it away with him.
John Pomeroy. I am a ticket porter. I was sent by the prisoner to receive money on account of a draft at King Edward Stairs; he gave me a direction on a separate paper; I went there this gentleman was in the shop; he said it was not due till Wednesday: I brought the bill back and gave it to Mrs. Higden.
John Spear. I live with Messrs. Eade and Wilton, at King Edward Stairs, Wapping. The last witness brought this bill to me for payment on the 2d of November; it has my acceptance on it, and he brought me this paper with the bill, which seems to me to be in the same hand writing as the last endorser.
The paper read.
Messrs. Eades and Wilton,
Gentlemen,
Please to pay the bearer the enclosed draft for your humble servant
Edward Ellis.
- Spear. I gave the bill back to the porter, and told him it was not due till Wednesday following.
Q. to Mr. Higden. Was that paper wrote at that time, or did he write it?
Higden. He took it out of his pocket ready wrote.
Q. Did you hear him say whose name was upon the back of the bill?
Higden. He said the note was indorsed.
Q. to John Spear. Were those three names on the back of the bill when you accepted it?
Spear. I can't say, I am sure they were at the time it was brought for payment; I did not observe when I accepted it.
John Andrews. I live at Maiden-head; am post-master there; the prisoner came to my house on Saturday the 26th of October, he came in my fly.
Q. Do you know what name he took his place in?
Andrews. Yes.
Council for the prisoner. Was you by when he took the place?
Andrews. No, I was not.
Council for the Crown. Do you know what name he passed by?
Andrews. By the name of Jarvis.
Q. How do you know that?
Andrews. He left his name as a direction; he desired of me that if any letters were left in the name of Jarvis that I would take care of them till he called for them; he laid at my house that night; he wrote some letters in the morning, I don't know to whom; I put them in the post myself; he borrowed a seal of me after he had wrote the letters.
Q. Did you see him seal the letters with your seal?
Andrews. No, I did not; he went away from my house the next morning on foot, and when my coachman came down from London he told me, that Mr. Jarvis desired me to send by him any letters that might he left at my house for him; I gave him the letters directed for Mr. Jarvis.
Q. Did you send any other by your coachman?
John Rymell. I am a coachman to Mr. Andrews at Maidenhead. I carried the prisoner down to Maidenhead on Saturday; I don't know the day of the month; he was booked in the name of Jarvis; I saw him again at the Whitehorse-cellar two or three days after; he bid me ask my master if there were any letters for him, and if there were to bring them to him at the Whitehorse, cellar. I received two letters from my master directed to Mr. Jarvis; I gave them to the prisoner at the Whitehorse-cellar. He told me he expected some more in two or three days; I had two more afterwards. Mr. Jarvis met me at the Whitehorse-cellar again, and took them from me. I always stay at the Old Whitehorse-cellar till the coach come back; the man that drives the coach from town to the Whitehorse-cellar, brought me two notes from Mr. Jarvis.
Q. What is that man's name?
Rymell. He is called John; I don't know his sirname; he is here. I saw the prisoner after that at the King's-head in the Old Change on my Lord Mayur's-day. I went there to take him; as soon as he saw me he asked me for letters.
Q. Had he appointed to meet you there?
Rymell. No; but to meet the man that brought the note. I said I had no letters, but I must have him for the present.
John Otter. I live at Mr. Whites. I drive the Maidenhead-fly from the White-horse-cellar to the King's-head in the Old Change. The prisoner came to the King's-head two different times with two written messages for me to deliver to Rymell the coachman.
(Rymell produces two papers.)
Otter. These are the papers; I delivered them to the coachman.
Q. Did you see him write them?
Otter. No.
(They are read.)
To the coachman that belongs to the Maidenhead fly.
"The coachman that belongs to the Maidenhead-fly is desired to enquire at the post-house at Maidenhead, for any letters directed to Mr. Richard Jarvis; the same gentleman be brought same letters for about a week ago; if the gentleman should not be there on Friday or Saturday to receive them, from him; he may leave them with the landlord at the Whitehorse-cellar."
The second.
To the coachman that drives the Maidenhead-fly.
"Pray deliver any letters to the bearer directed to Mr. Richard Jarvis; he will pay you for your trouble. I am so hurried in business I have not time to come to the Whitehorse-cellar."
Cross Examination.
Q. Did you deliver these papers to the coachman?
Otter. Yes; I have not seen them from that time to this.
Mr. Abel Gray. I live at the Royal Exchange. I am in partnership with Hazard and Co. lottery-office keepers. I received this letter (producing it) by the general-post, it was dated the 25th of October; it contained two bills of exchange. (These are them.) One of the bills of exchange was due when it came to my hands; I sent that for payment, and the other for acceptance; they are both drawn upon one house, Messrs. Samuel Burchen, Graff Huber, and Company; they were both drawn by the same persons, one was for 22 l. the other 18 l. that for 22 l. was paid, the other accepted at the same time; the last endorser upon each of them was Richard Jarvis. I sent two lottery tickets and a 10 l. bank-note at his desire, directed to Richard Jarvis, to be left till called for, at Mr. Andrew's at the post-house at Maidenhead.
Q. Is there a seal on that letter?
Gray. Yes; the two tickets and the bank note came to 37 l. 2 s. so I had 2 l. 18 s. in my hands.
Q. to Andrews. Is that seal the same as your seal?
Andrews. Yes, it is the same impression as the seal I lent the prisoner, the impression tallies exactly with my seal.
The letter read.
To Messrs. Hazard and Co. at their state lottery-office, Royal-exchange, London.
Messrs, Hazard and Co.
By return of post shall be obliged to you to send me two lottery tickets, any number above a thousand enclosed. I have sent two bills on Graff and Company, Scots-yard, Cannon-street, with the tickets, you will please to enclose a 10 l. bank note and the overplus I shall settle with you when I come to town.
I am, gentlemen, your humble servant, Richard Jarvis.
Direct for Mr. Richard Jarvis, to be left till called for at Mr. Andrew's at the post-house at Maidenhead.
Q. Did any body call upon you to settle the balance?
Andrews. No.
Q. to William Clarke. Was the indorsement of Jarvis on the bill at the time you sent it?
Clarke. It was not on either of the bills.
Mr. William Golightly. On the 27th of October I received this letter, dated from Maidenhead, dated 25th of October, (producing it) subscribed Richard Jarvis; there was a bill of 30 l. enclosed in it, drawn on Mr. George Macrolay, by William Sharpe and Son. I sent it for acceptance, and after acceptance I returned an answer to Mr. Jarvis at Maidenhead, that it was not usual to send away tickets till the bills we received were paid. I wrote so because I had some suspicion that it was not fairly come by. The night before the bill was due I heard it had been stolen out of the mail. The bill was due on the 7th of November. (The bill of 30 l. drawn on Mr. Macaulay, shewn the witness.)
Golightly. This is the bill.
The letter to Messrs. Barns and Golightly read.
- Brown. This is the bill I sent from the Isle of Wight. The name Richard Jarvis was not endorsed upon it at that time.
James Stracey. I received this letter ( producing it) by the post from Maidenhead, I believe on the 27th of October, it was dated the 25th; it contained this bill of 30 l. drawn on George Macaulay; it required me to send a lottery ticket by the return of the post to Mr. Richard Jarvis at Maidenhead.
The letter directed to Messrs Hill, White, and Stracey read.
Note. This and the letter to Mr. Golightly were the same as that to Messrs. Hazard and Co.
- Stracey. I sent a ticket, No. 37,712, and a bankers note for 10 l. payable to Richard Jarvis on order.
Q. Do you know any thing of that note being brought to your bankers for payment?
Tracey. It was brought to me by the banker's clerk; it was not endorsed, and I think I saw the prisoner at Nicholas-lane coffee-house; the banker sent it to me on account of its being tendered for payment without an endorsement, and coming so quick for it, came immediately as the post could return.
Q. Did you converse with the person that you saw at the coffee-house?
Tracey. The banker's clerk had told him that the note could not be paid for want of an endorsement. I apologized to him for it; he said he had received it of Mr. Jarvis at Maidenhead.
Q. Did that person tell you what his name was?
Tracey. I can't tell, I think he wrote on the back of the note John Pugh at Chelmsford, Essex.
Q. But you are not sure that was the prisoner?
Tracey. He was dressed different; I do believe it was him; I did not take particular notice of him, for I had no suspicion of him.
Q. Did any body come to account with you for the overplus?
Tracey. No; there did not.
- Shephard. The name Richard Jarvis was not endorsed upon this when I sent it by the post.
Mr. John Commings. I am in the secretary's office at the post-office. I was present when the prisoner was taken. I went to search his lodgings at Mr. Hudson's in Bush-lane. I found there that bill of exchange for 10 l. 11 s. on Eade and Wilton, and this lottery ticket, number 37,712.
Mr. Stracey. This is the ticket I sent by the post, directed to Mr. Richard Jarvis at Maidenhead. I wrote this endorsement upon it. Sent by post to Mr. Richard Jarvis at Maidenhead.
Prisoner's Defence.
I would very gladly say a great deal in my defence, but my illness renders me entirely incapable; therefore I must submit the circumstances of my defence to my council.
The judge said, that as the prisoner was ill he would permit his council to state his defence to the jury. Upon which the council for the prisoner pointed out errors in several of the counts in the indictment; and the court allowed that those errors would be fatal to those counts, but as the evidence proves five of the counts in which no flaw could be found, the objections could not avail the prisoner.
For the Prisoner's Character.
Mr. Hugh Stevensen. I am a surgeon at Egham in Surry. The prisoner was a journeyman to me from the year 1760 to 1766: he has an exceeding good character: he is a sober, honest, diligent man: I would trust him with any thing.
Mr. Robert Packer. I live at Egham; I am an attorney. I have known the prisoner eight years; he is a surgeon and apothecary; he was a journeyman to Mr. Stevenson: he has an universal good character, and was universally caressed in the neighbourhood.
Capt. Richard Packer. I have known him eight years; he has a most unblemished character; he is an honest, good kind of a man.
Mr. Francis Bartholomew. I have known him six or seven years; he has the best of characters, and is well respected by every body that knows him.
Rev. Mr. William Jones. I knew him for about two years when he lived at Egham; his general character was a man of the strickest honour and integrity.
Dr. Benjamin Pugh. I am a physician; I live at Chelmsford: I have known him about twelve years; he has an universal good character from every body: he was fix'd as an apothecary at Hatfield Broad-oaks about three years ago; I attended many of his patients; he had an universal good character; every body spoke well of him; and he understood his business perfectly well.
Mr. Morris Pugh. I am a surgeon and apothecary at Chelmsford: I have known him about twelve years; he has an universal good character.
Mr. Griffinough. I am a surgeon and apothecary at Chelmsford: I have known him twelve years; he lived with me two years before he went to Mr. Stevenson; he is an honest, sober, well-behaved man, greatly respected by every body: I never heard any body speak the least disrespectful of him.
Richard Butler. I am a painter at Egham: I have known him seven years; he had an extraordinary good character; he was respected by every body, both rich and poor; no man could have a better character.
Mr. Philip Stone. I have known him nine or ten years; he has a very worthy character, and was respected by every body that knew him.
Q. to Dr. Pugh. Has he any family?
Pugh. He has a wife and two children.
Q. Where has he lived since he left Mr. Stevenson?
Pugh. He has lived at Hathfield Broad-oaks.
Q. Where has he been this last two years?
Pugh. That I can't say.
Mr. John Stone. I live at Egham: I have known him eight or ten years: I never knew him otherwise than an honest, whereby, well-disposed man; he was respected by every body in the neighbourhood, and was always considered as a gentleman.
- Williams. I am a farmer, and live at Egham: I have known him nine or ten years; he has a very good general character, and was universally respected.
George Scott. I am a shoe-maker, and live in Great Tower-street. I have known him three years.
Q. Have you known him down to the present time?
Scott. No; I became acquainted with him in 1768, when he first went to Broad oaks; his character was as good a one as possible. I have not known him since he came to London.
Benjamin Hawkins. I live on Dowgate-hill: I have known him twelve years, but more particularly within these last two years: he was with me about six weeks when he came out of the country: he went to Mr. Hudson's on the 4th of May last: I have been acquainted with him ever since he left my house; he has an universal good character: I never heard any person open his mouth against him, but always in praise of his generosity and civility to every one: he bears the character universally of an honest, good man.
Mr. William Hudson. I live in Bush-lane; I am in the wine trade. I have known Mr. Davis about a year; he lodged with me between six and seven months; he is in the strictest sense of the word a gentleman; I never saw any other by him in my life.
Mr. William Stone. I live in Cheapside. I have known Mr. Davis a twelvemonth. My office is very near Mr. Hudson's house. I have often seen Mr. Davis. Some time since the family were in the country; I then went very often to Mr. Hudson's. I know Mr. Davis was employed in several cases of surgery. I never heard any body speak disrespectfully of him. He is more beloved by the neighbourhood than any unconnected man I ever knew.
Guilty. DEATH.