The next Sharper upon _public_ record worthy notice was Jones, a footman, who had contrived to attract the favours of the lady of Esquire Dormer, of Rousam, Oxfordshire, a gentleman worth 3500_l. per annum_; which being discovered by the injured husband, an action was commenced for Crim. Con. against the party-coloured enamorato, and pursued to conviction; but, just as sir Thomas Cross, the foreman of the Jury, was about to pronounce the tremendous sound of 5000_l._ damages, or, in other words, imprisonment for life, master Jones rushed through the Hall, flew to a boat, was rowed across the Thames, and took sanctuary in the Mint, before the Lord Chief Justice's Tip-staff could prevent him. An escape accomplished by a still greater villain in 1716, was far more extraordinary: a highwayman, named Goodman, had been apprehended with great exertion and difficulty, and brought to trial at the Old Bailey, where the Jury pronounced him guilty; but, at the instant their verdict was given, he sprang over the enclosure, and eluded every endeavour to arrest his progress. Such was the daring folly of this man, that he frequently appeared in public, and presuming on his supposed security, actually went to Mackerel's Quaker Coffee-house in Bartlett's-buildings, for the purpose of procuring the arrest of a Carrier, to whom he had intrusted 16_l._ to be conveyed to his wife in the country, and who, supposing Goodman would be hanged, had converted it to his own use: there he met an Attorney by appointment, and stationed four desperadoes at the door armed with pistols, in order to repel any attempt at seizing him. The Attorney, aware of his precaution, listened to the case of the Carrier, and studiously avoided betraying him; but the instant Goodman departed, he declared who his client was, upon which several persons watched the wretch to his place of concealment, where they attacked him, and he them, with the utmost resolution; after a severe conflict, in which the assailants were compelled to bruise him dreadfully, he was secured; but, throwing himself down in the streets, they were at last compelled to bind and carry him in a cart to prison: he was hanged not long after[104:A]. The Mistress of Child's Coffee-house was defrauded of a considerable sum, in September 1716, by an artful stratagem. She received a note by the Penny-post, which appeared to come from Dr. Mead, who frequented her house; saying, that a parcel would be sent there for him from Bristol, containing choice drugs, and begging her to pay the sum of 6_l._ 11_s._ to the bearer of it. The reader will probably anticipate the _denouement_; the bundle was brought, the money paid; the Doctor declared his ignorance of the transaction, the parcel was opened, and the contents found to be ---- rags[104:A].