Lives and exploits of the most noted highwaymen, robbers and murderers of all nations: Drawn from the most authentic sources and brought down to the present timeWhitehead, Charles
History
Lives and exploits of the most noted highwaymen, robbers and murderers of all nations: Drawn from the most authentic sources and brought down to the present time
Whitehead, Charles
Brigands and robbers -- Great Britain; Criminals -- Great Britain; Murderers -- Great Britain
There were a few passengers in the wagon, who were greatly affrighted.
He, however, consoled them, assuring them that he would not injure
them, saying, “This which I have taken is as much mine as theirs who
own it, being all extorted from the public by the rapacious members of
our commonwealth, to enrich themselves, maintain their janizaries, and
keep honest people in subjection, the most effectual way to do which is
to keep them very poor.”
When not employed as a chimney-sweep, which profession he still
occasionally pursued, he dressed in high style, and is said to have
received more money by robbery than any man in that age. One day,
being informed that the receiver-general was to send up to London six
thousand pounds, he entered his house the night before, and rendered
that trouble unnecessary. Upon the noise which this notorious robbery
occasioned, Mulled Sack was apprehended; but through cunning, baffling
the evidence, or corrupting the jury, he was acquitted.
In a little time after, he robbed and murdered a gentleman, and, for
fear of detection, went to the continent, and was introduced into the
court of Charles the Second. Upon pretence of giving information, he
came home, and applied to Cromwell, confessed his crime, but proposed
to purchase his life by important information. But whether he failed in
his promise, or whether Cromwell thought that such a notorious offender
was unworthy to live, cannot be ascertained; one thing is certain, that
he was tried and executed in the forty-fifth year of his age, in the
month of April 1659.
CAPTAIN JAMES HIND.
The father of Hind was an industrious saddler, a cheerful companion,
and a good Christian. He was a native of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire,
where James was born. As our hero was his only son, he received a good
education, and remained at school until he was fifteen years of age.
He was then sent as an apprentice to a butcher in that place, and
continued in that employment during two years. Upon leaving his
master’s service, he applied to his mother for money to bear his
expenses to London, complaining bitterly of the rough and quarrelsome
temper of his master. The complying mother yielded, and, giving him
three pounds, she, with a sorrowful heart, took farewell of her beloved
son.
Arrived in the capital, he soon contracted a relish for the
pleasures of the town. His bottle and a female companion became his
principal delight, and occupied the greater part of his time. He was
unfortunately detected one evening with a woman of the town who had
just robbed a gentleman, and along with her confined until the morning.
He was acquitted because no evidence appeared against him, but his fair
companion was committed to Newgate.
Captain Hind, soon after this accident, became acquainted with one
Allan, a famous highwayman. While partaking of a bottle, their
conversation became mutually so agreeable that they consented to unite
their fortunes.
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