Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth centuryAshton, John
History
Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth century
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs
But Nemesis was at hand. One of his victims--that Miss Porter, who was
stabbed after the Drawing Room, on the Queen's birthday--was walking
with Mr. John Coleman, in St. James's Park, on Sunday, June 13th, and
the Monster passed her. She at once recognised him, and, her agitation
being remarked by Mr. Coleman, she said, "There is the wretch who
wounded me." Mr. Coleman left her in charge of her friends, and
followed the man, who walked very fast--evidently feeling he had been
noticed, and endeavoured to dodge about from Spring Gardens, to
Admiralty Passage, back again to Spring Gardens, and up Cockspur
Street, to Pall Mall: thence to St. James's Street, and Bolton Street,
where he knocked at the door of a house, and was let in. He stayed
there about five minutes, and then went to Piccadilly, and St. James's
Street, where he knocked at another house, and asked the servant some
question. Leaving there, he went to Bond Street, Mr. Coleman
endeavouring to insult him, by walking before and behind him, and
staring him in the face. He then went to Oxford Street--then called
Oxford Road--and Vere Street, where he knocked at an empty house.
Then Mr. Coleman spoke to him, and asked him what was the use of
knocking so violently at a house palpably empty; and he replied that
he knew the people of the house, named Pearce, and knocked again for
three or four minutes. He then crossed to South Molton Street, knocked
at a house, and was admitted. Mr. Coleman asked the master of the
house, Mr. Smith, for information as to the man, but he refused to
give any, unless some reason was assigned. Mr. Coleman replied that
the other had insulted some ladies under his protection, and that he
demanded satisfaction. The Monster offered to meet him at any
coffee-house, and gave his address as Fifty-two Jermyn Street. Mr.
Coleman then let him go, but upon second thoughts hurried back, and
again met him in St. James's Street; and looking at him, told him he
did not think he was what he described himself, and asked him to come
with him to Mr. Porter's house, which was not far off. He consented,
and on seeing him, two of the Miss Porters immediately fainted, but
upon recovery unhesitatingly declared him to be "the wretch." He
turned to Mr. Coleman and asked: "Do the ladies suspect me to be the
person advertised? Am I suspected?"
He was given into custody, and on the 15th of June, the newspapers
gave full accounts of his capture and examination.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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