Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

THE

NEWGATE CALENDAR;

COMPRISING

INTERESTING MEMOIRS

OF

THE MOST NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS

WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF OUTRAGES ON

The Laws of England

SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY;

WITH

OCCASIONAL ANECDOTES AND OBSERVATIONS,

SPEECHES, CONFESSIONS, AND LAST EXCLAMATIONS OF SUFFERERS.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small]

J. ROBINS AND CO. IVY LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1825.

[blocks in formation]

NEWGATE CALENDAR,

AND

Criminal Recorder.

[graphic]

Simms and other young Thieves regaling at a Brick-Kiln near Tottenham Court Road.

HENRY SIMMS,

EXECUTED FOR HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

HENRY SIMMS was born in the grandmother taking him with her parish of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, on a visit to a tradesman's house, London, and, losing his father while he stole twenty shillings from the very young, his grandmother, who till in the shop; which being obwas a Dissenter, sent him first to a served by the maid-servant, she inschool kept by a clergyman of her formed her master; and, the money, own persuasion; but, as he fre- being found on the youth, he was quently ran away, she placed him severely punished. at an academy in St. James's parish, where he became a proficient in writing and arithmetic, and was likewise a tolerable Latin and French scholar.

Before the boy had completed his tenth year he gave a specimen of his dishonest disposition. His

VOL. II.

He now began to lie from home on nights, and associated with the vilest of company in the purlieus of St. Giles's. His companions ad. vising him to rob his grandmother, he stole seventeen pounds from her, and, taking his best apparel, repaired to St. Giles's, where his new

34

acquaintance made him drunk, put him to bed, and then robbed him of his money and clothes.

On his waking he covered him self with some rags he found in the room, and, after strolling through the streets in search of the villains, went into an alehouse, the landlord of which, hearing his tale, interceded with his grandmother to take him again under her protection. To this, after some hesitation, she consented; and, buying a chain with a padlock, she had him fastened during the day-time to the kitchen grate, and at night he slept with a man, who was directed to take care that he did not escape.

After a month of confinement he had his liberty granted him, and new clothes purchased, with which he immediately went among some young thieves who were tossing up for money in St. Giles's. On the approach of night they took him to a brick-kiln near Tottenham Court Road, where they broiled some steaks, and supped in con- cert; and were soon joined by some women, who brought some geneva, with which the whole company regaled themselves.

Simms, falling asleep, was again robbed of his clothes, the brick makers, when they came to work in the morning, finding him in his shirt only; and, while they were conducting him towards town, he was met by his grandmother's servant, who was in search of him, and conveyed him to her house.

Notwithstanding his former behaviour, the old lady received him kindly, and placed him with a breeches-maker, who having corrected him for his ill behaviour, he ran away, and, taking his best clothes from his grandmother's house in her absence, sold them to a Jew, and spent the money in extravagance.

[ocr errors]

The old gentlewoman now went to live at the house of Lady Stanhope, whither the graceless boy followed her, and, being refused admittance, he broke several of the windows. This in some measure compelled his grandmother to admit him; but that very night he robbed the house of as many things as produced him nine pounds, which he carried to a barn in Marylebone Fields, and spent it among his dissolute companions.

For this offence he was apprehended, and, after some hesitation, confessed where he had sold the effects; from which time his grandmother gave him up as incorrigible; and, being soon afterwards apprehended as a pickpocket, he was discharged for want of evidence.

Simms now associated with the worst of company: but, after a narrow escape on a charge of being concerned in sending a threatening letter to extort money, and two of his companions being transported for other offences, he seemed deterred from continuing his evil courses; and thereupon wrote to his grandmother, entreating her further protection.

Still anxious to save him from destruction, she prevailed upon a friend to take him into his house, where for some time he behaved regularly; but, getting among his old associates, they robbed a gen tleman of his watch and money, and threw him into a ditch in Marylebone Fields; when some persons accidentally coming up prevented his destruction.

Two more of Simms's companions being now transported, he hired himself to an innkeeper as driver of a postchaise; and after that lived as postilion to a noble man, but was soon discharged on account of his irregular conduct.

Having received some wages, he

went again among the thieves, who dignified him with the title of Gentleman Harry, on account of his presumed skill, and the gentility of his appearance.

Simms now became intimately ac quainted with a woman who lived with one of his accomplices, in revenge for which the fellow procured both him and the woman to be taken into custody on a charge of felony, and they were committed to Newgate; but, the Court paying no regard to the credibility of the witnesses, the prisoners were acquitted.

Soon after his discharge Simms robbed a gentleman of his watch and seventeen pounds on Blackheath; and likewise robbed a lady of a considerable sum near the same spot. Being followed to Lewisham, he was obliged to quit his horse, when he presented two pistols to his pursuers; by which he intimidated them so as to effect his escape, though with the loss of his horse.

Repairing to London, he bought another horse, and travelling into Northamptonshire, and putting up at an inn at Towcester, learnt that a military gentleman had hired a chaise for London; on which he followed the chaise the next morning, and kept up with it for several miles. At length the gentleman, observing him, said, 'Don't ride so hard, sir-you'll soon ride away your whole estate;' to which Simms replied Indeed I shall not, for it lies in several counties ; and, instantly quitting his horse, he robbed the gentleman of one hundred and two guineas.

He now hastened to London, and, having dissipated his ill acquir. ed money at a gaming-table, he rode out towards Hounslow, and, meeting the postilion who had driven the above-mentioned gentleman in Northamptonshire, he gave him five

shillings, begging he would not take notice of having seen him.

A reward being at length offered for apprehending Simms, he entered. on board a privateer; but, being soon weary of a seafaring life, he deserted, and enlisted for a soldier. While in this station he knocked out the eye of a woman at a house. of ill fame, for which he was apprehended, and lodged in New Prison.

Soon after this Justice De Veil admitted him an evidence against some felons, his accomplices, who were transported, and Simms regained his liberty.

Being afterwards apprehended for robbing a baker's shop, he was! convicted, and, being sentenced to be transported, was accordingly shipped on board one of the transport-vessels, which sailing round to. the Isle of Wight, he formed a plan for seizing the captain, and effecting an escape: but, as a strict watch was kept on him, it was not possible for him to carry this plan into execution.

[ocr errors]

The ship arriving at Maryland,! Simms was sold for twelve guineas, but he found an early opportunity of deserting from the purchaser. Having learnt that his master's horse was left tied to a gate at some distance from the dwelling-house, he privately decamped in the night, and rode thirty miles in four hours. through extremely bad roads, so powerfully was he impelled by his fears.

He now found himself by the sea. side, and, turning the horse loose, hailed a vessel just under sail, from which a boat was sent to bring him on board. As hands were very scarce, the captain offered him six guineas, which were readily accepted, to work his passage to England.

There being at this time a war between England and France, the ship was taken by a French priva

« ZurückWeiter »