The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-02-19 00:00:00

LAIIIIFTII•1
DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERIES.

Yi sterday John Kehhel, John Bailey, Bob Ligh, Harry
rah., MU Horn, Bob inane! Walker, and John
Greta, a gang of uuturioux characti es, who Miller mid
Dalton, lbw officers, represented to the Mugistratea as tieing
a species of thirsts, kimau by the appellation of Drags
and Smash', wire brought up to undergo au examination,
dialled by Mr. and Mrs. Webb, of Coleman-street, iii the
city, artificial flower manufaclurers, with feloniously st.ip-
ping theta on the King's highway, putting them in bodily
fear, and forcibly taking limn the person of Mr. IVehlt his
gold watch, chain, and seals, under the following circum-
stances:—

Mr. Webb stated to the Msgisbate, that on Sunday night
last, he anal Mrs. Webb had spent the day at a friend's house
in Whitechapel, and on their return home, as they were ap-
proaching Archer.street, IVleitechapel, they WI re surrounded
by a gang of villains, who pushed them about, and the Pri-
soner Bailey made a snatch at his watch•chain, wills intent
to steal his watch, but the chain broke, and he took Ihr chain
:mil *eats along wish him. Mr. Webb instantly pursued the
Prisoner, leaving his wife to the merry of the either Irri•
millers. Ile cried Stop thief!" and would have appre-
hended him, but fur the viulent screams of Miss Webb, who,
he thought, was being ill used by them; in toissequence of
which he hastened to bee assistmd e, wad on his approach
they mask a speedy retreat. Mr. Wt bh had a great deal 4.f
property about his person, which, uu dunM, would lisee
been taken, but for a i esulute resi►tance ma Ilia pail. Mr.
and Mrs. Webb identified the prisemera Keblial, hauls y, and
Green, as being part of the Rang; but could nut take upon
themselves to identify the others.

This week a istoisber ut ll.e tat•la, nn the Friars,
in this tat), were covered aids 'owlet, chocolate,
sod white woollen durop, sod bore the amoraratice
of the old wauul'aeturiugtitues, %lacli we flosee.rly
hope sre gradually gettilig ground,--( E.xtier
I' irr.)

. ".1

31 EL! NCMObY OCCVRRENCE.

A very melancholy event took place on Friday afternnoa
last, in the work-rooms of Mr. R. Morris, painter, of eln a-
tm The greatest part of the men employed by Mr. M. had
assembled, we in one room, for the purpose of
celebratiiix the enfranchisement from a stale of apprentice-
ship of one of site young men. Aft(' they bad been regaling
iltenteelves unie lime, two of them (of the names of Vilul
and Uslierwinid) engaged in a variety of antics, is the c.,urse
of which they overturned a bucket of water, sad a large tin
can, which was filled with spirit of turpentine, in whirls
they rolled earls other. Ude,' then, without the slightest
of injuring his friend and fellow-workman, applied
a piece of lighte.l paper to Usherwooses pantaloons. The
effect of Ibis act was awful in the extreme; iu au instant
the young man was enveloped in s body of fire. His com-
panions immediately resorted to a variety of expedients to
extinguish the El suite, but without effect. His wearing sp-
par. I, is. a few minutes, with the exception of tine garter,
and a pail of one of his stockings, was burnt to ashes. His
body was dreadfully scorched, suit present. d, we are told, a
frightful spectacle. He was carried to the I afirinary a short
time after the Into' (vent took place, a here lie lingered ist
the most exerts.: al ing agony until about six o'clock on Sa-
turday evening, when death relieved hint from all his suf-
ferings.
An Inquest was held ou the body on Sunday last. cidiet
--Accidental death.

DEEADPUL ACCIDENT.

On Friday afternoon last, as the Victory post-conch was
proceeding f (Meatus. towards Manchester, it was over-
turned, while rowing over a small bridge, about a mile he-
y I Tarvin. The :accident was occasioned by the fore
*bed of the coach coining in contact with a large stuue,
which had been placed at the side of the bridle to prevent
carriages, le. making tuo mdata,i approach to it. Consider-
able injury was sustained bp_thc major part of the passen-
ger', oi conaeqoeitev of this asidurtunate concurreure. The
coachman, Mr C. Taylor, tou of Mr. Taylor, coach-maker,
of Chester, and a y g lady, had each a leg broken. The
leg and back of ass elderly lady (aunt of tie• last-named in.
divilltial), were broken, and the arm of another female pas.
senger was dreadfully fractured by one of the wheels of a
waggon (which happened to be proceeding across the bridge
at the time the accident took place) passing over it. Three
other passengers weir also most severely injured. The whole
of them were almost immediately carried, by several humane
individuals, into TAINID, where surgical assistance was in-
stantly procured. The aged lady hes, we regret to hear, in
a very dsugetuus slate. lien fellow-passengers are in a fair
way of recovt ry.