The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-10-11 00:00:00

ESCAPE OF ROBERT ROBERTS.

The following deposition has been esadf by Jetfoil
Taylor', a prim:mei' in the Roan of Correctio6 ivf'
Cold.bath.fields, relating to the eitape Ro
from that pnsoti.
The Deponent states, that be was a svreeitbe in ,1
that part of the prison where Roberts 'was
fined, and that it was his duty to clean Reberts's cell, .!
When Roberts was last examined at Maribo:
tough-street Police-Oilier, he said he would be i
fortnight before he was examined again, and after
interrogating Taylor, and eiii,itting hint by a bribe
to secrecy, boasted if there was no way by which
be could escape' Taylor inforno,tl hint, that it de.
pended in - a great *aleatoric upott what friends IM •
had without the walla of the prisuit. Roberts said
he had plenty a !death!, Atut-they were tit no use
unless he had one in the primer that he coed depend
upon: • Roberts suggsted, that if he could:get' the
key of the gates, he could make in impreesiusii and
get one made ; and Taylor, kettetiosehlunitig
kvya to let out prisoners oceasioifdry, :agreed to
furnish him with the key of the Otto,.
The gates ilitottgk which "R:ohertr'passvil arc,
lucked also with a, padldelti, w irellvta the othrr
lock. On the Seedily week preduhr tu the escape
of aoherte, Taylor got the key of the pees.,
which iiiconveysd to Roberts, who made. an.'
preesien with it on oftoap about. twoiiitiles
taick, ia Taylor's preeence, hy.strikingit with a
boot-jack. Taylot paecure.d. a padlock from an
empty cell (all being made to epee with one key),
snit this padlock be gave hi: Roberta, who putt it
into apareel and gave it to hitn, te•be conveyed. by
a friend (envier's (a servant- in the pritton)• ewe'
friend of Roberti's. This,wris done; and on the
following Friday, Roberts informed Taylor that
he had got the things in a pareel,and he unlit:nutted
his waistcoat and-produced them, w rapped' in seve.-
- ral sheet* of paper, and itwconteuts were two keys,
a hook seven or eight inches hang, and a. small' Ilk.
TaylOr asised. Roberts how he got, the things in, as
it was a rule never to leavethe prisoner alone, and
he info coed him that *friend had brought it him.
This friend wave. maw now in custody.
Roberts, accompanied by. Taylor, Foetid a eon..
vetiiisne opportunity to try the keys, and' tliey were
folioed to minnow'. every purpose. Roberts immedi-
ately wrote a letter to a friend*, whose name it
would. not be proper at present' to mention, and.,
whilst Taylor was gone to find his trusty, friunul,.'
the servant of the prison, he saw the letter in the
hand of another person who was with Roberts,
whose name also it is better at present to omit, and
who answered for the regular delivery of it, as Ro.:
berts afterwards told Taylor. Taylor taw the let.,
ter, and it informed the person who received it, that
the keys fitted, and that he, Roberts, should try
to escape on Monday night. This letter-went safe,
as was proved by the receipt of another' on hien.
day night, which was brought to Roberts bye per.
sun whom it is before stated holds a situation of
trust in the prise% whilst he was driuking wine
with Taylor.
Roberts was particular in. consultior Taylor,
whether there was a probability or the seat halving
ban brokru ; for if so, he was a dead mast. The
seal was closely enassieed,• end Roberts was antis..
fied. Witness saw, the hitter, which bittron- Mao
Bob, and cootitieett that fifty men wouilthoe their
lives rattier than Roberts should be hue!: rho
letter also stated, that a rope was ready, an& ad-
vised him not to leave the keys behind: It- euttele.
dad, that people would be in wafting toi receive
Roberts from twelve o'clock MI four. • : •
After this, Taylor enquired' oP Smith, who
coped with Roberts, it has was hr be tette
and gain his liberty 3 • and afterheviog received every'
asseraii cc to that I.•lfect, he informed' him that the
neat cull to Mm was empty, and' the two keys;
were tied behind a piece of wool! in *certain part;
of the cell. Taylor instrectetf Smith hew to get
to RAvrb, atter he had brieltvOintotheeetpty
and assured him that Roberta would; reword hint
after he had (pitted the prison, but he nitist take
off his shoes in going down the ;passage. Re.
hero; • gave Taylor a 11. note mu Monday. night,
when he told him that Smith was to go with him,
and he was to receive tot. mole of Itoberts's Mend
(a man now in custody), os be, 'fayler, had re-
fused to take it, for pod tautens, until Roherteget.l
clear off. Roberts was prevideil by Taylor with-a•
4,a.ir of list shoes for the esmipe, which took place;
at twelve o'clock.
This deposition contains so many inconsistencies
and improbabilities, that we feel very meehinerreed
to !relieve that it is brought forward.f or some parti.
cular purpose.

Letters from the French coallt state; that
sargiies of Americal.p. !octave, which had been con.
kscated, were terms' to Aatwarp, and sold the
15th ult. by ordet'Of IION.APARTe.
The 93d Light Dragious, who distiagnished them-
selves so much in the battle of Talavera, being
again complete in men and hawses, are under ordure
to embark imusediakly fur Portugal.
Thursday, the Gmeral Quarter Sessions of tlici
Peace far the city of Chichester %vas Mit in 'ate
Guildhall, before Mr. Recuedet fottatt,. the
Mayer, and Justices, when, ter the fidniimir of the
city, it proved a Maiden ono, as thenktielie trial
wbateier. The Itscoanea was pleased-10 pen
high encomium on the Local Militia for their good
behaviour.

On Monday tnoroing, about half past eleven
o'clock, ono of tire mizen.top men of the freegeer,
lying off Chatham Dock-yard, unfortunately fell
overboard, and was never seen to rise again.
The amateurs of the old Corniab art of wrestling
were highly entertained last week at Tregony. The
chief chanapious of the day attended, alit produced
gond sport. The first 'prize was woo by Stephen
Symoos, of Rodruth ; the second by Francis Jolly,
ISt. Enoder; and the third by Richard Edirards,
of Cr wonitsp.
Watering Places, in consequence of the fine wee.
ther, continue crowded; but in the midst of recre.
ation considerate peuvle still think of the "'Min
ikancel and the Bankers iu those regions of fashion
hare their time fully occupied in filliug up drafts
pith the name of CARTER, NO. 8, Chariug.cross,
for the purchase of Lottery Tickcts tor title Cus-
tomers.