Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-03-18

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was made, and uniuckily, before he
heard of it from the people in the kitchen
he had paid away the guinea to man
who lived at some distance, and who had
now gone home. 1.-THE circumstance,
however," said the landlord in couclu-
sion, "struck me SO very strongly that
could not refrain, as an honest man
from coming and giving you information
of it,"
MIR. Brunnell was duly thanked for his
candid disclosure. There appeared from
/: the strongest reason for suspecting
Jennings; and If, on searching him, any
other of the marked guineas should he
found. md the gentleman could identity
them, there then would remain no doubt
in the matter. 1t was now agreed to 60
up 10 his room. Jennings was fast asleep:
his pockets were searched, and from
one of them was drawn forth purse
containing exactly nineteen guineas.-
Suspicion now became certainty; for the
gentleman declared the purse and gui>
meas 10 be identically those of which he
had been robbed. Assistance was called:
Jennings was awakened, dragged out OF
bed and charged with the robbery. He
denied it firmly; but circumstances
were too strong to gain him belief. He
was secured that night and mex, day la
ken before a justice of the peace. The
gentleman and Mr.. Brunncll dePoscd 10
tho facts upon oath; and Jennings ha-
wing no proofs, nothing but mere asscr-
lions of innocence, which could not be
credited. was committed 10 take his"trial
at the next nsslZes.
So strong seemed the case against him.
lha. most Of the mans friends advised
him to plead guilty, and throw himself
on the mercy Of the court. This advice
he rejected, and when arraigned' plead
not guilty. The prosecutor swore to
the fac, of the robbery; though, rs Ii
took place in the dusk, End the high
wayman was in mask, he could not
swear TO the person Of the prisoner,
bu, thought him Of the same stature
nearly rs the man who robbed him
70 the purse and guincas, which they
produced in court, he sworc-as to the
purse, positively, and as 10 the marked
guiueas, 10 the best of his belief; and he
testified 10 their having been taken from
the pocket of the prisoner.
The prisoners master, Mr.. Brunrc!i,
depused as TO the sending OF Jennings
for the change of guinea, and to the
waters having brought back to him
mark I'd one, in the room Of one he had
given unmarked. Ho also gave evil
d.nce as to tie discovery OF the purse
and the gunicas on the prisoner. 10
consummale the proof, the man 10 whom
Mr.. Brunn,il had paid the guinea, as
mentioned, came forward and produced
the coin, tesliiying al The same limo 'hnt
he had received il on the evening OF the
robbery from the prisoners master IN
payment OF debt; and the traveller, or
prosecutor, on comparing 1t with the
other nineteen, swore TO lis being, to the
hes; o(his belief, one uf The twenty mars
k,d guncas taken from him by The high
wa, man, aud of which the o;ner nin!ccn
were found on Jennings.
The judge summed up tho evidence,
pointing out all the concurrng circum-
stances against the prisoner; and the
Jury, convinced by this strong accumu>
luton Of circumstan!inl evidence. without
going out of court, brought in a verdict
of guilty, jennings was executed some
little time afterwards al Hull. repeiediy
declaring his innocence up till the very
moment of his execution.
Within a twelvcmonth afcTwarde'
B-unnell the master c: Jennings, was
himself taken up for robbery commits
ted on i guest in his house, and the fact
being proved on trial, he was convicted,
and ordered for execution, The ap-
proach of death brought on repentance
and confession. Brunell not only owned
he had been guilty Of many highway
robberies, but owned himself to have
committed the very one for which poor
Jennings suffered.
The account which Brunncll gave was,
that after robbing the traveller, he had
got home before him by swif,er riding
and by a nearer way. That he found a
man a, home waiting for him. 10 whom
he owed little bill, and to whom, not
having enough of other money in his peck
ct, he gave away one Of the twenty gui.
meas which he had just obtained By the
robbery. Presently came in the robbed
gentleman, who whilst Brunell, no, know
ing of his arrival, was in the stable, tod
his tale, as before related, in the kitchen