Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-10
Tragic Fate of a Hishwayman.


One of Sir Martin Shee's early stters was
Mr.. Addington, chief police magistrate of
London-an incident connected with the exc
cution of whose portrait we shall quote as
rather startling. The magistrate was sitting
TO the artist, when the latter's servant an
nounced the name of a visitor wishing to see
the former. The magistrate, evidently some
what excited by the announcement, asked
leave of Mr.. Shee to have the visitor ushered
into the painting-room, observing that it was
one ofhis officers who came to him by appoint
ment and who had q communication to make
to him, which need not interrupt the sitting.
The request being Of course granted, the func-
tionary in question was at once admitted, and,
anticipating the magistrates eager inquiry,
exclaimed, in tone Of great exultation, and
rubbing his hands, 81 have done it, sir; shot
him shot him dead at four o'clock this morn
ingp An announcement which was received
by his chief with an exclamation of delight
and every appearance of the most lively salts
| faction. After this little outburst of official
hilarity. Mr.. Addington, turning to Mr.. Sbee,
| who had witnessed the scene with some
amazement, informed him that the individ-
nal who had been so summarily disposed of
| by the triumphant police constable, was Ger
| tain notorious highwayman, whose depreda-
tions the magistrate had set his heart on effect
ually stopping, and whom he had recently
taken measures to secure, dead or alive, He
| then proceeded to inquire from his Jealous
emissary the details Of the highly successful
| operation in which he had been engaged 1t
appeared that the unfortunate knight of the
| road had been for several months past infest-
ing the localities of Wimbledon Common and
| Hounslow Heath, and levying abundant con-
tributions upon sundry OF His Maiestys lieges,
who were adventurous enough to indulge in
the dangerous practices of travelling post
| after nightfall. For long time the police
authorities had been on his track, but he sue
ceeded in eluding their vigilance. AT length
it was resolved to resort to strategem for the
purpose of securing him; and with the sane
fion of his chief the intelligent official had
on the previous night, accompanied by an.
other Bow-street officer of approved skill and
nerve like himself armed to the teeth
driven out in q post-chaise and four TO the
scene of the bighwayman's most frequent
exploits. After traversing in all directions
the district which seemed most likely to at
tract his watchlul attention, they were al
50 fortunate as to fall in with him, while pro
ceeding at a rapid pace across Wimbledon
Common. Deceived by the style of th'
equipage, which he, no doubt, supposed to b.
conveying some traveller of importance, sup
piled with filed purse, he boldly rode up L
the carriage, as it approached, and called T.
| the postillious to stop. As previously in
structed, they promptly obeyed the per
, emptory order, and the robber presenting
himself, pistol in hand, at the carriage win
dow, encountered the muzzle of anothe
, pistol pointed at his breast, and the mex
instant fell dead from his horse."-MemoiT
of Sir M A. Shee.