Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-21
The Mysterious Highwayman.'
"Presumptiye Evidence


The following strange narrative ap
peared in volume called the Theory
of Presumptive Proof" published some
sixty years since, and now not often me
with.
A gentleman travelling to Hull was
stopped late in the evening, about sever
miles short of that town, by a single high
wayman, with a mask on, who robbed
him of a purse containing twenty
guineas. The highwayman rode off by q
different road full speed, and the gentle
man pursued his journey. 1t, however
growing late, and he being already toe
much frightened and agitated at what
had passed, rode two miles further, and
stopped at the Bell, roadside inn, kept
by James Brunell He went into the
kitchen to give directions for his supper,
when he related to several persons
present his having been robbed, to which
he added this peculiar circumstance, that
when he travelled he always gave his
gold particular mark; that every guinea
in the purse he was robbed of was SO
specially marked, and that probably the
robber, by that means, would be detected.
Supper being ready, he retired He had
not long finished his repast when Mr..
Brunell came into the parlor. After the
usual inquiries of landlords of hoping
the supper and everything was to his
liking, etc., Sir" says he, - under
stand that you have been robbed not far
hence this evening. 'N A itAF
Kla / have, sir.s q And thatyour money
| l. 4 Ia A
stance has arisen which leads me to think
that / can point out the robber." In
deedp Pray sir, what time in the
evening was itg 1t was just setting in
to be dark" A"The time confirms my
suspicious Mr.. Burnell then informed
the gentleman that he had waiter, one
John Jennings, who had of late been so
very full of money he had had many
words with him about it, and had deter
mined to part with him on account of his
conduct being so suspicious; that long
before dark that day he had sent him out
to change a guinea for him, and that he
had only come back since he, the gentle
man, was in the house, saying he could
not get change; and that Jennings being
in liquor, he had sent him to bed, resolv-
ing to discharge him in the morning.
That at the time he returned him the
guinea, he, Mr.. Brunell, did not think it
was the same one which he had given
him to get silver for, having perceived
mark upon one which he was very clear
was not upon the other; but that, never
theless, he should have thought no more
of the matter, as Jennings had so fire.
quently gold of his own in his pocket,
had he not afterward heard-for he was
not present when the gentleman was in
the kitchen relating 1.-THE particulars
of the robbery, and that the guineas
which the highwayman had taken were
all marked; that, however, few minutes
previously to his having heard this, he
had unluckily paid away the guinea
which Jennings returned him to the man
who lived some distance off and was
gone; but the circumstance struck him
so very strongly that he could not, as an
honest man, refrain from giving this in
formation. q, ertstisgsr
Mr. Brunell was thanked for his at
tentions and public spirit There was
the strongest reason for suspecting Jen-
nings, and if, on reaching him, any of
the marked guineas should be found, as
the gentleman could swear to them, there
would then remain no doubt 1t was now
agreed to go softly up to his room; Jen-
ming was fast asleep his pockets were
searched, and from one of them was
drawn forth a purse containing exactly
nineteen guineas. Suspicion now be-
came demonstration, for the gentleman
declared them to be identically those of
which he had been robbed. Assistance
was called, Jennings was awakened,
dragged out of bed, and charged with
robbery. He denied it firmly, but cir
cumstances were too strong to gain him
belief. He was secured that night, and
the next day carried before a neighbor
ing Justice of the Peace. The gentle
man and Mr.. Burnell deposed to the
facts on oath; and Jennings, having no
proof, nothing but mere assertions of
innocence to oppose them, which OBJ
tanned no credit, was committed to take
his trial at the next assizes.
The prisoners master, Mr.. Brunell,
deposed to the fact as TO sending the
prisoner to change guinea, and of his |
having brought him back a marked one
in the room Of the one he had given him
unmarked He also gave evidence as to
the finding of the purse, and the nine
teen marked guineas in the prisoners |
pocket. And what consummated the !
proof, the man to whom Mr. Brunell |
paid the guinea produced the same, and
gave testimony 10 his having taken II
that night in payment from the prisoners /
master Mr. Brunell gave evidence 10
his having received Of the prisoner that
guinea, which he afterward paid to this /
last witness. And the prosecutor, com
pairing it with the other nineteen found I
in the pocket Of the prisoner, swOre to /
its being, to the best Of his belief, one Of
the twenty guineas Of which he had been !
robbed by the highwaymen.
The Judge. on summing up the evi-
dence, remarked to the jury on all the {
circumstances against the
prisoner; and the jury, on this stre.ss I
evidence, without going /
ont Of the court, brought in the prisoner
cui,gy. Jenrirgs w4s executed some I
little time after az Hull. repeatedly de-
.1--..r h. Innocence 10 i Ia vary fststfftauf \