The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-02-17
The Mysterious Highwayman.

THE following strange narrative ap--
peared in volume called the Theory of
Presumptive Proof" published some sixty
years since, and now not often met with
A gentleman travelling to Hull was
stopped late in the evening, about seven
miles short of that town, by single high
wayman, with mask on, who robbed him
of purse containing twenty guineas.
The highwayman rode off by different
road, full speed, and the gentleman pur-
sued his journey. 1t, however, growing
late, and he being already much frightened
and agitated at what had passed, rode only
two miles further, and stopped at the
Bell, roadside inn, lept by James Bru-
nell. 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 a 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 land
lords of hoping the supper and everything
was I'd HIS llklnS. eIC-, OH, says ut,
| understand that you have been robbed not
far hence this evening" al have, sir"
| "And that your money was marked ?"
at was" "a circumstance has arisen which
leads me to think that can point out the
robber." Indeed!" "Pray, sir, what time
| in the evening was it ?" at was Just set
ting in to be dark" "The time confirms
suspicious" Mr.. Brunell 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 be-
| fore dark that day he had sent him out to
change guinea for him, and that he had
only come back since he, the gentleman,
was in the house, saying he could not get
change and that Jennings being in liquor,
he had sent him to bed, resolving to dis
| charge him in the morning. That at the
time he returned him the guinea, he, Mr..
| Brunell, did not think it was the same
which he had given him to get silver for,
having perceived mark upon this which
he was very clear was not upon the other /;
but that, nevertheless, he should have
thought no more of the matter, as Jcn-
nings had so frequently gold of his own
in his pocket, had he not afterwards heard
| for he was not present when the gentleman
was in his kitchen relating 1.-THE partic-
ulars 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 ;
/ hrIt tho NIrCn m : q G. rlrrl him,
strongly that he could not, as an honest
man, refrain from giving this informa
ton.
Mr.. Brunell was thanked for his atten-
ton and public spirit There was the
strongest reason for suspecting Jennings
and If, on searching him, any of the mark
ed guineas should be found, as the gentle
man could swear to them, there would then
remain no doubt. 1t was now agreed to go
softly up to his room; Jennings was fast
asleep; his pockets were searched, and
from one of them was drawn forth purse
containing exactly nineteen guineas. Sus-
piciOn now became demonstration, for the
gentleman declared them to be identically
those Of which he had been robbed. AS
sistance was called, Jennings was awaken
ed, dragged out of bed, and charged with
the 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 neighborine
Justice of the Peace. The gentleman and
Mr.. Brunell deposed to the facts on oath
and Jennings, having no proofs, nothing
but mere assertions OfinnOcence to Oppose
them, which obtained no credit, was com
mitted to take his trial at the next asszes
So strong were the circumstances known
to be against him, thatseveral of his friends
advised him to plead guilty on his trial
and to throw himself on the mercy of tn,
D Court. This advice he rejected, and whel
/ arraigned pleaded not guilty The pros
ecutor swore to his being robbed but that
s it being nearly dark, the highwayman in
mask, and himself greatly terrified, h
could not swear to the prisoners person
though he thought him of much the sam
G stature as the man who robbed him. II
the purse and guincas which were pro
o duced in Court, he SwOre-as to the purs
y positively, and as to the marked guineas
: to the best of his belief, and that the
I, were found in the prisoners pocket.
- The prisoners master, Mr.. Brunell, de
p posed to the fact as to sending the prison
er to change a guinea, and of his havin
e brought him back a marked one in tn
s room of the one he had given him un
h marked. He also gave evidence as to tn
finding of the purse, and the ninetec
II marked gulneas In the prisoners pOcke
II And what cOnsummated the proof, tn
e man to whom Mr.. Brunell paid the guine
produced the same, and gave testimony
n his having taken it that night in pay
O mcnt from the prisoners master. Nj
r Brunell gave evidence to his having +,
O ceived of the prisoner that guinea, whic
he afterwards paid to this last witnes.
n And the prosecutor, comparing it wit
10 the other nineteen found in the pocket {
/ the prisoner, swore to its being, to tn
best of his belief, one of the twent
guineas of which he had been robbed b
the highwayman.
= The Judge, on summing up the CIV
!. dence, remarked to the jury ON all tt
concurring circumstances against the pri
Il oner and the jury, on this strong ci
cumstantial evidence, without going o,
T OF the court, brought in the prisoner gui
= ty. Jennings was executed some lit
l. time after, at Hull, repeatedly 6eclarir
y his innocence to the very moment of b
Q. ing turned off. This happened in Il
year 1742.
W Within a twelvemonth after, 10, Br
4, nell, jennings master, was himself tax,
- up for a robbery done on guest in
!" own house; and the fact being proven {
> his trial, he. was convicted, and ordert
for execution. The approach of dca
d brought on repentance, and repentan
~ confession. Brunell not only acknow
4 edged the committing of many highws
u robberies for some years past, but Il
IL very one for. which poor Jennings h,
suffered.
- The account he gave, was that he a
\ rived at home by nearer way and swift
+ riding, some time before the gentlems
;. got in who had been robbed That
e' found man waiting to whom he owed
little bill, and that not having Qui
r. enough loose money in his pocket, he toe
- out of the purse one guinea, from Il
&c twenty he had lust got possession of