Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-03-09
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 9. 1874.

, kitchen told him what the traveller had relat-
ed respecting the robbery, and the circumstan-
css of the guiueas being marked. he Mr.. Bur-
nell had not been present when the relation
was made and, unluckily, before be heard of
1t from the people In the kitchen, he had paid
away the guinea 10 man who lived at some
distancs, and who had now gone home. 'Ths
circumstances, however, said the landlord in
conclusion, struck me so very strongly, that
could not refrain, ASIAN honest man, ION com
ing and giving you information OF it,"
Mr.. Burnell was duly thanked for his dis
closure. There appeared from it the strongest
reason for suspecting Jennings,and lion search
ing him, any others Of the marked guineas
| should be found and the gentleman could iden-
i tify them, there would then remain no do bt
in the matter. 1t was now agreed to go up to
his reom.
Jennings was fast asleep; his pockets were
| searched, and fi0m one of them was drawn
forth purse containing exactly nineteen gum
cas-. Suspicion new became certainty; for
the traveller declared the purse and
guineas To be identicaly those of which he had
been robbed.
Assistance was called; Jennings was awak-
ened dragged out of bed, and charged with the
robbery. He denied it firmly; but the circum-
stances against him were very strong, and he
was not believed. He was secured that night,
/ and the next day was taken before Justice OF
Tue peace. ut StnLietlal anu MT. BiiTnell
depOsed to the facts upon oath; and Jennings,
| having no proofs; nothing but mere assertions
Of innocence, which could not be credited
was committed to take his trial at the next as
sizes.
So strong seemed the case against him that
most of the mans friends advised him to plead
guilty, and throw himself upon the mercy Of the
court. This advice he rejected, aud when ar
ragned, pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor
f.pf
took place III the dusk, and the highwayman
wore a mask, he could not swear to the person
of the prisoner, but thought him of the same
stature nearly as the man who robbed him. To
the purse and guineas, when they were produc-
ed 10 court, he swore, as TO the purse positive
ly, and as to the marked guiAeas, to the best of
his belief; and he testified to their having been
taken from the pocket of the prisoner.
The prisoners master, Mr.. BDrnell, deposed
as to the sending of Jennings for the change of
guinea, and to the waiter's having brought
him back 3 marked one instead of the one lie
had given him unmarked. He gave evidence
az to the discovery of the purse and guineas
on the prisoner. To consummate the proof
the man to whom Mr.. Burnel bad paid the
guinea,as mention, came forward and produced,
the coin, testifying at the same time that he
had received it on the evening of the robbery
from tile prisoner master, in payment Of debt
other nineteen, swore to its being, to the best
of his belief, one Of the twenty marked coins
taken from him by the highwayman, and of
which the other nineteen were found on Jen-
nings.
The Judge summed up the evidence, pointing
out all the concurring circumstances against
the prisoner; and tile jury convinced by this
strong accumulation of testimony, without 60
ing out OF court, brought in verdict Of guilty.
Jennings was executed some time afterwards
at Hull, repeatedly declaring his innocence up
to the moment of his execution.
Within twelve-month afterwards Burnell
the master of Jennings, was himself taken up
for robbery committed on guest in the
house, and the fact being proved on trial, he
was convicted and ordered for execution. The
approach of death brought on repentance and
confession. Burnell not only acknowledged he
had heen guilty nf many highway robberies
but owned that lie had committed the very one
for which Jennings suffered. The account
which he gave was that after robbing the tray-
eler he had reached home before him by swift
er riding, aud by nearer way. That he found
a man at home waiting for him, to whom he
owed a little bill, and to whom, not having
enough of other money in his pocket, he paid
away one of the guiueas which he had inst OBJ
tanned by robbery. Presently came in the rob.
bed gentleman, who, whilst Burnell, not know
ing Of his arrival, was in the stable, told his
tale as before related, In the kitchen. The
gentleman ha6 scarcely left the kitchen before
tion, head of the facts, and of the guneas be-
ing marked. He became dreadfully alarmed
The guinea which he had paid away, he dared
not ask back again; and as the affair of robber-
ry, as well as the circumstance of the marked
guineas, would soon become publicly known,
be saw nothing before Him but detection, dis
grace and death. In this dilemma the thought
aartE Eat l.
Cured to him. The state Of intoxication in
which Jennings was, gave him an opportunity
of concealDg the purse of money in the waiter Is
pocket. The rest the reader knows.
James Harris kept public house within
eighteen miles Of York, having in his service
man named Morgan, who to his other occu-
pations added that of gardener. 1t happened
that one Grey, blacksmith jourLeying ON foot
to Edinburg, supped and slept at this public
house. Next morning Morgan dcposed before
magistrate that his master strangled Grey in
his bed-that he actually saw him commit the
| murder-that he in vain endeavored to pre-
vent It, his master insisting that the man
was in H.. and that he was merely endeavor-
Ing to assist him. Morgan further swore that,
affecting to believe this, he left the room but
after retiring, looked through the keyhole, and
saw the murderer riding the packets of the de-
ceased. Harris, as well he might veheinenily
denied the accusation, and, haplessly 70, him
self, Threatened a prosecution for perjury. AS
! 10 mark of violence was visible on the body,
| Harris was on the point of being discharged
| when the maid servant demanded to be heard
She swore that from wash-house window, as
| she was descending the stairs, she saw her
master take soma gold from his pocket, and
having carefully wrapped 1t up, bury it under a
tree in the garden, the position OF which she
| indicated. Upon this, Harris turned pale, and
the earth uuuer the tree having been seaiehed
by constable, thirty pounds in gold was found
wrapped up in a paper. Harris then admitted
that he had buried the money for security's
sake but answered in so confused and hesitat.
ing E:anner, that he was committed. He
was tried at York for the murder. The man
the maid, the constable, and the magistrate
were all examined, and no suspicion attaching
to their testimony, verdict Of guilty was a.
once pronounced. He died protesting his in
nocence, and ere long his innocence became
manifest to all men. The real facts ara as fol
lows. In quarrel between Harris and BIZ
servant, Morgan received a blow, and vowet
revenge. Soon Afterwards, G,ey's arrival fur
nished the opportunity. The part which tb,
servant maid played In the business is explain
ed by tho fact that she and the gardener wer,
sweethearts. Seeing her master one day ap
parently hiding something under tree, sh,
apprlsed Morgan, VINO, on juggling, lound nv,
gulneas concealed there. On this they agree,
TO purloin the hoard, when it should amour
to sum sufficient to enable them to set up il
business. But Harris's threat of prosecution
for perjury so terrified the girl, that she re
solved to save her lover by the sacrifice botl
OF the money and of her masters life. A sub
sequent quarrel, the not unusual consequence
OF guilt like theirs, betrayed the truth. The
died of Jail fever, on the day previous to tina
appointed for their trial. 1t was afterward
3 ascertained that Grey had two apoplectic fit:
4 and had never been in possession OF i've pound
} at time in his life.