The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1894-09-29 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

GLIMPSES OF THE PAST.  JONES'S COVENTRY, WARWICK AND BIRMINGHAM MAGAZINE. This magazine was started on January 13th, 1764, and was printed and published by Mr. John Jones "at the Stamp Office, near the Cross." The first volume of the periodical whioh has come into our bands contains much to amuse and interest, although the language in some instances may be considered coarse. For the amusement of our readers we call the following extracts. Foot pads seem to have been numerous in 1764,f0r we find in a February number that on February Ist John Boddington, a carpenter, of Pailton, about ten miles from this city, was robbed on Gosfordi green, between six and seven o'clock in the evening, I by a footpad, who knocked him of his horse and took from him about ten shillings in silver, after beating him in a cruel manner. Two days after, Thos. Davis, farmer, Bubbenhall, returning from Coventry market, was robbed of his money by three footpads, near to Baginton, and on the same night Mr. Slaymaker, of Brinklow (spelled Brincklow), was attacked by a horseman and a footpad near Binley ; he refused to give up his money and was beaten by his assailants, but his horse being a fleet one he escaped. About this time a noted fortune teller was committed to prison named Sarah Featherstone, who with Elizabeth Carter and Ann Hall, was concerned in robbing Mr. Rushworth, a publican, of Coventry. Ann Hall, says the chronicler, was a lusty, well-looking girl, a native of Coleshill. On March 10th, 1764, the Lord Chancellor appointed Thomas Cratern, attorney of Coventry, a Master Extraordinary of the High Court of Chancery. On Friday night, February 24th, about six o'clock, a butcher's boy of this city coming from Bubnall, was stopped upon Okey-hill by three footpads, who finding him not a prize to their mind, charmed him, and let him go. The boy gave notice at the Public-house at Baginton of the attack that had been made tipon ; and Mr. Busbye of Bubnall who was then on his return from this market, alarmed at the information prevailed on Mr. Curran of Baginton, and some of Mr. Bromley's servants to accompany him on his way home. On the same spot where the boy had been before attacked Mr. Currall,the foremost of the company was stopt by two of the gang, whilst the other seized the bridle of Mr. Busbyeen horse, and demanded his money. A Reale ensued between Mr. Currall and his assailants, in which he got one of them down and Mr. Bromley's servants coming up, two of the gang were secured, but the r escaped by favour of the night. The two were taken are brothers born at Wappenbury and of late have worked at Warwick, at their occupation of carpenters. He who escaped was a private soldier in Lord Anemia's Dragoons now quartered at Warwick, and had exchanged his regimental coat, for one of the carpenter's, of a light drab colour. The soldier loot his hat and pistol in the scuffle, after having anent the, pistol at Mr. Currall, which luckily misled fire. The brothers were committed to Warwick gaol on Saturday, one of whom appeared in the soldier's coat; but the soldier is not yet taken. Since the commitment a Corporal of Lord Ancrain's supposed to be a confederate has rode off with a horse belonging to Mr. Palmer, at the Wheatsheaf in Warwick where be was quartered; and it is conjectured that these are the vilhisus who have for some time committed so many daring robberies in this neighbourhood. The soldier who was concerned in the attack near Baginton on Friday feenniglit, and then made his escape, limo been since taken in a hayloft, and committed to Warwick gaol. His name is Saltwite, and he has desired to be evidence for the King against the two carpenirro. John and William Chambers, and the corporal who went off and is not yet taken. Within these few days have also been committed to the County gaol, a woman from Birmingham fqr the murder of her bastard child; a sheep-stealer, and a horse-breaker. There is now the fullest gaol at Warwick that has been known for many year'''. There is also the greatest number of prisoners in Coventry gaol ever yet known.  other  that