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Thomas Gostley, cast for personating David Ramsey, a proprietor of 2300. in the three per cent. bank annuities, and thereby endeavouring to receive the interest due thereon.

This unfortunate man was convicted upon the most clear and positive evidence.

He had lit. le. to fay in his defence. and the Jury were under the necessity of finding him guilty, without having it in their power so recommend him to mercy, forgers being feldom pardoned.

He was born of reputable parents, who gave him a good education, but being of easy and extrovertigant turn, he launched those experiences which brought him to a timely end.

The night before he suffered, he lent the following letter to a young Lady whom he courted, at the time he was appointed:

"Dear Sirs,"
"Accept from a dying man, the last

tribute of prump and love. St. will this hand, which now writes to you, be cold, the heart, which so tenderly loves you, cease to beat. Yet, we may meet again; meet in those realms of blight, where all is happy and peace. Tea is will never flow, for there is perpetual joy doth ever flow. Live, my dear, and be prosperous; then die, and be forever happy. Adieu, for ever! time a determination preys close upon me, and I have but needs would employ an age, and but one short moment to peruse it in.

"T. GOSTLEY."

The behaviour of these unhappy eriminas was, upon the whole, penitent, and becoming men in their wretched circumstances.

They all expressed a wish, that those who beheld their punishment, would avoid committing the like crimes, which always end in a violent, and truly shamefual death.

The night before they suffered, the St. Pulchre's bellman came in to the prens yard, at nine o'clock, and after giving his bell, pronounced the admonition verses, reminding them of their dreadful situation, and exhorting them to watch and pray, that they might obtain forgiveness of their sins.

The fatal day being come, on which they were to undergo their dreadful sentences, at five o'clock the doors of their cells were unlocked, and they soon after went up to the chapel, where they joined in prayers and supplications to the divine Majesty, and received the sacrament. They were then communed to their fate, and came down into the prens yard, where their irons being knocked off they were brought out of Newgate, tied to the fatal beam, and after praying with the clergyman in a devout and penitent manner, the caps were put on over their eyes, and they were turned off.

Having hung an hour, their bodies were cut down, and delivered for interment.

The spectators, who attended this melancholy fight, seemed much to pity them.

THELAST

Dying Speech and Confection,
Birth, Parentage, and Behaviour,

Of the Unfortunate
MALEFACTORS,
Executed this Day before the Debtors Door, Newgate.

NEW SERIES, NO. 7.

T A J E H T

The Last Dying Speech, &c.

ON FRIDAY the Recorder made his
report to the King and Privy Coan-
cil, of the convicts under sentence of
death in Newgate, when the following
were ordered for execution, viz.

William Randall, and James Leman
Baker, who were tried and cast for felo-
niously entering the dwelling house of
Thomas Gibbons, and stealing property
to the value of one hundred pounds, and
awards.

Mr. Gibbons defied, that on last
Easter Sunday, about ten at night, he
heard a noife at the door, and supposing
occafioned by some custokers, opened
immediately four men rushed in,
with their faces difguifed, and threatened
blow his brains out, if he made the
ift noife; they then tied him, took out
his pockets one guinea and a half, and
his filver shoes buckles.

The prefecutor's house was called the
Folly, situated near Blackwall.

They rifled it of every thing valuable,
to take nine gowns, a mourning ring, feme
filk handkerchiefs, a silver watch, and
several guineas out of a bureau.

After flaying in the house for several
hours, eating and drinking, they went
off.

This evidence was supported by Ca-
therine Gibbons, fitter to the prefecutor,
and Ann Neale.

Several articles belonging to the profe-
cu or, were found in the poſſeffion of
the prifoners.

They were both found Guilty; are
old offenders, lately confined on board
the ballast lighters.

These unfortunate criminals were both
young men, ruined by gaming, idleness,
and the company of bad women.

Whilft they lay under ſentence of
death, they were admonifhed to prepare
for that puniſhment, which the nature of
the offence they had committed ſo juſtly
demanded.

Notwithstanding this, they filtered
themselves with the hopes of a ſpite,
and therefore, when the dead warrant
arrived, appeared greatly shocked

In earnſt they then prepared for death,
and spent the short time they had live
in supplications to the Almighty.

They acknowledged their ſelve guilty
of the crime for which they were gang-
e', and alio of being concerned a per-
petrating many others; but hope to be
forgiven, thro' the intercession of their
Redeemer.

William Cropper, alias Cooper, for
breaking and entering the dwelling house
of John Bateman, and stealing a large
quantity of filver and gold plate.

The prefecutor kept a very large fil-
ver Smith's shop, near Red-lion-Street,
Whitechapel; the prifoner, and others,
broke into the shop, and ftripped it of
every thing valuable.

The thieves got in, by breaking open
an adjoining cellar, which is at the back
of the house, and from thence forced
their way into Mr. Bateman's cellar, and,
going up the stairs, got into the shop, which
they ftripped.

Part of the property was found in the
poſſeffion of Cropper, who is an old ſo-
fender, and has been tried ſeveral times.

Articles, to a great amount, were never
recovered by the prefecutor, who is a
confiderable loſer by their villainous tranſ-
actions.

This criminal is upwards of forty years
of age, and has been long known to b-
b the abettor and accomplice with a nume-
rous gang of plunderers.

Whilft he lay under ſentence of death,
he behaved in a decent manner, but was
much shocked at his approaching diffu-
lution.

George Smith, alias Swallow, was caſt
for forging a power of attorney, with
intent to receive the wages due to Edward
Clark, a mariner.

This prifecutor was convicted principal-
ly upon the evidence of an accomplice,
who, on account of a quarrel, impeach-
ed him.

This criminal was concerned in a ſen-
faring life, and being acquainted with-
mariners, knew that Clark, who was
then abroad, had wages to receive; he
therefore forged a letter of attorney, em-
powering himſelf to take the fame.

This iniquitous ſcheme had been at-
tended with ſuccesſs, if the parties con-
cerned could have agreed amongst them-
ſelves.

But they fell out, and one of them
betraying his companion, brought him to
the gallows.

A proof, that friendship without ho-
neſt can never exift long, and that he
who thinks otherwife, will in the end ſi-
himſelf woefully miftaken.

The wretched criminal, who thus fell
a victim to his fraudulent intentions and
folly, was a frequenter of St. Catharine's
and well known to the infamous women
who infest that quarter, seeking a likel
and marks, to devour the hard earned
wages, and spread contagion through the
bodies of the unwary ſeaman, who hav-
ing escaped the dangers of storms and
thp wreck, fall a prey to vice and artful
infamy.

From the time of his conviction, he
entertained but little hopes of getting his
ſentence mitigated, but yet was greatly
shocked, when the hour of his diffuſion
a preached.

The juſtcaſts of his ſentence he did not
deny, but seemed to think it hard, that
there who were equally concerned in the
guilt should escape puniſhment, and be
slane ſuffer.