THE LAWYERS DOOM.
Being an Account of the Birth, Parentage, Education, Life and Conversation of Mr. Edward Jefferies, who was Executed at Tyburn on Friday the 21st of December 1705, for the Murther of Mr. Robert Woodcock the Lawyer. With an Account of his being Clerk to a Lawyer in Clifford's Inn; the many Pranks he has play'd after he came out of his time; his Marriage; and spending an Estate of One Hundred a year, on Leud Women; with the manner of Murthering Mr. Woodcock; his being Apprehended, Committed to Newgate; his Tryal, Examination, Condemnation, with a true Copy of his Reprieve, and last Dying Speech and Confession at the Place of Execution.
London: Printed for W. Patem by Fleet Street
THE WHOLE
Life and Adventures
OF
Miss Davis
COMMONLY CALLED
THE BEAUTY IN DISGUISE
With a full, true and particular Account of her robbing Mr. W. of Gosfield in Essex of Eleven Hundred Pounds in Cash and Bank Notes for which she now lays to take her Trial at Chelmsford Assizes.
Printed in the Year 1785.
The Chap-book version and the Annual Register agree as to Frances Davis's story, but, as the latter is more concise and truthful, it is here given:
"Sep. 3, 1785. An extraordinary robbery was committed last Saturday morning at Mrs. Bennet's the sign of the Three Rabbits on the Rumford Road. Mr. W—— of Gosfield in Essex, who is agent for the Scots and Lincolnshire salesmen, came to the above house on the evening before, in order to proceed to Smithfield market, with upwards of eleven hundred pounds, in drafts and bank notes, besides a purse containing 162 guineas and a half in his pocket. He went to bed early that night, and placed the above property in his breeches beneath his head. A youth, genteelly dressed, lay in the same room, and found means to convey the notes and money from under Mr. W——'s pillow, and departed with the whole, before break of day.—At seven o'clock, Mr. W—— discovered the theft; and sent immediately to all the different public offices in London. After a long search, a woman was taken into custody yesterday morning, at an obscure lodging in the Mint, Southwark, who, upon examination, was discovered to be the identical person who had taken up her quarters at Mrs. Bennet's on Friday night. Eight Hundred pounds in Notes and Cash were found concealed in her cloaths. She was soon after carried to the public office in Bow Street, where the Notes were sworn to by Mr. W—— and her person ascertained by the chambermaid of the inn. Her boy's apparel was also produced. She denied any knowledge of the transaction with great composure, and was committed to Tothill fields Bridewell. It appeared in course of the evidence, that on her coming to town she had changed some of the notes at different shops, and had on Saturday last visited a female convict in Newgate, to whom she had made a present of a pair of silver buckles and other trifling articles. The name of the above offender is Davis; she is extremely handsome, and not more than eighteen years of age. It is said she is connected with a numerous gang, and has long been employed in robberies similar to the above."
Neither the Chap-book nor the Annual Register give her ultimate fate, but there can be little doubt that it was that so vividly portrayed in the frontispiece. A portrait is given as hers. It may be: but the practice of using any blocks that came handy renders it doubtful; besides, the costume is too early for the period.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF
CHRISTIAN BOWMAN, ALIAS
MURPHY;
Who was burnt at a Stake, in the Old Bailey, on Wednesday the 18th of March 1789 for High Treason, in feloniously and traitorously counterfeiting the Silver Coin of the Realm.
Containing her Birth and Parentage, youthful Adventures, Love Amours, fatal Marriage, unhappy Connections, and untimely Death.
