He next undertook a journey into Norfolk to visit his relations, but meeting a coach near that place, in which were three gentlemen and a lady, he rode up to it, and addressed them in his own language. The gentlemen, however, were resolved to stand upon the defensive, and one of them fired a blunderbuss at him, which only grazed his arm, without doing any material injury. This put him into a violent passion, and, after taking a hundred and fifty pounds from the company, he brutally added, that the gentleman who fired at him should not pass unpunished, and instantly shot him through the heart; then, cutting the reins of the horses, he went off in search of new plunder, and declined visiting his relations upon that occasion, lest he should have been detected.
Directing his course to London, he came up with a lady taking a ride for the benefit of the air, attended by a single footman, and fell upon her in a very rude manner, pulling a diamond ring from her finger, a gold watch out of her pocket, and a purse with eighty guineas; insulting her meanwhile with opprobrious language. Though the lady had commanded her footman not to interfere, yet the man could not help complimenting Cady with some well-merited appellations. The ferocious monster, without uttering a word, saluted him with a brace of bullets in the head, and he fell upon the spot. Cady was just about to prosecute his journey, when two gentlemen, perceiving what he had done, rode up to him with pistols in their hands. Cady seeing his danger, fired at them, and shots were exchanged with the greatest rapidity, until Cady’s horse was shot under him; and even then he struggled with the greatest violence with the gentlemen, until his strength was exhausted; he was then apprehended, and carried to Newgate under a strong guard. There he remained until the assizes, without showing the least signs of repentance, or tokens of regret. Upon his trial he behaved with the most daring insolence, calling the judges “a huddle of alms-women,” and treating the jury in the same manner. The crime for which he was accused was so clearly proved, that he was sentenced to death, and committed to the condemned hole. But this place of darkness and horror had no effect upon his mind. He continued to roar, curse, blaspheme, and get drunk, as he had always done. It is probable that the hope of pardon, by the influence of some friends at court, tended to harden him the more; but the number and enormity of his crimes prevented James the Second from extending his royal mercy to such a miscreant. The day of execution being come, and the cart stopping as usual under St. Sepulchre’s wall, while the bellman rang his bell and repeated his exhortations, instead of being moved, he began to swear and to rail because they stopped him to hear an old puppy chatter nonsense. At Tyburn he acted in a similar manner: without either taking any notice of the ordinary, praying by himself, or addressing the people, he rushed into an eternal state to suffer the just punishment of his great and numerous offences. He died in the twenty-fifth year of his age, in the year 1687.
PATRICK O’BRIAN.
Patrick O’Brian was a native of Ireland, and his parents were very indigent. He came over to England, and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards. He was, however, not so dexterous in the use of his arms as he was in the practice of all manner of vice. Patrick was resolved not to want money, if there was any in the country. He first ran into debt at all the public houses and shops that would trust him; then borrowed from every person, as long as any one could be found to believe him.
When fraud failed him, he had recourse to force. Doctor Clewer, rector of Croydon, was the first whom he attacked. This man had been, in his youth, tried at the Old Bailey, and burned in the hand, for stealing a silver cup. Alluding to this, Patrick said, that “he could not refuse lending a little assistance to one of his old profession.” The doctor assured him that “he had not made a word, if he had had any money about him; but he had not so much as a single farthing.” “Then,” said Patrick, “I must have your gown, sir.” “If you can win it,” cried the doctor, “you shall; but let me have the chance of a game of cards.” To this O’Brian consented; and the doctor pulling out a pack of cards, they commenced. Patrick was victorious, and obtained the black gown.
One day, Patrick attacked a famous posture-master, and commanded him to “stand and deliver!” The latter instantly jumped over his head, which led Patrick to suppose that it was the devil come to sport with him before his time. By this display of his agility the harlequin escaped with his money, and had the good fortune never to afford to O’Brian an opportunity to be revenged of him for his fright.
Our adventurer at last commenced highwayman. For this purpose he purchased a horse and other necessaries, and began in due form. He one day met with the celebrated Nell Gwynne in her coach, and addressed her, saying: “Madam, I am a gentleman; I have done a great many signal services to the fair sex, and have, in return, been all my life maintained by them. Now, as I know that you are a charitable woman, I make bold to ask you for a little money, though I never had the honor of serving you in particular. However, if any opportunity shall ever fall in my way, you may depend upon it I will not be ungrateful.” Nell made him a present of ten guineas, and he went off in quest of more plunder.
It was with O’Brian as with every other wicked man: he was solicitous to lead others to the same line of conduct. In particular, he seduced a young man, of the name of Wilt, who was apprehended, and suffered for his first offence. O’Brian was also apprehended, and executed at Gloucester; and when he had hung the usual time, his body was cut down, and given to his friends; but when carried home, he was observed to move, on which a surgeon was immediately sent for, who bled him; and other means being used, he recovered life. This fact was kept a secret, and it was hoped that it would have had a salutary effect upon his future conduct. His friends were very willing to contribute towards his support, in order that he might live in the most retired manner, and O’Brian engaged to reform his life, and for some time kept his promise; but the impressions of death, and all its tremendous consequences, soon wearing off his mind, he returned to his vicious courses. Abandoning his friends, and purchasing a horse and other necessaries, O’Brian again visited the road.
In about a year after his execution he met the very gentleman who was his former prosecutor, and attacked him in the same manner as before. The gentleman was surprised to see himself stopped by the very same person who had formerly robbed him, and who was executed for that crime. His consternation was so great that he could not avoid exhibiting it, and he addressed O’Brian, saying, “How comes this to pass? I thought that you had been hanged a twelvemonth ago.” “So I was, and therefore you ought to imagine that what you now see is only my ghost. However, lest you should be so uncivil as to hang my ghost too, I think it my best way to secure you.” Upon this, he discharged a pistol through the gentleman’s head, and, alighting from his horse, cut his body in pieces with his hanger.
One barbarity was followed by a greater. O’Brian, accompanied by four others, attacked the house of Launcelot Wilmot, Esq. of Wiltshire; entered, and bound all the servants; then went up to the gentleman’s own room, and bound him and his wife. They next proceeded to the daughter’s chamber, whom they stabbed to the heart, and having returned, in the same manner butchered the old people, and rifled the house to the value of two thousand five hundred pounds.