| When we were in the street, however, he swore at me dreadfully, and said I could not be a gentleman, or I should have called him out of the shop and not have accused him before his master. I told him, he need not fret about that, for I did not think it at all likely that he would return again, as I had been informed he had robbed his master, and it was very probable he would be transported. He was then silent. I told him I should lock him up and have him examined. He earnestly begged of me not to do that, he said he was willing to go anywhere for me I thought proper. I told him if he would find me Goodman, I would release him. He then took me to all the places he thought there was any chance of finding him, and as we were going over Blackfriars Bridge, about nine o'clock in the evening, he said there was one place more where there was a chance, and that was No. 7 Green Street, Bethnal Green. When we arrived there, he asked me what he should say on disturbing them at so late an hour. I said to him, "You know you have had a letter from Roberts at Hertford Castle, respecting his confinement there. You must say you want to see Goodman to know what he will do with regard to find a Counsellor for him, as his trial will come on Monday, and you would like him to be got out of his difficulties." On inquiring, they told Edward that "Billy" was not in London, that he was gone into Oxfordshire with Betty Farrington (alias Taylor), and that he would return by Christmas day. Edward came and told me what he had ascertained. I said his answer was useless, and it did not give me the least clue as to where "Billy' now was. I then told Edward I should not release him until he had found "Billy," so that he had better go again, and say that he wanted to send a letter to him, in order to have an answer by return post, if they could tell him where to direct it. He went, and they gave him the direction;- "Charles Goodman, Mrs. T----'s, Sumerton, near Deddington, Oxfordshire." We then went to the Green Dragon, in Bishopsgate Street. At four o'clock in the afternoon, we started from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad Lane, by coach, for Oxford. As we should not arrive there till two or three o'clock in the morning, I asked Mr. Waterhouse, the proprietor to favor me with a note for the Book-keeper at Oxford, to request him to direct us to a comfortable inn, which he willingly did. On my arrival I presented the note to the Book-keeper, who very kindly took us to the Star Inn, where we had very good accommodation. I inquired what coaches went off in the morning for Woodstock, Deddington, and Banbury, and on being informed there was one at five o'clock and another at eleven o'clock in the morning, I said, "Delays are dangerous; we must go by the first coach." I then took Edward into a room with me; he laid on one bed and I laid on another for an hour. We accordingly set off on the Banbury coach, and got down at the Fox, at North Aston. We then had two miles and a half to walk to Sumerton. On our way I asked a wagoner if he knew how Mrs. T---- was, to which he answered, she was dead, I then said, "How are Mr. and Mrs. Goodman?" "Mrs. Goodman is poorly," he replied. On asking him when he saw Mr. Goodman, he said "Last evening." I was so much delighted at hearing this intelligence, and my spirits were so revived that I scarcely knew what to do. As we were going down a lane into the village, I saw a poor old man mending the roads. I asked him where Mr. Goodman, the horse-dealer lived. He pointed out the house to me, and said, "He is in his garden now, that is him with a brown coat." "Are you sure if that?" I inquired "Yes," he replied, "he was with me an hour ago." I pulled off my great coat, and told Edward to do the same in order that we might leave them with the old man to take care of until we returned. I then primed my pistols afresh, and said to Edward, "You can run, and so can I, if you do not assist me in taking Goodman, (as I am determined to have him,) I will shoot you as certainly as you stand there. Therefore I hope you have a right understanding before we start." I then sent Edward into the garden to Goodman while I went round to the house door to prevent his going into it, as I had understood he was determined to shoot any one who should endeavour to take him. "What brought you here?" Goodman inquired. "I am taken for horse-stealing, and so are you," was the reply. I then walked up to him, and said, "Well, how do you do, Goodman?" "Never the better for seeing you, sir," he replied. "I hope never the worse," said I, to which he answered, "He soon should be." I then searched his pockets, and made Edward hold him on one side, while I held him on the other. We took him to North Aston, where we waited for the coach. I had finished my breakfast, and was ready to start by coach, when two gentlemen called me out, and one of them said, "I understand, sir, you are come for our neighbour, Goodman." On being told such was the case, they asked me what I had taken him for. "Horse-stealing," I said. "Horse-stealing! Why he has a fine brown horse now." "Has He?" I said, "why he tells me he has not." "He certainly has one at keep at Mr. Jenning's, I am sure it is not Mr. J's, was the reply. "But it is very likely to be mine," I remarked. One of the gentlemen kindly offered me his mare to go after my horse. I thanked him, but as the Landlord had horses to let, I would not trouble him. I should however feel much obliged if the gentlemen would take charge of Goodman until I returned. I then went to Mr. Jenning's and asked his man where Mr. Goodman's horse was. He said he thought it was in the stable, if not there, it was in the close. He went with me in search of him, and we found him, I told the man to put a halter on, and lead him into the street. I then asked Mr. Jennings for the saddle and bridle, which he brought, and when I told him the horse was mine, he said I was quite welcome to it. I then took the horse to the Fox, at North Aston, and ordered the landlord to send him to the Cock at Stoney Stratford, by eleven o'clock on the following Tuesday. Having handcuffed Goodman and Edward together, I proceeded to Oxford, and arrived at the Star Inn about seven o'clock in the evening. I then set off for London, by coach, and reached there about seven o'clock, the following morning. Having obtained a hackney coach, I went to the Cherry Tree, at the Stones End. Goodman still persisted that he bought the horse off Baker, and he said to Edward, "You know Fairmanner and Baker, if you take them for Mr.Cambridge, it will screen me." Edward answered, "He would." I agreed to let him go on such conditions, and told him to return to me if he did not find them. I took Goodman with me, and left London for Bassingbourn by the Peterborough coach. On our journey, Goodman said to me, "Sir, I have told you lies, it was not Baker who stole your horse, I am the man that stole both of your horses, and I deserve to suffer for it." The following is the substance of what he confessed to me, concerning the robbery of my second and most valuable horse, &c,- |
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