: latter was charged not to utter a syllable of what had passed. Mrs. Beddingfield now directed the girl to call Ringe, who seemed offended at being disturbed; but, when he had struck a light, his mistress told him to go into his master's room, for she was afraid that he was indisposed. Ringe obeyed; but, on his return said, with an air of surprise, that his master was dead. By this time another maid-servant got up, and the girls, going to their master's room, found the deceased lying on his face, and observed that part of his shirt collar was torn off, and that his neck was black and swelled. A messenger was instantly dispatched to Mr. Beddingfield's parents, who proposed to send for a surgeon but the wife said, it was unnecessary to send for a doctor, as her husband was already dead. On the following day the coroner's jury took an inquisition into the cause of his death; but so superficial was the inquiry, that it lasted only a few minutes, and their determination was, that he died a natural death. The guilty commerce between the murderers became now more evident than before; yet so fickle was Mrs. Beddingfield's disposition, that in a few weeks she began to despise the man whom she had incited to the murder of her husband. The servant-maid was resolved to discover the fact, but postponed her resolution till she had received the wages for her quarter's service. When her mistress had paid her, she went to her parents, and discovered all she knew of the matter: on which a warrant was issued for apprehending the murderers. As they had an idea of what was going forward, they attempted to bribe the girl's mother to secrecy, who rejected their offers: on which Mrs. Beddingfield made her escape, but was apprehended at the end of two days. Ringe, however, seemed to disdain to consult F consult his own safety, and remained in the house; after he was committed to prison, he confessed that he had deemed himself a dead man from the time of his perpetrating the murder. At the Lent assizes in 1763, the prisoners were brought to trial, when the surgeon and coroner were examined as to what fell within their knowledge. The former, confessed that he saw evident marks of violence on the body; and being asked how he could depose before the coroner, that Mr. Beddingfield had died a natural death, he replied, that he did not think much about it!!! Several unguarded expressions ofMrs. Beddingfield having been sworn to by the witnesses, particularly that she had said, "She knew, somebody would soon die," "That she should want mourning ear-rings very soon," &c. and the prisoners having nothing to alledge in extenuation of their crime, they were both capitally convicted, and sentenced to die. After conviction, as well as before, Ringe freely confessed his guilt; but expressed the utmost anxiety at the thought of being dissected. Mrs. Beddingfield refused to make any confession till the day before her death. They were placed in one sledge on the morning of execution, and conveyed to a place near Ipswich, called Rushmore, where Ringe made a pathetic address to the surrounding multitude, advising young people to be warned by his fate, and to avoid the delusions of wicked women. After the fervent exercise of devotion he was turned off; while the body of Mrs. Beddingfield, who had been first strangled at a stake, was burned to ashes, agreeable to the then practice respecting women who are convicted of the murder of their husbands. They suffered April 8, 1763. BELLAMY, EDWARD, (HOUSE-BREAKER,) was a native of London, and served his time to a taylor, taylor; but his apprenticeship was no sooner expired than he associated with some women of ill fame, and became a thief to support their extravagance. His commencement in this art was with a number of young pickpockets, and he soon became an adept in the profession. From this business they advanced a step further. They used to go, three or four in company, to the shops of silversmiths in the evening, and while one of them cheapened some article of small value, his companions used to secrete something of greater. It was likewise a practice with them to walk the streets at night, and forcing up the windows of shops with a chissel, run off with any property that lay within their reach. This was commonly done so suddenly, that the thieves got off with the effects before the shop-keepers were prepared to follow them. Bellamy played his part with so much dexterity, that he was looked upon as leader of the gang after three years practice at this infamous business, he forged a note, (forgery being then not a capital offence,) by which he defrauded a linen-draper of money to a considerable amount. Being taken into custody for this, he was lodged in Newgate; but discharged without being brought to trial, his friends having found means to accommodate the matter with the injured party. In a short time after he left Newgate, he made connections with Jonathan Wild, and by a frequent attendance at his office, dived so far into the mysteries of his profession, and was so convinced of the great profit that attended it, that he formed an idea of engaging in the same business on his own account. At this time Wild used frequently to borrow money of a Mr. Wildgoose, who kept an inn in Smithfield: and Bel F 2 lamy łamy wishing to become acquainted with a man whom he thought he could make subservient to his interest, applied to Jonathan to recommend him to Wildgoose; but this the famous thief-taker absolutely refused; on which Bellamy determined to take his revenge on Wild. Having often gone with messages and notes from Jonathan to Wildgoose, and being well acquainted with the hand-writing of the former, he forged a draught on the latter for ten guineas, which Wildgoose paid without hesitation; as soon as Bellamy had got the money he omitted to pay his usual visits at Wild's office. A few days after this, Wild went to his acquaintance to borrow some money, when Wildgoose told him he had paid his draught for the abovementioned sum, and producing the note, Jonathan could not be certain that it was not his own hand-writing, otherwise than by recollecting that he had never given such a draught. Wildgoose was unacquainted with Bellamy's name; but, by the description of his person, Jonathan soon found who had committed the forgery; on which he ordered his myrmidons to be careful to apprehend the offender. Bellamy having been taken in a lodging in White-friars, Jonathan's men sent word to their master that they had him in custody, and begged he would come and give orders how they should dispose of him: but, in the interim, Bellamy, who expected no mercy from the old thieftaker, seized the advantage of the casual absence of his attendance from the room, fixed a rope to the bar of the window, and let himself into the street, though the room was three stories high. He now entertained thoughts of accommodating the affair with Wild, imagining he should be treated with the utmost severity if he should be re apprehended: but before he had proceeded in this negotiation, : Wild's men seized him at a gin-shop in Chancerylane, and sent to their master for instructions how to act. To this message Jonathan returned an answer that they might give him his liberty, on the condition that he should come to the office, and adjust the business with himself. Hereupon Bellamy was discharged: knowing how dangerous it would be to affront Wild, he went the following morning to a public house in the Old Bailey, where he sent for Jonathan to breakfast with him and the latter sending for Wildgoose, Bellamy gave him a note for the money received, and no farther steps were taken in the affair. As soon as this business was adjusted, Bellamy renewed his former plan of making depre-, dations on the public, and committed an immense number of robberies. During one of his rambles, near the Royal Exchange, he fell into company with a kidnapper, who obtained an infamous subsistence by enticing distressed young people to go abroad, under pretence that they will be there well provided for. Bellamy thinking this fellow a proper subject to employ his genius, pretended that he was out of employment, and ambitious of visiting America. The kidnapper represented America as the country where industry and merit could not fail of success even to the attainment of an ample fortune; he assured him he had helped many young people to places, who were out of employment, who afterwards became so rich as to keep their carriages. He declared himself no mean, time-serving wretch, who took money for these things; all his view was to be of service to the distressed.-In this instance the kidnapper intended to gull the thief, and the thief to take in the kidnapper. Bellamy having lived some time at the expense of his new acquaintance, the day at length arrived when his indentures F 3 were |