The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard - Containing a Particular Account of His Many Robberies and Escapes by Daniel Defoe
page 24 of 43 (55%)
page 24 of 43 (55%)
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Punishment, than if she had been thought his Wife; but he endeavour'd to
acquit himself, by saying, that she was the sole Author of all his Misfortunes; That she betray'd him to _Jonathan Wild_, at the time he was taken in _Rosemary-Lane_; and that when he was contriving his Escape, she disobey'd his orders, as when being requir'd to attend at the Door of the Condemn'd-Hold by Nine, or Ten in the Morning to facilitate his Endeavours, she came not till the Evening, which he said, was an ungrateful Return for the care he had taken in setting her at Liberty from _New-Prison_; and thus Justify'd himself in what he had done, and said he car'd not what became of her. He was also Examined about Mr. _Martin's_ Watches; and whether _Page_ was privy to that Robbery; he carefully guarded himself against uttering any thing that might affect him, peremptorily declar'd him Innocent of that, as well as of being privy to his Escape, and said, that he only out of Kindness, as being an old Companion, was resolv'd to share in his Fortunes after he had Escap'd. He was again continually meditating a second Escape, as appear'd by his own Hardiness, and the Instruments found upon him, on _Saturday_ the 12th, and _Wednesday_ the 16th of _September_, the first Time a small File was found conceal'd in his Bible, and the second Time two Files, a Chisel and an Hammer being hid in the Rushes of a Chair; and whenever a Question was mov'd to him, when, or by what Means those Implements came to his Hands; he would passionately fly out, and say, _How can you? you always ask me these, and such like Questions_; and in a particular manner, when he was ask'd, Whether his Companion _Page_ was an Accomplice with him, either in the affair of the Watches, or any other? (he reply'd) _That if he knew, he would give no direct Answer_, thinking it to be a Crime in him to detect the Guilty. |
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