LONDON, (THURSDAY) June 5.
A most remarkable Examination came Yesterday before the Bench in Bow-Street. An Inhabitant of Clerkenwell-Close sent Word up to Sir John Fielding, from Portsmouth, that he and his Wife had been robbed on Whitsunday Morning, within ten Miles of Petersfield, near seventy Miles off, about Half past Nine o’Clock, by a single Highwayman, who demanded his Money or his Life. He also insisted on having his Watch, but returned it on a Trifle more Money being given to him. The Person who was robbed coming afterwards accidentally to Sir John Fielding’s, and seeing there a Mr. V—, of Chandos-Street, Covent-garden, immediately pitched upon him, and swore positively to his Identity. The Husband and Wife were examined separately Yesterday; they were both in the Story, and both still as positive to Mr. V—‘s Person; especially the Wife, who said she would swear to him as positively as to her own Father. By the incontrovertible Testimony of eleven different Witnesses, of Respectable Character, we were happy not only to find Mr. V— totally innocent of the Charge, but a Man of universal good Character. His Maid proved her calling him up at Nine o’Clock that Morning, to speak with Buer, a Butcher, in Chandos-Street. Mr. and Mrs. Buer proved his coming directly over to their House, and seeing him backwards and forwards the whole Day. A Hair-Dresser proved dressing his Hair at Half past Nine, who had dressed him two Years. Mr. Clendon, Clerk of the Bank, proved, that V— was with him at Eleven on that Day; and there were several others who accounted regularly for Mr. V— from Nine in the Morning to the Evening of the Day he was charged. The Bench were of the Opinion Mr. V— should be discharged, which he accordingly was.