Page:Life, strange voyages, and uncommon adventures of Ambrose Gwinett.pdf/7

Rh up the money, and calling the people about her, "Here, said she, is what puts the villain's guilt beyond a doubt; I can swear to this William and Mary's guinea; my uncle has long had it by way of a pocket piece, and engraved the first letters of his name upon it." She then began to cry afresh, while I could do nothing but continue to call to Heaven to witness that I was as innocent as the child unborn. After this they took me down to the necessary, and here fresh proofs appeared against me. The constable, who had never left me, perceived blood upon the edges of the seat, (which might probably proceed from my being troubled with the hemorrhage the night before), "Here, said he, after having cut the throat, he has let the body down into the sea." This every body assented to immediately. "Then, said the master of the house, it is in vain to look for the body any further; for there was a spring tide last night which carried it off."

The consequence of these proceedings was an immediate examination before a justice of peace; after which I suffered a long and rigorous imprisonment in the county town of Maidstone. For some time, my father, my master, and my relations, were inclined to think me innocent, and in compliance with my earnest request, an advertisement was published in the London Gazette, representing my deplorable circumstances, and offering a reward to any person who could give tidings of Mr. Richard Collins (the name of the man I was supposed to have murdered) either alive or dead. No information, however, of any kind came to hand; at the assizes, therefore, I was brought to trial, and circumstances appearing strong against me, I received sentence, to be carried in a cart the Wednesday fortnight following, to