Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/59

Rh and as they are rank cowards, they, on such an occasions, put a question to themselves, and that is "Which is to be off the first?" since he that remains to the last is likeliest to be taken.

These statements are exemplified often: the robbery of a gentleman in Shepherd and Shepherdess fields by the three bakers (1816), one of whom proposed to murder him, because he made so much noise, is a proof of one part of the above proposition; for, although the place is much frequented, yet no one was nigh enough to alarm them from their purpose. Another part of the above statement was proved under our own observation while yet we were writing it [January, 1818.] A Mr. F—d was followed from the meeting house in Moorfields along London Wall by two of a gang who inhabit thereabout: they were short and stout; Mr. F. being a little lame in one leg, gave them good reason to expect an easy conquest, as his appearance did a good booty. At the turning into Basinghall Street, (no one at that moment coming up it) one of the rogues ran up to Mr. F—d, pushed a leg between his, and brought him to the ground; instantly putting his hand into his waistcoat pocket, he had but just time to extract a few shillings, when his accomplice became alarmed at the