of the widow, under pretence of repaying her in a week. Not long after this Everett was married to this very widow, at Stepney church, by which he came into possession of money and plate to a considerable amount, and might have lived happily with her if he would have taken her advice; but the extravagance of his disposition led to his ruin. When he was in very low circumstances he casually met his old accomplice, Bird, and joined with him in the commission of a robbery in Essex, they were both taken, and lodged in Chelmsford gaol; but Everett having turned evidence, the other was convicted and executed. As soon as he had obtained his liberty, he committed several robberies in the neighbourhood of London, the last of which was on a lady named Ellis, whom he stopped near Is. lington but being taken into custody on the fol lowing day, he was tried, and capitally convicted. He had been married to three wives, who all visited him after sentence of death. He was likewise visited by the son of the widow; but recollecting what had formerly passed between them, Everett would have stabbed him with a penknife, but was prevented by one of his wives; for which interposition he afterwards expressed the greatest happiness. What gave him most uneasiness was the crime of perjury, of which he had been guilty, with a view to take away the life of an innocent man. : One Picket, a cooper, having affronted him, he swore a robbery against him; but the jury not being satisfied with the evidence, the man was fortunately acquitted. Mr. Nicholson, the then minister of St. Sepulchre's church, attended the prisoner while under sentence of death; and kindly exerted himself to convince him of the atrocious nature of his offences: offences: but the numbers of people who visited him from motives of curiosity, took off his attention from his more important duties. However he became at times serious, and would then advise his brethren in affliction to prepare for that death which now appeared unavoidable. The gaol distemper having seized him while in Newgate, a false report was propagated that he had poisoned himself. He wrote letters to some of his acquaintance, begging they would take warning by his unhappy fate, and avoid those steps which led him to his ruin. He suffered at Tyburn, February 20, 1729. EVERETT, JOHN, (FELON,) was probably related to the preceding, being also a native of Hertfordshire, where he served his apprenticeship to a baker: after which he connected himself with a gang of notorious gamblers, and other dissolute wretches, in conjunction with whom he perpetrated a great number of villainies, and for several years escaped the vengeance of the law. By persuasions and the promise of a sum of money, he and a man named Wright, induced a young woman to exhibit a charge of felony against two innocent men, who were put on their trial, but happily acquit. ted, as the perjured evidence was not able to authenticate her accusation. In revenge for their failing to supply the girl with the money they had promised, she lodged an information against Everett and Wright, who were in consequence indicted for subornation of perjury, and sentenced to stand in the pillory at the end of Chancery-lane, where they received very severe treatment from the populace. Soon after this punishment, Everett was tried at Hicks's-hall, and sentenced again to 2 E stand stand in the pillory, for having fraudulently ob tained a thirty-six-shilling piece. He was afterwards convicted of having circulated counterfeit Portugal coin, and ordered to be imprisoned two years in Newgate. During his confinement a company of gentlemen went to Newgate to visit a criminal, and in a short time discovered they had been robbed of their handkerchiefs. The circum. stance being mentioned to Everett, he pretended to be much surprised, and intimated that there was but little probability of the property being recovered. However, in a little time he produced the handkerchiefs, and received some money from the gentlemen, as a reward for his supposed honesty. While in Newgate, he picked the pocket of almost every person who came to visit the prisoners. He was continually uttering the most vile expressions, and seemed to delight in the practice of every species of wickedness. Upon the expiration of the time he was sentenced to remain in prison, he found sureties for his good behaviour for two years, and was discharged. He, and a woman of the town, now went to a small inn at Hoddesden in Hertfordshire, which was kept by an elderly widow, and being invited into a room behind the bar, after having each drank a glass of wine, the widow and her female guest went to walk in the garden: in the mean time Everett broke open a bureau, and stole 60i. in cash, and several gold rings. They kept the widow in conversation till the time of going to bed, in order to divert her from going to the bureau, and the next morning decamped with their booty, taking the road to Nottingham, whence they crossed the country to Newmarket, and then returned to London. Everett's numerous villainies having rendered his name so notorious, he went under the denomination of George Anderson, and lived in a very private manner till the money he had thus obtained was expended. He now procured a knife eighteen inches long, and determined to levy contributions on passengers on the highway. In the road between Kentish-town and Hampstead, he attempted to rob a countryman, who being of an intrepid temper, a desperate contest ensued, in which Everett proved the conqueror, and dangerously wounded his antagonist, from whom he, however, obtained but a small booty. The same evening he stole a quantity of ribbons from a haberdasher's shop, but was immediately pursued, apprehended, and secured in prison. He was soon brought to trial; and the prosecutor having laid the indictment capitally, he was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. For some time after conviction he behaved in a decent manner, and appeared to be resigned to the fate that awaited him: but upon learning that the order for his execution was received by the gaoler, he became perfectly outrageous, violently threatening those who were near him, and uttering the most blasphemous expres sions. A report being circulated that he meditated a design against the life of the gaoler, his cell was carefully searched, but no suspicious instruments were found. He denounced vengeance against the man who gave the information, declaring, with horrid imprecations, that if he could procure a pistol, or any other offensive weapon, he would put him to death. He applied the most opprobrious epithets to the keeper of the prison; and such was his ungovernable conduct, that it was judged necessary to chain him down to the floor.His behaviour was more decent and composed on the day preceding that of his execution; but he did not appear to be conscious of the enormity of his guilt, or to be earnest in repentance. He joined in prayer with the ordinary of Newgate at the place of execution, and a little time before he was turned off, said he considered death as too severe a punishment for the crime he had committed. He suffered at Tyburn, Dec, 31, 1750. F. FERGUSON, RICHARD, (HIGHWAYMAN,) familiarly called Galloping Dick, was the son of a gentleman's servant, and a native of Hertfordshire. He was sent to school at a very early age, but to little purpose, and was afterwards employed as a stable boy where his father was hired. At the age of 16 he came to London with the family.During their stay in town, the postillion was taken ill, and Dick was appointed to supply his place till he recovered, which was not very long. Now stripped of his fine livery, and sent to occupy his station as a stable boy, his haughty spirit could not brook the degradation.. Fond of dress, and being thought a man of consequence, he resolved to look out for another place. Accordingly he told his father of his resolution, and asked his advice. His father knowing he was well qualified, in respect to the management of horses, told him he would look out one for him. A circumstance happened, that very afternoon, highly gratifying to his pride. A lady who frequently visited the family, being in want of a postillion, asked Dick's master what was become of his late postillion. Being informed he was in his place, and was very fit for her employ, he |