pistols, they knocked at the door, which being opened by the old gentleman, Johnson presented a pistol to his breast; and then they bound him and his two servants, and told the master, that he must expect immediate death, if he did not discover where his money was concealed.

Terrified by this threat, he told them to take a key from his pocket, which would open a bureau, where they would find a bag containing all the cash then in his possession. The robbers having seized the property, Johnson put the bag in his pocket, and they re-mounted, and rode to London, where they found the booty to consist of one hundred and fifty pounds: but this they soon dissipated in acts of extravagance; and then proceeded to commit a number of robberies on the roads of Essex and Kent.

It is now proper to mention the crime for which they suffered; a murder, equally barbarous and unprovoked. They took horses in Holborn, and having rode to Edmonton, turned up a lane, where they met a postman who was carrying letters round the neighbourhood: the man good-naturedly opened a gate for them to pass, when Johnson demanded his money and watch, which he held out to them, and at that instant was shot dead by Stockdale.

The murder was no sooner committed than they hastened to London; and though the country was alarmed by what had happened, they rode on the following day to Hounslow, where they dined. After dinner they called for their horses: but Stockdale was so intoxicated that he at first fell from the horse, but was replaced.

The magistrates having by this time sent out a number of constables, the murderers were taken into custody, and carried before a magistrate; when Stockdale acknowledged his guilt; but by this time Johnson was so drunk, that he was insensible of his commitment to Newgate.

When Stockdale's master heard of his unhappy situation, he immediately wrote to his father, who coming to London, had a very affecting interview with his son, who

exclaimed, "O, Sir, how shall I look you in the face! what disgrace have I brought upon you, what destruction upon myself! A shameful death is preparing for me in this world but what in the next, God knows!..

The father advised him to an early preparation for the awful fate that awaited him, and refused to flatter him with hopes of that pardon which could not reasonably be expected. He comforted himself accordingly, and intended to have pleaded guilty, but was afterwards advised not to do so.

While in Newgate Johnson was attacked by a violent fever and on the day of trial was so reduced, that it was necessary to carry him into court, where the judges permitted him a chair to repose himself during the trial. The jury being satisfied with the evidence against the culprits, they were found guilty, and sentence of death was passed on them.

Stockdale spent his time till the execution in the most devout manner; but Johnson was too ill to attend the customary offices of religion. The former made a pathetic address to the populace at the place of execution; and both of them behaved with great apparent penitence."

After execution, the bodies were removed to Surgeons'hall, in preparation for dissection: but soon afterwards an order was received from the secretary of state, that they should be hung in chains: in consequence of which, they were carried to Winchmore-hill, where they were exposed by way of warning and example.

These malefactors suffered at Tyburn, on the 2d of July, 1753.

ROBERT AND DANIEL PERREAU,

FORGERS.

Executed at TYBURN, Jan. 17th, 1776.

THERE is something so interesting in the case of

the above unfortunate twin-brothers who fell victims to the vilest artifices of a deluded woman, that the reader will be pleased to have a full and explicit relation of it. One was an apothecary of great practice, the other living in the style of a gentleman.

On the 10th of March, 1775, discovery having been made of a series of forgeries, said to have been carried on for a length of time by these brothers. Robert and Daniel Perreau, together with Mrs. Margaret Caroline Rudd, who lived with the latter as his wife, and who was deemed to have been a principal agent in the forgeries, were taken into custody, and carried before the bench of magistrates in Bow-street, where the crowd attending to hear their examination was so great, that it became necessary to adjourn to the Guildhall, Westminster. The evidence there adduced tended to prove that the parties had raised considerable sums by bonds forged in the name of the well known agent, William Adair, Esq. which they imposed on several gentlemen of fortune, as collateral securities, with their own notes for the payment of the said

sums.

Robert Perreau, whose character had been hitherto unimpeachable, applied to Mr. Drummond, the banker, to lend him five thousand pounds, and offered a bond of se