| Share page |
|
SUSSEX SMUGGLERS. 63
through Fordingbridge, where Dimer,* one of that company, was seen and known by Chater. Dimer was afterwards taken up upon suspicion of being one of those who had broken open the custom house, and was in custody at Chichester for further examination, and for further proof that he was one of that gang.
" And in order to prove the identity of Dimer, and that he was one of the gang, Daniel Chater, a shoemaker at Fordingbridge (the person murdered), wras sent in company with, and under the care of, William Galley, a tide-waiter of Southampton, by Mr. Shearer, collector of the customs there, with a letter to Major Battine, a Justice of Peace for Sussex, and surveyor general of the customs for that county. Sunday morning, the 14th * of February, 1747-8, Galley and Chater set out from Southampton, with Mr. Shearer's letter, on their journey to Major Battine's house, at East Marden, in the neighbourhood of Chichester.
" At the New Inn at Leigh,f in Havant parish, in Hants,Chater and Galley met with llobert Jenkes,George Austin, and Thomas Austin, and having shewed them the direction of the letter to Major Battine, they told them they were going towards Stansted, where Chater and Galley were informed Major Battine then was ; and said they would go with them, and shew them the road. Their direct way to Stansted lay near Rowland's Castle; but Jenkes and the two Austins carried them |
||
|
* In the former part of this account we called his name Dimer otherwise Diamond, for he was as frequently called by the one as the other, but as he was named by the counsel Dimer, we shall keep to that name where he was so called.
t Mr. Banks omitted here speaking of his calling first on Mr. Holton in the village of Havant, but that will appear in its proper place. |
||