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SUSSEX SMUGGLERS. |
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he would either direct the two strangers to go a different way from Major Battine's, or would detain them a short time at her house, until she could send for Jackson, Carter and others. And she immediately sent her son William for the prisoner Jackson; and soon afterwards ordered her other son Edmund to summon the other prisoner Carter, and Edmund Richards, Samuel Howard, Henry Sheerman, William Steel and John Race, who all lived near Rowland's Castle ; and accordingly they all came, as also did Jackson's and Carter's wives. They were immediately informed by the widow Payne of what she suspected, and had been informed concerning the two strangers. Jackson and Carter being very desirous of seeing the letter to Major Battine, got Chater out of the house, and endeavoured to persuade him to let them see the letter, and to inform them of the errand to Major Battine. But upon Galley's coming out to them, and interposing to prevent Chater's making any discovery, they quarrelled with Galley, and beat him to the ground ; Galley complained of this ill-usage, and said he was the King's officer, and to convince them shewed his deputation.
" Chater and Galley were very uneasy at this treatment, and wanted to be gone; but the gang insisted upon their staying; and in order to secure and get them entirely in their own power, they-plied them with strong liquors, and made them drunk; and then carried them into another room to sleep.
" During the two hours Galley and Chater slept, the letter was taken out of Chater's pocket; whereby it appeared that Chater was going to give information against Dimer. The secret being thus disclosed to the gang, the next thing to be considered of by the smugglers, was how to save their accomplice Dimer, 5 |
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