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SUSSEX SMUGGLERS. 181 |
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Having now finished the accounts of those smugglers, except Kingsmill, alias Staymaker, Fairall, alias Shepherd, Perrin, Glover and Lilliwhite, who were tried at the Old Bailey, for breaking open the King's customhouse at Poole, we shall next proceed to give their trials, and conclude this work with a particular account of their lives, and the last dying words of Kingsmill, Fairall and Perrin, who were executed at Tyburn, the first two named now hanging in chains in Kent.
As to the life of Kingsmill, it will appear to be very remarkable ; but for that of Fairall the like was never heard before, he being, even as he acknowledged himself, the most wicked smuggler living.
Thomas Kingsmill, alias Staymaker, William Fairall, alias Shepherd, Richard -Perrin, alias Pain, alias Carpenter, Thomas Lilliwhite, and Richard Glover were indicted, and tried at the sessions-house in the Old Bailey, on Friday, the 4th of April, 1749, for being concerned with others, to the number of thirty persons, in breaking into the King's custom-house at Poole, and stealing out of thence thirty-seven hundredweight of tea, value 500l. and upwards, on October 7th, 1747.
The prisoners being severally arraigned, and pleading not guilty, the counsel for the King opened the nature of the indictment. Then Mr. Bankes and Mr. Smythe, two of his Majesty's counsel, spoke very particularly to the whole affair, shewing the enormity of the crime as being the most unheard-of act of villainy and impudence ever known, and proceeded to call the witnesses in support of the charge.
Captain William Johnson called and sworn: I have a deputation from the customs to seize prohibited goods. On the 22nd of September, 1747, I was stationed out of Stainhani Bay, just by Poole. I was under the north |
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