I I - American Memory

[ 339 ]
Three or four Days before he was to fuffer, a Perfon
came to Newgate, and defired a Gentleman to afe him,
whether he did not kill one IVIr. Bojitf! a Pipe-maker at
Bovu, about two Years ago on Epping-ForreJ}, for it was
obferv^d, that about half an Hour before the unhappy-
Accident happen'd, he with another of his own Bufi-
neft, a Smith, were drinking a Mug of Drink at a Pub-
lick Houfe in Stratford, and amongit their Difcourfe
they was talking about Mr. Boftin, upon which Rofe
fpoke very difrefpedlful of him, and when he fpoke it,
he ff^med to fpeak it with fome Warmth ; after they
had drank their Beer they paid for it, and fo parted,
Pofe went one Way, and the other that was with him
another. Hofe had not been gone half an Hour, but
Word was brought that Mr. Bofton the Pipe-maker of
Bovj lay kill'd on Epping-ForreJ?, and was likewife
robb'd of what Money he had about him, which was
about 4 or 5 /. It was obferv'd when Rofe was drinking
at tiie Ale-houfe Door, that he had got a Gun under
his great Coat, which gave Sufpicion that he was the
Perfon that committed the Murder and Robbery; but
when the Gentleman afced him whether he was the
Man that did it, he feem'd to be very much difpleafed
with him for propofing fuch a Queftion, and wou'd not
refolve him for fome Time, whether he did it or not,
till the Gentleman preffing him much, and intreating
him to refolve him, he at laft faid, He did not do it, nor
did he know who did. I afterwards put the fame Que-
ftion to him again, he anfwer'd, fhat he had been ask'i
the fame above ten limes before, and given them Satis-
faSion.
Sometime after Jofeph Rofe lodged at one Mr. Harris's
a Gardiner and Co'W-keeper at Kenjington-Gore, where he
had lodged for the vSpace of Twelve Months before, and
whilft Mr. Harris •ws.i gone out, Rofe took that Oppor»
tunity to open the Safli-Window of Mr. Harris''^ Bed-
chamber, took a great Cheft from thence, and con-
vey'd the fame into the Wafh-houfe, where with a long
Poker which he fetch'd out of the Kitcheu, he attemp-
P 3 ted