Now Mr. Sheppard’s long and wicked Course seemingly draws towards a Period.  Mr. Kneebone having apply’d to Jonathan Wild, and set forth Advertisements in the Papers, complaining of his Robbery.  On Tuesday the 22d of July at Night Edgworth Bess was taken in a Brandy-shop, near Temple-Bar by Jonathan Wild; she being much terrify’d, discover’d where Sheppard was:  A Warrant was accordingly issued by Justice Blackerby, and the next Day he was Apprehended, at the House of Blewskin’s Mother, in Rose-Mary-Lane, by one Quilt, a Domestick of Mr. Wild’s though not without great opposition, for, he clapt a loaded, Pistol to Quilt’s Breast, and attempted to shoot him, but the Pistol miss’d fire; he was brought back to New Prison, confin’d in the Dungeon; and the next Day carried before Justice Blackerby.  Upon his Examination he Confess’d the three Robberies on the Highway aforemention’d, as also the Robbing of Mr. Bains, Mr. Barton, and Mr. Kneebone, he was committed to Newgate, and at the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer, and Goal delivery, holden at the Old-Baily, on the 12th, 13th and 14th of August, he was try’d upon three several indictments, viz. First for breaking the House of William Philips.

John Sheppard, of the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields, was indicted for breaking the House of William Philips, and stealing divers Goods, the 14th of February last.  But there not being sufficient Evidence against the Prisoner, he was acquitted.

He was also indicted a Second Time, of St. Clement Danes, for breaking the House of Mary Cook, the 5th of February last, and stealing divers Goods:  But the Evidence against the Prisoner being defficient as to this Indictment also, he was acquitted.

He was also indicted the Third Time, of St. Mary Savoy, for breaking the House of William Kneebone, in the Night-Time, and stealing, 108 Yards of Woollen Cloth, the 12th of July last.  The Prosecutor depos’d, That the Prisoner had some Time since been his Servant, and when he went to Bed, the Time mentioned in the Indictment, about 11 a-Clock at Night, he saw all the Doors and Windows fast; but was call’d up about four in the Morning, and found his House broke open, the Bars of a Cellar-Window having been cut, and the Bolts of the Door that comes up Stairs drawn, and the Padlock wrench’d off, and the Shutter in the Shop broken, and his Goods gone; whereupon suspecting the Prisoner, he having committed ill Actions thereabouts before, he acquainted Jonathan Wild with it, and he procur’d him to be apprehended.  That he went to the Prisoners in New Prison, and asking how he could be so ungrateful to rob him, after he had shown him so much Kindness?  The Prisoner own’d he had been ungrateful in doing