“ CAPTAIN ” HAGGERTY

Evening Star, Issue 20032, 24 November 1928, Page 23

“ CAPTAIN ” HAGGERTY

HIGHWAYMAN AND MURDERER BETRAYED BY A BUTLER [By BA G-. Faencombe, in the ‘Liver ' pool Weekly Post.’] One hundred and twenty-one years ago Hounslow Heath, in spite of the efforts of the uow Bow street “runners,” was infested with armed robbers and notorious footpads. The highwayman with his gaudy attire had almost been stamped out, but the peril of the road was by no means passed. Travelling with money and valuables was a dangerous risk, and practically eveiy road leading into London was a hazardous highway On Hounslow Heath there were seven gibbets never free from a dangling corpse. In spite of this, and the eerie legend that the ivy which grew round tht bod., of the corpse brought disaster to any touching it, the robbers of the road grew more ferocious, working in bands, laying plans very cleverly and too often escaping justice. The murder o * the wealthy Mr John C. Steel that brought the Government to patrol the Hounslow road with armed men stamped out the evil of the highwaymen The notorious footpad, Owen Haggerty, and his accomplice. John Holloway, were hanged for the crime on the gallows putside Old Newgate. There was a third man in the murder, but ho turned King’s evidence and told the full tale. He received the rardon of the King Tho crimes of Haggerty had raised turn to an evil eminence He called himself the “ King of the Riad,” and at the age of fifteen shot and killed a man on the road going through Ongar, Essex, when in company with a man who was teaching him the “trade” of the highwayman. Boasting he feared neither God nor man, Haggerty was in league with “One-eved Bill,” a murderous miscreant, “who bad a lair in Eppmg Forest. , , . For a time “ Bill ’’not only played tho robber of the road, but tampered with servants in wealthy houses where tho plate was rich and the master nervous of keeping money in the bank. BOLTED AND BARRED. At Holmloa Mansion, Hampstead, Edward Montague lived, and kept his house bolted, barred, and secured by spring guns against nocturnal intruders. Massive Danish hounds roamed loose; while Mr Montague slept with a bkinderbus by the side of his bed and, an ear-splitting watchman’s rattle.’ His heavy, costly plate was rich aiid curious, and a story of 3,000 golden guineas in a heavy chest reached the ears of Haggerty through a faithless butler named Benjamin Hanfield. In Dynott street, Bloomsbury, was a gin don where Haggerty mot his pals. It was there the butler capo and revealed tho secret of the spring gun at his master’s house, where tho gold was kept. Matters were arranged, and on a certain night the master of the Hampstead house retired to rest. Had he but listened, ho would have noted the giant hounds had ceased to roam and howl; for already drugged meat was dulling their senses. He had fallen asleep when a voice broke harshly on his startled ear. Rising in bed, ho saw three masked individuals with long pistols in their hands. “YOUR GOLD!” It was Haggerty who led tho business. “Your gold!” he cried, viciously digging bis pistol in the ribs of the trembling gentleman. “ I know whore it is, but I command you to reveal tho secret.” The device was to save tho butler’s reputation. “ I refuse,” said Mr Montague, and as there was a fire crackling on the hearth, he was pulled from the bed aqd, under tho direction of Haggerty, placed on tho glowing embers. Unable to bear the fiory torture, ho screamed aloud the secret; and while Haggerty stunned him by a blow on tho head, the robbers rushed to the hiding place. While they were plunging their hands in the shining guineas, almost delirious with the amount revealed, tho tearing noise of tho watchman’s rattle rang through tho night/

With a curse Haggerty sprang up tlio stairs to Montague’s bedroom. In his distraction ho had, when revived, rushed to the window and sprung the alarm. Murder was as nothing to'Haggerty, and ho struck down the gentleman with blow after blow from a knuckle-duster. Mr Montague died, and the butler came creeping in, “ Not murder. For God’s dear love, not murder I” he quavered. “I prize my life.” “ Listen,” cried Haggerty. “Wo are all in this boat. Henceforth you join our crowd, Hanfield, and beware! Play the Judas and you die like a dog.” Thus Hanfield joined tho band under “ Captain Haggerty,” as he styled himself. They knew he was a craven, but his inside knowledge of the homes of the rich was valuable, and a touch with tho barrel of tho ‘‘captain’s” pistol would keep him steady. Robbery after robbery followed with violence, such ns the tying up and flogging of a whole family in a Barnet house because the householder would not reveal_ his gold and silver cups; the knocking senseless of Sir James Murchison near tho Spaniards’ Inn at Hampstead, and a flying escape with money in two bags, in all I.OOOgs. KING OF ROBBERS. Haggerty’s wealth, accrued by violence, enabled him to bribe with heavy mind. _ A “king” of robbers! This was his boast until the murder of Mr Steele brought him down. Steele, was a rich gentleman who kept the Lavender Warehouse, in Catherine street, Strand. He was a oold and hearty mi*n. Often he was warned that when he took gold and valuables on his journeys to provincial towns he would bo molested. He said: “ I can hold my own,” and would show his pistol, a trusty weapon and the most modern of its kind. On the night of November 6. 1802, he was returning from a visit to Bristol, and was heavily laden with gold coins, valuable cloth, and trinkets. The night was dark, save for a fitful moon. Ho jogged along, perhaps sorry he remained so long at Reading with a customer. He passed the gibbets where the chains clanked as the bodies swung uneasily in a rising wind. • A sudden rush, and he was surrounded by three miscreants. He was found dead by a passing traveller. London took a serious view of this outrage. It was believed that Captain Haggerty and his band were responsible for it, but they had scattered, flying from London to the provinces. Four years passed, and'during tKTs time a masked rogue haunted the Portsmouth highway. He killed three victims and robbed Lord Montofield of his tie, wig, gold watch, and leather wallet non with gold. When the venerable complained he stripped him of his breeches and bound him to a tree. Later it was known that this was Haggerty, who, when he found the new-formed Bow street “runners” on his track, fled to the west of England. Though the police searched everywhere and tried to gain clues, they were an ixnpaes^

A DEATH WARNING. I Then light was shed on the crime through the agency of a death warning and‘the agony of conscience of Benjamin Eanfiold, tho ox-butler. Ho had boon arrested for stealing goods from Cheapsido and was sentenced as an old offender to be transported to Now South Wales. While on the hulks at Thames mouth, he was seized by sudden illness. They thought him dying, and the physician abandoned him But a good clergyman came to his bunk, and listening to his groans, asked was his soul or body troubled. “Both.” said the offender, and added: “1 may soon die. I have upon my conscience a murder, though I swear before God no hand of mine struck down the victim. It was Haggerty and Holloway—two devils who led mo astray.” Ho recovered sufficiently to allow a signed statement to be taken from bis lips, and Ids departure for tho colonies was cancelled by a Royal pardon, flanfield was bound over to give evidence at the Old Bailey sessions. Not many days had passed before Captain Haggerty and his companion, John Holloway, were arrested in Hounslow Heath by a mounted patrol from Bow Street Police Office. They had returned to their old haunts, and after a brisk exchange of pistol shots were overpowered and carried bound on their horses to Bow street with a strong guard of men. The two main offenders were brought before Mr Joseph Moser, of Worship Street Police Office. There was a largo body of evidence produced, but none of it was conclusive save that of Hanfield, who, being on King’s evidence, was naturally looked upon with some suspicion. The prisoners denied all knowledge of tho crime, but said they heartily hoped punishment would come to the guilty. ■ They were committed for trial and ordered to bo detained in Newgate Gaol. VAST CROWDS. Such was the eagerness of the public to know the result of this examination of a trial which recalled a dreadful crime, that a vast throng filled the Sessions House and its precincts. The ‘ Newgate Calendar ’ said that Haggerty appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, of great muscular strength, tall, and savage, with a brutal face. He had large, thick lips, depressed nose, and high cheekbones. Holloway was a smaller man. The judge was the stern and upright Sir Simon le Blanc, and he said tho transportation sentence had been remitted by a King’s pardon in the case of Hanfield, and ho was thereby restored to competency as a witness. _ He went into the box and told his story, which thrilled the court. “1 have known Haggerty eight or nine years and Holloway six or seven. After Haggerty seduced me from my duty as a gentleman s servant and robbed my master and killed him in a Hampstead house, wo met frequently in the Black Horse or Turk’s Head, Dyotb street, Great Russell street, Bloomsbury, i was in their company j in the month of November, 1802. “Holloway said to me, ‘Haggerty tells me you are on a good thing.’ Ho then said, ‘ Well, it is a low Toby job,’ meaning violence and robbery. “We parted, and two days after we met again and decided the night should bo Saturday, November 6. “1 asked who was in it, and he said ‘Yourself, Haggerty, and myself.’ We all met again three days later at the Black Horse, and Holloway said: Our business is to * knock * a.gentleman on the Hounslow road, who travels rich. We drank for three or four hours, and in the middle of tho next day set off for Hounslow. “Wo stopped at tho Bell public house and took some porter, and went on to Belfont, where we had more drink, and expressed tho hope we should have good booty. When we reached the eleventh milestone we secreted ourselves in a clump of trees. While there the moon came up, and Holloway cursed and said we had come too soon. “After loitering for a considerable time, we heard footsteps, and saw a man coming towards us. I shouted to him to stop, which he immediately did. Holloway went round him and told him to deliver up everything ho had. tie said we should have his money, and hoped we would not ill-use him. “ Tho man put bis hand in his pocket and gave his money to Haggerty, who put it in Ins pocket. I , thon ,:,^ s^f r . man for his pocket book. He said he had not got one. Holloway insisted ho must have a pocket book, and if he did not deliver ho would knock lum do “Tiiieu laid hold of his legs, and Holloway stood by him and said: It you cry out J. 1 !! knock your brains out. The man again asked us not to hurt him. Haggerty then searched him but he struggled so much ho pushed us right across the road. He cried out very loudly: ‘Help! They are murdering me!’ . As a carriage was comum up, Haggerty'said ‘I will silence the skunk, and struck him violently on the head and body. The man gave a heavy groan and fell lifeless. 1 was frightoned, and said to Haggerty; tthat have you dono? You have killed him. Ho replied: ‘That is a lie. Ho is only stunned.’ I said I would stay no longer, and set off for London, leaving Haggerty unci Holloway with, tho body.” THE DEAD MAN’S HAT. Hanfield, however, lingered at Hounslow, drinking in an inn. Iresentlv his two companions came up, and one said “ 1 have done the trick, and as a token of this put the dead man’s hat into Hanfield’s hand. The hat Holloway had gone out in was like a soldier’s hat; this was quite different. Hanfield told Holloway it was a cruel bit of business, and he was sorry he had come out with them. Ihey then all turned down a lane and wont to London. As they went along Hanfield asked Holloway if he had got the pocket book. He replied, very roughly, that was no business of another man. The imprudent Holloway appeared at his old haunt in Dyott street the next day wearing tho dead man’s hat, which was far too small for him. He took it off and put it on Hanfield’s read, say-ing-“‘You have it.” That night they put the hat in a handkerchief, failed it with stones, and dropped it in the Thames, where it sank. ' In cross-examination Hanfield said he denied he made a deathbed confession. He was talking with other Newgate prisoners about recent robberies, and the Hounslow robbery and murder had been mentioned He inadvertently said there were only three persons who knew the truth about it. The remark was pounced on and commented upon by tho prisoners, who thought they had a “nose” (informer) in the gaol, and he was obliged to hold his tongue or be ill-used. A curious story was told by James ; Bishop, a Bow street police officer, who j said he acted as “ official eavesdropper ” to special prisoners. THE EAVESDROPPER. He said at tho police station there were some strong rooms for the safekeeping of some particular prisoners, i The prisoners had been confined in these strong rooms, and he secreted himself in a small chamber at the back, He heard their conversation. He made copies of theso notes and gave them to tho police court magistrate. Mr Andrews, a fiery advocate, who appeared for the prisoners, said this was a monstrous proceeding, and that it was impossible for tho officer to hear every word, and that the minds of the officers, for the sake of conviction rewards; were always prejudiced against the prisoner, , , , His objections were overruled by tho judge at tho sessions court, and the fragments of conversation produced. The general gist showed the two prisoners. .Haggtfrty and Holloway, hoped “Judas”- Hanfield would bo

hanged without giving testimony enough to convict them. The prosecution being closed,- the Wo prisoners were asked for their defence. Haggerty protested ho was completely innocent of the charge, waa_ totally ignorant of Hanfield, and denied ever being at Hounslow. Ho also pointed oat some inconsistencies in the informer’s evidence. u Holloway also denied the charge. He might have been in the company or Haggerty and Hanfield, but knew nothing about either of them. The judged summed up the case m clear and convincing language. He made many observations of a humane character on the testimony or Hanfield. “ Gentlemen, receive it with caution,” he told the jury. The jury were absent from court ter fifteen minutes, and returned a verdict of “ Guilty ” against both prisoners. The judge immediately left the bench, and, according to the city rule, the recorder sat to pass, the death sentence, it being a jealous prerogative which was not abolished for another forty years. Ho said the accused must die in the public street outside Newgate. Both were lawless felons and enemies of society. He, moreover, adjudged they should die on the coming Monday-morn-ing. Both men left the court angrily protesting their innocence, and loading the head of “Judas” with blasphemy and curses. The old records’ of the grim gaol contain a curious record of their last hours. “ On Sunday, February 21, the cell door, in which both were confined, was opened by a visitor accompanied by a turnkey. The air was chill and the cell dank; the time 2.30 in the small hours. Both prisoners had' been refused a light, but the humane keeper of Newgate had granted each a candle. There they sat, on the verge of death, poring over a prayer book given them by the ordinary of the gaol. “ Being deprived of the benefit t of clergy, they were riot allowed to attend divine 'service in the chapel, nor had they the benefit of the funeral service. Through the night neither slept, but engaged through the long hours in protesting their mutual innocence and unreadiness to face the gallows.” At 5 o’clock Haggerty and Holloway were given breakfast, and allowed to wash and shave. At 7 they appeared in the Press yard, to have their irons knocked off. BEFORE THE GALLOWS. A message was delivered to the sherilf and beadles gathered in the outer hall, saying Holloway wished te speak to the senior sheriff in private. There was much excitement, as it was assumed ho intended to confess.

The sheriff, on returning to the Press yard, said the prisoner would address them publicly. Thereupon a circle was formed under the dim flickering lights, and Holloway said:— “ Gentlemen, I am quite innocent of this affair. I never was with Hanfiold, nor do I know the spot mentioned. 1 will kneel and swear it.” Then he went down on his knees and cursed and imprecated Hanfield, assuring everybody, upon the word of a dying man, that he was innocent. Just before 8 o’clock the ordinary of Newgate announced in a sonorous voice: “ I am the Resurrection and theLifel” It was the signal, and the sheriff, beadles, and other officials fell into double line while the opening of the great doors allowed a rush of cold, dank air to enter. It needed fortitude for Haggerty and Holloway, supported on either side by turnkeys, to mount the stairs to the first floor of the gloomy gaol. Passing through a small door above the debtors’ gate, they faced an incredible audience in the cbill morning air. A woman, Elizabeth Godfrey, was to bo hanged with the two men. She had figured in the Marylebone lane murder, and had stabbed her lover fatally with a pocket knife. A MURDERER’S TEARS. Haggerty first ascended to the scaffold, his hands strapped and the halter trailing round his neck. He wore a light cap and a light olive shag greatcoat. Ho looked downwards, closed his eyes, and for the first time a few tears ran down his face. Nest came Holloway in smock frock and jacket The vast mob, thirsting for scenes were not disappointed. He was pinioned and wore a white cap; and as he faced the mob he gave an awkward jump and cried in a high, hysterical voice; “I am innocent, innocent, by God 1” The hangman pursued him round the platform, but ho cried out insistently: “ I am innocent, innocent—gentlemen, no verdicb—a false tribunal.” He then made au attempt to cast himself over the front railings of the scaffold. He was secured and held on the drop. Then came the woman, stumbling through the door. _ Over her face the white cap was adjusted, and, as a quarter-past 8 was chiming from St. Paul’s, “the new drop” fell, and the prisoners sank, as it were, to their knees. Even while the three bodies hung lifeless a horrible tragedy was being enacted before the gallows. Forty thousand people, it is estimated, had gathered in the narrow Newgate street and confines of the Old Bailey and Ludgato Hill. In a^* 01 ’; every roof was covered, and window scats sold at a guinea. CRUSHED TO DEATH. The pressure in the crowd was so fearful, even before the malefactors appeared, that people were crying out m horror they were being crushed to death. Females in the crowd who were imprudent enough to venture out were thrown to the ground and trampled into pulp. Others who were at first supported by husbands or friends could no longer be hold up, and fell, beaten into a-mass by the churning feet. From all parts, and while the drama of the scaffold was beginning, cries of “Murder! Murder!” filled the air. A babe at the breast, earned by a mother, was caught as the woman fell, and thrown from hand to hand across the crowd until a man hold it and crept beneath a cart for shelter. When at last the streets were cleared there were over one hundred dead and hundreds of injured strewn around the streets. A cartload of hats and caps, [handkerchiefs, petticoats, and other i articles were picked up. The doors of 1 St. Bartholomew’s Hospital were closed ■ to the public, and the bodies of the dead were stripped and washed and arranged in rows around a special ward. It was midnight before the searchers ! for their dear ones had finished their 1 dreadful task. j Henceforth a “popular” execution ; meant the erection of barricades in Newgate street, Ludgate Hill, and the j Old Bailey precincts.