On our London walks that take in Old Bailey we have ample reason to discuss London’s less than salubrious past.
The Central Criminal Courts (or The Old Bailey) stand on the site of Newgate Prison, which was demolished in 1902. The prison looms large in London’s Criminal History and several of our London walks, such as The Haunted City, Secret London, and Ghosts, Ghouls and Graveyards incorporate it in one way or another.
One of the character we talk about is the infamous, thief-taker and police spy, Jonathon Wild, who is said to have been responsible for the execution of one hundred and twenty malefactors. In the end he was executed himself on 24th May 1725.
Wild was one of the cleverest rogues who ever lived, and it has been said that he was a more expert thief than the criminals he arrested. He was a criminal by instinct from an early age, and had a brazen effrontery which enabled him to carry on his crooked business within the protection of the law.
With the aid of a woman of the underworld, Wild became acquainted with all the gangs of crooks in London. He ascertained their methods, knew when they were about to commit a robbery, and where they disposed of their ill-gotten gains. For a time he worked with them on a partnership basis.
When the Act of William III was passed making “receiving” a penal offence, it was Wild who devised a scheme for frustrating the law.
As soon as an important robbery was committed Wild received intelligence of it through his spies. He then went to the thieves and ascertained to whom the property belonged.
The next step was a visit by Wild or his mistress, Mrs. Milliner, to the victims announcing that they were able to recover the booty for a consideration. In nearly every case an arrangement was made. It was much safer than acting the part of a receiver of stolen goods.
In course of time Wild attained the reputation of an honest citizen. He was recognized as a friend of justice, and was actually encouraged by the forces of law and order and magistrates.
To make his position more secure Wild found it necessary occasionally to inform against some of the criminals, and, being paid for every arrest for which he was responsible, his business flourished.
It is a testimony to the vast extent of his business that he was responsible for the execution of so many criminals.
An addition to his income were the bribes he received from criminals to save them from arrest.
Sometimes owners of stolen property suspected that Wild was not such a public benefactor as he appeared. But, whenever questions were asked as to his methods, Jonathan Wild would reply:-
Do I not do the greatest good when I persuade these wicked people who have deprived them of their properties to restore them again for a reasonable consideration ? And Are not the villains whom I have, so industriously brought to suffer that punishment which the law, for the sake of its honest subjects, thinks fit to inflict upon them in this respect, I say, does not their death show how much use I am. to the country ? Why then, should people asperse me, or endeavour to take away my bread ?
This candid admission kept Wild safe from molestation by the law for many years, and yet, practically every move he made was deserving of the gallows as the law then stood.
There were times when thieves were inclined to revolt against the regime of Jonathan Wild. In such a case he took opportunity to deliver a homily on the penalties of breaking the law. Threats of the gallows usually brought such crooks to heel.
After a time it was never necessary for victims of robberies to be visited. They came to Wild’s office to make inquiries as to the whereabouts of stolen goods.
Before Wild would agree to make any investigations he hinted that a crown would lubricate the machinery. The money was generally forthcoming, and the client went away in great hopes of receiving back his property.
Occasionally it necessitated the client calling two or three times at Wild’s office. Each time he paid money which Wild received with the utmost grace and apparent reluctance..
Though Wild’s activities were often exposed by criminals in the court, his effrontery carried him through. In January, 1723, when he was betrayed by three unfortunate wretches he had apprehended, he-made the following statement
When someone came tip me about the robbery, I made it my business to search after the prisoners, for I had heard that they used to rob about Hampstead. I went about the more willingly because they had threatened to shoot me through the head. I offered £10 a head for any person who would discover them ; upon which a woman came and told me that the prisoners had been with her husband, to entice him to turn out with them, and if I would promise he should come and go safely he would give me some intelligence.
I gave her my promise, and her husband came and told me that Levee and Blake, two of the party, were at that time cleaning their pistols in Fetter Lane. I went thither and seized them both.
At last Wild committed a crime which the authorities could not gloss over. He was arrested on a charge of assisting a prisoner to escape from prison.
An additional charge on the warrant read :
For many years past he has been a confederate with great numbers of highwaymen, pickpockets, housebreakers, shoplifters and other thieves. He has often sold human blood by procuring false evidence to swear persons into facts of which they were not guilty.
He was brought t0 trial on May 15th 1725, was found guilty and executed at Tyburn on the 24th May.
On our Legal London walks, and Walk in Medical London we cover the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Here in their Museum you can actually see the skeleton of Jonathon Wild because who was dissected after his execution.
Tags: Jonathon Wild, london walk, London walks, Newgate Prison, Old Bailey, Thief Taker
