| Citation |
BEP(F.750.045
26 Nov 1750:12 (798)
London. . . Sept. 17. Our papers having taken some notice
of the condemnation of one Toby Gill, a black, a the last
assizes for the county of Suffolk; but the enormity of his
crime, which was murder, has not been sufficiently made
known. He was a drummer in Sir Robert Rich's regiment and a
very drunken profligate fellow. He met, or overtook, the
poor woman he murdered upon the road, and on her refusing to
comply with his lewd proposal, strangled her with her own
handkerchief, and then abused her dying and dead. Overcome
with liquor, he was found asleep by the body, and
immediately sent to prison. He was convicted on clear
evidence, and ordered to be hung in chains. The very worthy
person who tried him, expressed himself in passing sentence
thus, "I never before desired a power of extending legal
penalties; but if I had such a power, I should exercise it
in this case."
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