He was convey'd to St.
_Ann's Round House_ in _Soho_, and kept secure till the next Morning,
when _Edgworth Bess_ came to visit him, who was seiz'd also; they were
carried before Justice _Walters_, when the People in _Drury-Lane_ and
_Clare-Market_ appeared, and charged them with the Robberies
aforemention'd: But _Sheppard_ pretending to Impeach certain of his
Accomplices, the Justice committed them to _New-Prison_, with intent to
have them soon removed to _Newgate_, unless there came from them some
useful Discoveries. _Sheppard_ was now a second time in the hands of
Justice, but how long he intended to keep in them, the Reader will soon
be able to Judge.
He and his MATE were now in a strong and well guarded Prison, himself
loaded with a pair of double _Links_ and _Basils_[17] of about fourteen
pounds weight, and confined together in the safest Appartment call'd
_Newgate Ward_; _Sheppard_ conscious of his Crimes, and knowing the
_Information_ he had made to be but a blind Amusement that would avail
him nothing; he began to Meditate an Escape. They had been thus detained
for about four Days, and their Friends having the Liberty of seeing
them, furnish'd him with Implements proper for his Design, accordingly
Mr. _Sheppard_ goes to work, and on the 25th of May being _Whit-son
Monday_ at about two of the Clock in the Morning, he had compleated a
practicable breach, and sawed of his Fetters; having with unheard of
Diligence and Dexterity, cut off an Iron Bar from the Window, and taken
out a Muntin, or Bar of the most solid Oak of about nine Inches in
thickness, by boring it thro' in many Places, a work of great Skill and
Labour; they had still five and twenty Foot to descend from the Ground;
_Sheppard_ fasten'd a Sheet and Blanket to the Bars, and causes Madam to
take off her Gown and Petticoat, and sent her out first, and she being
more Corpulent than himself, it was with great Pain and Difficulty that
he got her through the Interval, and observing his Directions, was
instantly down, and more frighted than hurt; the _Phylosopher_ follow'd,
and lighted with Ease and Pleasure; But where are they Escap'd to? Why
out of one Prison into another.
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