This Night he had a narrow Escape, one Mr. _Ireton_ a Sheriffs Officer
seeing him and _Page_ pass thro' _Drury-Lane_, at about Ten o'clock
pursu'd 'em, and laid hold of _Page_ instead of _Sheppard_, who got off,
thus _Ireton_, missing the main Man, and thinking _Page_ of no
Consequence, let him go after him.
_Edgworth Bess_ had been apprehended by _Jonathan Wild_, and by Sir
_Francis Forbes_ one of the Aldermen of _London_, committed to the
_Poultry-Compter_, for being aiding and assisting to _Sheppard_ in his
Escape; the Keepers and others terrify'd and purg'd her as much as was
possible to discover where he was, but had it been in her Inclination,
it was not in her Power so to do, as it manifestly appear'd soon after.
The People about the _Strand_, _Witch-street_ and _Drury-Lane_, whom he
had Robb'd, and who had prosecuted him were under great Apprensions and
Terror, and in particular Mr. _Kneebone_, on whom he vow'd a bloody
Revenge; because he refus'd to sign a Petition in his behalf to the
_Recorder_ of _London_. This Gentleman was forc'd to keep arm'd People
up in his House every Night till he was Re-taken, and had the same
fortify'd in the strongest manner. Several other Shop-keepers in this
Neighbourhood were also put to great Expence and Trouble to Guard
themselves against this dreadful Villian.
The Keepers of _Newgate_, whom the rash World loaded with Infamy,
stigmatiz'd and branded with the Title of Persons guilty of Bribery;
for Connivance at his Escape, they and what Posse in their Power, either
for Love or Money did Contribute their utmost to undeceive a wrong
notion'd People.
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