The Virginia Gazette

A desperate Attempt was made by the condemned Prisoners in Newgate to break the said Gaol. As Mr. Sinclair the Turnkey, and two of the Runners, were going about 8 in the Evening to lock them up in their Cells, Broughton and Hayes, two notorious Street-robbers, attacked Mr. Sinclair and wounded him with Knives, in a dangerous Manner; the Noise alarming the Gaol, Capt. Chapman, a Prisoner upon an Extent, and James Payce, under Sentence of Transportation, hastened to Sinclair's Assistance, and at the outer Door to the Cells rescued him from his Assailants, and immediately Capt. Chapman pushed to the Door, and had the Prudence to bolt the same, enclosing Payce, two of the Runners, and all the Prisoners within the Cells. By this their Escape was prevented, as they had only the several Cells at their Command. Immediately upon this, Mr. Akerman went to the Tilt-yard and the Tower for two Parties of the Foot-guards; and also to the Sheriff, who immediately came, and the Soldiers took Possession of the Passage to the Press-yard, while the Sheriffs went into Mr. Akerman's House; soon after came the Lord Mayor and Sir William Calvert in a Coach, who, without alighting, drove to the Duke of Newcastle's, to inform his Grace of the Affair; they returned in about an Hour, and then the Lord Mayor ordered the Keeper, with the Captain of the Guard, to go into the Press-yard with a Number of Soldiers, and ask if they would surrender, which they refused to do, upon which, the Officer entered with his Men, and drove the Prisoners to the Top of the Cells, where they were all seized, and heavily iron'd, and five of them, viz. Broughton, Hayes, Agnew, and Fox, and Darby, who was committed for robbing the Western Mail, were Handcuff'd. Their Irons were sewed off with Knives.