The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

NEW YORK, Sept. 23.

On Friday the 17th Instant, at Morris Town, in East New-Jersey, was executed David Reynolds a Native of Ireland, about 32 Years of Age, for counterfeiting the Money Bills of Credit of that Colony.--- He arrived there about ten Years ago, and chiefly followed the farming Business, 'till getting acquainted with one Roecrans, (executed some Time ago for the like Crime, but without declaring his accomplices) he was by him led into the Scheme of making and passing counterfeit Money; after the Execution of Roecrans, Reynolds accidentally met with Captain Richardson (of Philadelphia, who is fled) and getting acquainted with each other's Character, was by him introduced to Ford, Haynes, Cooper, Budd, King, and the rest of the Gang. Ford the Principal, termed by the rest, the Treasurer of the 3 Provinces, had counterfeited the Money Bills of New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, in so masterly a Manner as not to be distinguished from the true Bills without the nicest inspection, and also several of the Gold and Silver Coins current in the British Colonies; and in passing these, Reynolds and the Rest of the Accomplices continued, till Ford and King were imprisoned in Morris County Goal, from whence they soon after made their Escape, as mentioned in the Papers. One of the Gang being convicted of aiding them in their Escape and other high Misdemeanors, to mitigate his Punishment, made some Confessions tending to the Discovery of the rest, which alarmed another, who made an ample Confession of the Whole, in consequence of which, Reynolds, Haynes, Cooper, and Budd, were tried, confessed their Guilt, and were condemned to be hanged. Their Execution was ordered to be on the 17th Instant; before the Time, Budd, and Haynes were respited for a Month, but Reynolds and Cooper were ordered to prepare for Execution at the Time appointed. A few Minutes before the Time, Cooper confessed himself privy to the Robbery of the Treasury at Amboy, and that he received Three Hundred Pounds of the Money; on which he also was respited till he should make further Discoveries. Reynolds was therefore ordered for Execution alone, at which he seemed much affected and burst into Tears, but thro' the Assistance of a Minister who attended him, he grew calm, and resigned to his Fate. His Behaviour during his Confinement and after his Sentence, was penitent & submissive; he shewed a proper Sensibility of his unhappy Situation, & earnestly exhorted his Companions in Guilt, to a sincere Repentance. On the fatal Day, he took an affecting Leave of them; and they all discovered the most lively Expressions of that Distress to which their Crimes and Follies had reduced them, which drew Tears from the Eyes of the Spectators. At the Place of Execution Reynolds sung and prayed very earnestly, and in a short but pathetic Speech, warned the People to avoid the Vices that had undone him, and earnestly requested them not to reflect on his innocent Wife and helpless Infants.

Cooper, in his Confession about robbing the Treasury at Amboy said, that it was concerted by Ford and perpetrated by him and three Soldiers then quartered there; that the Plan was first to attempt to carry off the Iron Chest, if that failed, to take the Key from Mr. Skinner's Bed-room, and to kill him or any Person who should discover them; and that if afterwards any of them should be suspected & convicted, they were to turn King's Evidence and accuse Mr. Skinner as the only accomplice with them When some of them were shock'd at this Proposal as thereby an innocent Man might loose his Life; Ford replied no, damn him, he will only be condemned, he has Friends enough to save him from the Gallows. That after breaking into the Treasurer's office, adjoining to his Bed Room, they attempted to carry off the Chest, but finding it difficult, set it down again, and breaking open a Desk in the Room, in Hopes to find Money, they therein found an old Key to the Money Chest, which was rusty and thought unfit for Use (the Key then used being in Mr. Skinner's Bed Room,) with this old Key, they opened the Iron Chest, and thereby the Lives, that would have been exposed by their Search for the other Key, were probably preserved. The Governor and Council of New-Jersey are to meet in a few Days, to enquire further into the Particulars relative to this Matter.

The last Accounts of Ford, the most heinious of this destructive Gang, are, that he was seen asleep under a Tree, guarded by King and another Man well armed; they take their Rest alternately in this Manner. Ford is reduced by a Fever, joined by a Complication of the most loathsome Distempers, which prevents his traveling now any more than five Miles a Day, and as there are some very determined People engaged in Pursuit of him, he is ere now either found dead or taken alive.

A Gentleman who lately came from Philadelphia relates, that it was currently reported there, that Richardson was taken in Virginia, that he had been pursued by three Men, that he had killed two of them, and made a Pass with a Sword at the third who with his Hand parried the Sword and took it away.