The Virginia Gazette

Yesterday James Sampson was committed to the New Prison by Sir John Fielding, being charged on oath, and on his own confession, with having feloniously taken and carried away out of the house of the Right Hon. General Conway one Bank note value 500l. four of 100l. each, and one of 25l. and also having intentionally set fire to the writing table out of which the said notes were taken. It appeared on his examination that he was formerly an under secretary to an embassy in a neighbouring kingdom, and always made a very genteel appearance in publick; and that the General had kindly advanced him to a very pretty employment, and intended to take further care of him. Previous to his committing the robbery he concealed himself in an unoccupied garret, and stole down without his shoes, when he fancied the family were asleep, to the library where the notes were deposited, setting the drawer on fire when he got them into his possession. After this he escaped out of the window, and sat on the garden wall, attending to the progress of the flame, until the neighbourhood was alarmed. Next morning he went to the Bank and received money for some of the notes, and continued his attendance on the General as usual, without being in the least suspected. During the investigation of the affair, however, at Sir John Fielding's, that magistrate carefully inquired after every body who had been in the General's house on the day preceding the robbery, and this young man's name being mentioned, some conversation succeeded in relation to him, which induced Sir John to wish that the Bank clerks might have a view of his person. Measures were accordingly taken, the clerks saw and recognized him (his going so early for so large a sum to the Bank having led them to observe him attentively) in consequence of which he was committed, and has, we are told, made a confession of the above particulars.