The Virginia Gazette

London, Nov. 11. Yesterday e'en night died Mr. George Smith, a Peruke Maker in Red-Lion-Court in Fleet-street.

The Circumstances which were the Occasion of his Death, we think worth communicating to the Publick, both as a Caution against Street-Robbers, and as an Instance of the Audaciousness of those Villains: The Day fortnight before he died, as he was walking homewards in Fleet-street, within a few Doors of Red-Lyon-Court, about 7 o'Clock in the Evening, three or four Fellows knock'd him down with Sticks, allured, as we suppose, by the Sight of a Brass-headed Cane which he had in his Hand, which they took perhaps for Gold; he fell on his Face, the Rogues seiz'd his Cane and Hat, and made off without Discovery: Some of his Neighbours helped him home, where he was attended by Mr. Holloway the Surgeon: He had a Contusion in his Head, his Nose was very much cut and batter'd, and being very corpulent he receiv'd the more Damage in his Fall; one of his Knees was much hurt and swell'd, and afterwards mortified, which occasion'd his Death. Thus we see an honest Man, by whose Care a Wife and 6 Children were provided for, destroy'd by a Gang of Villains for the Value of a Quartern of Gin; for the Things which they took were of little more Value. If these vile scandalous Practices are not sufficient to have all Street-Robbers hang'd that are condemn'd, what are?