The Virginia Gazette

Jan. 1. Last Monday night, between the hours of eleven and twelve, as Robert Jones, Esq; was on his journey to his seat in the country, in a post coach and four, accompanied by William Thomas, Esq; and the Rev. Mr. Bruce, at the west end of Hounslow Heath a man on horseback rushed from under a hedge and made a blow at Mr. Jones's footman, who was riding by the first postillion. The servant then fell back behind the carriage, and the fellow, in passing, struck at the second postillion, but the blow fell on the coach, and alarmed the Gentlemen within, who got their fire arms ready. The man then struck Mr. Jones's servant over the eye, but did not knock him off, who thereupon rode to the coach side, and told his master what had happened, who ordered him to go again behind the carriage, and give him notice if the fellow attempted to follow it, which he immediately did. The fellow coming up towards the coach, calling out with horrid imprecations to the postillions, Mr. Jones fired just as his horse's head was at the coach door, and the fellow said, 'You have missed me by G-d,' and rode off full speed. One of the postillions then mounted the servant's horse, and went in pursuit of him, and Mr. Jones and his friends, apprehending he might have an accomplice, got out of the carriage and walked on; but before they had got two hundred yards from the carriage they found him on the ground, a little out of the road, wounded. They took him into the coach, and carried him to the King's Head at Longford, where he said he was known. He proves to be one John Tillier, a farmer, who lived but a very little way from the King's Head, and who was well known in the whole neighbourhood for repeated tricks of this kind in his cups. He had been hot at before, and prosecuted several times for ill behaviour on the road. It is somewhat remarkable that he had gone from the King's Head about an hour before on foot, had returned to his own stable, taken a horse, and rode out upon the heath, what purpose is hitherto doubtful. The ball entered at the breast, and penetrated at the thorax. The man is still living, but his recovery is very uncertain. No arms were found on him but a large stick with a rough head, which had the appearance of a gun in the night.