248:. Although a sum of money equal to that stolen in the robbery was found on his person, as well as a pistol similar to that stolen from Percival, Darkin claimed to be an unwitting victim of circumstance. His testimony in his defence asserted his name was Dumas; that he was a native of the West Indies who, unfamiliar with the locality, had lost his way and sought refuge in a local village. The pistol found on him was explained as one of a pair he had purchased. He claimed that he had lost the other pistol on the road and suggested that the real highwayman had found the pistol and used it in the commission of the crime. The crape he explained away as a neckerchief and a souvenir of his time in military service, during which he participated in the
294:. Later on the day of the crime, the highwayman made his way to a local inn, where he left two letters with the innkeeper, to be despatched to London in the next post. Unfortunately for him, his victim Gammon had visited the same inn two hours previously and had given an account of the crime to the innkeeper, who recognised Darking from the description given by Gammon. The letters were sent to Gammon in London, who forwarded them to Sir
233:
highwayman, but in the ensuing pursuit, Darkin produced another pistol. Percival attempted to shoot at him, but his gun misfired. Darkin approached
Percival again with demands for his purse, but on Percival's assurances that he had no more money to hand, the highwayman accepted the word of Percival and retreated from the scene, only asking that Percival would not appear as a witness against him in any subsequent court case.
59:, attended a boarding school in Kent. After the death of his father in 1754, Darkin, along with his sister, took over the running of the family business. Within a few years they had closed down the business and this is when Darkin was drawn to a life of crime. Operating successfully as a highwayman in the
255:
During his incarceration awaiting trial, Darkin was the subject of much attention from the ladies of the upper classes of
Salisbury, with many visiting the gaol. It was suggested that had he wished, he could have married a woman of means and left his profession in safety; the attention he garnered
425:
The
Newgate calendar: Comprising interesting memoirs of the most notorious characters who have been convicted of outrages on the laws of England since the commencement of the eighteenth century; with occasional anecdotes and observations, speeches, confessions, and last exclamations of sufferers,
272:
On his release, Darkin hastily made his way to London, and again returned to being a highwayman. In the following weeks, he continued his robberies, at first near London, and later fearing detection, further from the capital. A description of one encounter recounts that when he held up a coach of
232:
to hide his face, produced a gun and
Percival handed over a sum of money of about 13 guineas – he was unsure of the exact amount. Darkin believed that he carried more money and demanded that Percival's purse be produced with the threat of "blowing his brains out". Percival managed to disarm the
175:, he left immediately for London, telling the ship's captain that he was going to raise the promised reward from friends. Darkin swiftly resumed his career as a highwayman in the west and midlands of England, deliberately avoiding Essex and using the aliases Harris and Hamilton. According to the
240:
for a bed for the night. The farmer directed him to a local public-house, where later in the night, the highwayman was captured by a group of locals. This group included the farmer who had at the time of their meeting recognised him from the reports of the robbery.
361:
that just after his execution, the gallows was surrounded by a group of local bargemen, who took the body to a nearby church where, according to the report, "while some rang the bell, others opened the belly, filled it with quicklime, and then buried the body."
325:
the clergyman, who was a student at Oxford at the time, attended the
Assizes that day and recorded in his diary that over the course of four hours one man (Darkin) was sentenced to death, seven were sentenced to transportation and one was sentenced
347:
reported, had "his hair dressed in the most fashionable manner every morning". On the day of his execution, 23 March 1761, he placed the noose over his head and, without waiting for the assistance of the hangman, stepped off the ladder.
252:. Neither Percival or his driver could identify Darkin as their assailant with certainty and he was found not guilty. After his acquittal, he successfully petitioned the court for the return of his possessions, including the money.
321:. Faced with overwhelming evidence, the jury took only a few minutes to reach a guilty verdict. An appeal for clemency was rejected by the judge and Darkin was sentenced to death by hanging. The trial lasted less than one day;
78:
in
February 1758. He pleaded guilty to one of the eight charges laid against him. Although given a capital sentence on account of his youth the judge granted a reprieve and sentenced him to fourteen years of
102:
Darkin was not in the army long before he persuaded a captain of a merchant navy ship, with the promise of a reward, to smuggle him back to
England, an offence that carried a fine of £100 at that time.
83:. However, due to his role in uncovering a plot by prisoners to kill the prison keeper and escape, and the intercession of the grateful keeper, Darkin was given a pardon on the condition he joined the
663:
643:
638:
236:
Evading an attempt to capture him several hours later, which included a four-hour pursuit and a fall from his horse, an exhausted Darkin asked a local farmer near the village of
193:. His naval service did not interfere unduly with his criminal career as he availed of a leave of absence during which he returned to his former activities in the vicinity of
302:. Darkin was captured a few days later, while in bed at his London lodgings in the company of "a woman of the town"; his attempt at escape failed and he was brought to
179:, Darkin spent the proceeds of his crimes on "lewd women". Thinking his growing notoriety would lead to his capture, he sought safety from the law by joining the
602:
683:
673:
648:
688:
317:
saying a witness that would prove his innocence was ill and unable to attend the trial, but this was dismissed by the court as it wasn't signed by a
84:
678:
668:
633:
583:
205:
333:
While in prison awaiting his fate, he was reported to have drunk freely and entertained himself (and others) by reading from
249:
653:
628:
63:
area, his robberies over a nine-month period helped support an extravagant lifestyle, reputedly with many mistresses.
313:
awaiting his trial, which took place on 6 March 1761. Darkin made an attempt to put off the trial by producing an
286:
apothecary by the name of Robert Gammon of a gold watch, one Guinea and five
Shillings on a highway near the
658:
549:
357:
185:
201:
99:
three times within seven weeks before being appointed to the undemanding role of servant to an officer.
335:
71:
He was eventually apprehended and put on trial for robbing a
Captain Cockburn, Darkin was tried at the
623:
618:
80:
218:
532:
430:
273:
ladies, he declined the opportunity to rob the occupants, but decided in lieu of booty to dance a
506:
463:
299:
283:
579:
553:
480:
399:
256:
lead a wag to compose a song called "Certain Belles to Dumas", which was later republished in
573:
340:
55:
569:
322:
164:
42:
282:
In August 1760, he committed yet another robbery which was to be his last. He deprived a
526:
500:
423:
352:
330:
and then released. (Woodforde was among the many who visited Darkin in his gaol cell.)
327:
303:
209:
194:
612:
310:
295:
96:
95:. He sailed to Antigua in January 1759. Service life did not suit Darkin and he was
459:
257:
88:
287:
528:
The
Criminal recorder; or, Biographical sketches of notorious public characters
351:
Before his death, Darkin had expressed a fear that his body would be taken for
318:
190:
180:
172:
72:
30:
314:
291:
245:
46:
275:
482:
A history, military and municipal of the ancient borough of the Devizes
222:
gave the following account of the encounter. On approaching Percival's
213:
212:
who was travelling to Bath; the attack took place on 22 June 1760 near
92:
75:
237:
223:
107:
Return to England, career in the Navy and resumption of life of crime
50:
343:. It was noted that he gave much attention to his attire and as the
228:
60:
309:
Darkin was transferred to Oxford, where he was incarcerated in
244:
Darkin was put on trial again, this time at the Assizes in
200:
This spree culminated notably in the robbery of around 13
25:; 2 April 1740 – 23 March 1761), who also used the alias
268:
Return to London, his capture and journey to the gallows
603:
Meet the inhabitants of Oxford Castle – Unlocked
605:
Darkin as portrayed in an exhibition at Oxford Castle
664:British Army personnel who were court-martialled
644:People executed by the Kingdom of Great Britain
639:People executed by England and Wales by hanging
114:
499:Roberson, George; Green, John Richard (1859).
41:Darkin was born on 2 April 1740, the son of a
8:
422:Knapp, Andrew; Baldwin, William Lee (1825).
393:
391:
389:
387:
385:
383:
381:
379:
377:
375:
520:
518:
516:
454:
452:
450:
448:
446:
444:
442:
440:
67:First trial, exile and escape from Antigua
544:
542:
417:
415:
413:
411:
575:The diary of a country parson, 1758-1802
494:
492:
371:
140: Sweet youth! if thou wilt marry.
525:A Student of the Inner Temple (1811).
479:Waylen, James; Goddard, E. H. (1859).
152:Yet think not when the chains are off
138:Thou ne'er again shall tempt the road
37:Early life and start of life of crime
7:
339:, identifying with the character of
158: We'll chain thee by the neck.
149: And pistols; we'll secure 'em
145: Avoid thee; – we'll insure 'em
129:Could we our hearts to guineas coin,
118: Hast 'scaped the fatal string;
116:Joy to thee, lovely thief! that thou
684:18th-century British Army personnel
674:British people convicted of robbery
171:On his return, where he arrived at
131: Those guineas all were thine
649:Northamptonshire Regiment soldiers
147:To us thou shalt consign thy balls
120:Let gallows groan with ugly rogues
14:
689:18th-century Royal Navy personnel
398:Maitland, William Fuller (1761).
189:, where he was soon promoted to
154: Which now thy legs bedeck,
143:No more shall niggard travellers
429:. J. Robins & Co. pp.
136: His loaded pockets carry;
679:Military personnel from London
669:People from the City of London
502:Oxford during the last century
401:The London chronicle, Volume 9
353:dissection by medical students
127: Our purses we'll resign;
125:Dost theek money? to thy wants
122: Dumas must never swing.
1:
156:To fly; in fetters softer far
134:To Bath in safety let my lord
505:. Slatter and Rose. p.
45:-cutter. He was born in the
634:Executed people from London
33:in the eighteenth century.
705:
485:. Longman, Brown & Co.
550:MacKinnon, Frank Douglas
279:with each of the women.
328:to be burnt on the hand
183:. He served aboard the
163:Anonymous, reported in
112:Certain Belles to Dumas
53:, and according to the
250:invasion of Guadeloupe
160:
555:On circuit, 1924-1937
531:. J. Cundee. p.
355:. It was reported by
85:48th Regiment of Foot
358:Gentleman's Magazine
226:, Darkin, wearing a
91:, then stationed at
87:, a regiment of the
654:Royal Navy officers
465:The Annual Register
219:The Annual Register
165:The Annual Register
629:English highwaymen
336:The Beggar's Opera
300:Bow Street Runners
204:and a pistol from
29:, was a notorious
21:(also rendered as
572:(8 August 2011).
468:. pp. 51–54.
208:, the son of the
696:
590:
589:
578:. pp. 5–6.
570:Woodforde, James
566:
560:
559:
546:
537:
536:
522:
511:
510:
496:
487:
486:
476:
470:
469:
456:
435:
434:
419:
406:
405:
395:
345:London Chronicle
177:London Chronicle
167:
97:court-martialled
56:London Chronicle
704:
703:
699:
698:
697:
695:
694:
693:
609:
608:
599:
594:
593:
586:
568:
567:
563:
548:
547:
540:
524:
523:
514:
498:
497:
490:
478:
477:
473:
458:
457:
438:
421:
420:
409:
397:
396:
373:
368:
323:James Woodforde
270:
262:Annual Register
169:
162:
157:
155:
153:
148:
146:
144:
139:
137:
135:
130:
128:
126:
121:
119:
117:
113:
109:
69:
39:
12:
11:
5:
702:
700:
692:
691:
686:
681:
676:
671:
666:
661:
659:Crime in Essex
656:
651:
646:
641:
636:
631:
626:
621:
611:
610:
607:
606:
598:
597:External links
595:
592:
591:
584:
561:
558:. p. 253.
538:
512:
488:
471:
462:, ed. (1761).
436:
407:
404:. p. 299.
370:
369:
367:
364:
304:Newgate Prison
269:
266:
210:Earl of Egmont
111:
110:
108:
105:
81:transportation
68:
65:
38:
35:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
701:
690:
687:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
660:
657:
655:
652:
650:
647:
645:
642:
640:
637:
635:
632:
630:
627:
625:
622:
620:
617:
616:
614:
604:
601:
600:
596:
587:
585:9781853113116
581:
577:
576:
571:
565:
562:
557:
556:
551:
545:
543:
539:
534:
530:
529:
521:
519:
517:
513:
508:
504:
503:
495:
493:
489:
484:
483:
475:
472:
467:
466:
461:
455:
453:
451:
449:
447:
445:
443:
441:
437:
432:
428:
427:
418:
416:
414:
412:
408:
403:
402:
394:
392:
390:
388:
386:
384:
382:
380:
378:
376:
372:
365:
363:
360:
359:
354:
349:
346:
342:
338:
337:
331:
329:
324:
320:
316:
312:
311:Oxford Castle
307:
305:
301:
297:
296:John Fielding
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
277:
267:
265:
263:
259:
253:
251:
247:
242:
239:
234:
231:
230:
225:
221:
220:
215:
211:
207:
206:Lord Percival
203:
198:
196:
192:
188:
187:
182:
178:
174:
168:
166:
159:
150:
141:
132:
123:
106:
104:
100:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
77:
74:
66:
64:
62:
58:
57:
52:
48:
44:
36:
34:
32:
28:
24:
20:
16:
574:
564:
554:
527:
501:
481:
474:
464:
460:Edmund Burke
424:
400:
356:
350:
344:
334:
332:
308:
281:
274:
271:
261:
258:Edmund Burke
254:
243:
235:
227:
217:
199:
186:Royal George
184:
176:
170:
161:
151:
142:
133:
124:
115:
101:
89:British Army
70:
54:
49:district of
40:
26:
22:
19:Isaac Darkin
18:
17:
15:
624:1761 deaths
619:1740 births
290:village of
288:Oxfordshire
224:post-chaise
613:Categories
366:References
319:magistrate
284:Smithfield
191:Midshipman
181:Royal Navy
173:Portsmouth
73:Chelmsford
31:highwayman
315:affidavit
292:Nettlebed
246:Salisbury
47:Eastcheap
552:(1940).
426:Volume 2
341:Macheath
298:and the
276:couranto
214:Devizes
202:guineas
93:Antigua
76:Assizes
23:Darking
582:
238:Upavon
51:London
433:–287.
229:crape
61:Essex
27:Dumas
580:ISBN
195:Bath
43:cork
533:198
431:284
260:'s
216:.
615::
541:^
515:^
507:73
491:^
439:^
410:^
374:^
306:.
264:.
197:.
588:.
535:.
509:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.