he first Robbery
he ever committed and it was not long e're he Repeated another upon this
same Mr. _Bains_, by breaking into his House in the Night-time, and
taking out of the _Till_ seven Pounds in Money, and Goods to the value
of fourteen Pounds more. How he enter'd this House, was a Secret till
his being last committed to _Newgate_, when he confessed that he took up
the Iron Bars at the Cellar Window, and after he had done his Business,
he nailed them down again, so that Mr. _Bains_ never believed his House
had been broke; and an innocent Woman a Lodger in the House lay all the
while under the weight of a suspicion of committing the Robbery.

_Sheppard_ and his Master had now parted, ten Months before the
expiration of his Apprenticeship, a woeful parting to the former; he was
gone from a good and careful Patronage, and lay expos'd to, and comply'd
with the Temptations of the most wicked Wretches this Town could afford
as _Joseph Blake_, alias _Blewskins, William Field, Doleing, James
Sykes_, alias _Hell_ and _Fury_, which last was the first that betray'd,
and put him into the Hands of Justice, as will presently appear.

Having deserted his Master's Service, he took Shelter in the House of
Mr. _Charles_ in _May-Fair_, near _Piccadilly_, and his Landlord having
a Necessity for some Repairs in his House, engag'd one Mr. _Panton_ a
_Carpenter_ to Undertake them, and _Sheppard_ to assist him as a
Journeyman; but on the 23rd of _October_, 1723, e're the Work was
compleat, _Sheppard_ took Occasion to rob the People of the Effects
following, _viz._ seven Pound ten Shillings in Specie, five large silver
Spoons, six plain Forks ditto, four Tea-Spoons, six plain Gold Rings,
and a Cypher Ring; four Suits of Wearing Apparel, besides Linnen, to a
considerable value. This Fact he confess'd to the Reverend Mr.
_Wagstaff_ before his Escape from the Condemn'd Hold of _Newgate_.

_Sheppard_ had a Brother, nam'd _Thomas_, a _Carpenter_ by Profession,
tho' a notorious Thief and House-breaker by Practice. This _Thomas_
being committed to _Newgate_ for breaking the House of Mrs. _Mary Cook_
a _Linnen-Draper_, in _Clare-street, Clare-Market_, on the 5th of
_February_ last, and stealing Goods to the value of between 50, and 60
l. he impeach'd his Brother _John Sheppard_, and _Edgworth Bess_ as
being concerned with him in the Fact; and these three were also Charg'd
with being concern'd together, in breaking the House of Mr. _William
Philli