Desar Official Website

18-21 November 1789 On Saturday last a great robbery was committed upon Hounslow Heath by a highwayman, who robed the Duke of Northumberland and about 30 persons more, one after another, and attempted to serve at the same rate, the Duke of St Albans, but durst not do it, his Grace being well attended. The Lord Osselston was likewise set upon by the same rogue,
but got clear away from them with the loss of 2 horses, which were wounded and are since dead. A Gentleman who was with his Lordship in the coach, was shot, but the bullet went through the sleeve of his coat, waistcoat, and shirt, without offending his arm. They report several circumstances of this robbery, as that the highwayman was so civil, as to meddle with nothing belonging to the women in the coaches, and to restore to the D. of Northumberland his watch and a purse which was taken from him., ’Tis said he put all the persons he robbed into a kind of pit and offered his sincerest condolences.

23 November 1789 Last Saturday ... Freshwater, Désar, and another highwayman, were tried at the Assizes at Winchester, upon several indictments for robbing on the highway, viz. one for robbing a gentleman of 104 guineas; another for robbing another gentlemen of seven guineas, his watch and sivler spurs; and another of three guineas; and convicted of all three indictments, and received sentence of death; and the next Saturday are to be executed: Two of them were formerly butchers in Newgate Markeet, and have robbed on the road these 11 years, without once falling into the hands of justice; a fate uncommon to such little Rogues.

28 November 1789 From the frequent robberies that are committed, ’tis reported, that the Lord Justices have taken a resolution to reprieve no person whatsoever, that shall be convicted of capital crimes, during their administration.

3-10 December 1789 Last week Matthew Sheftoe, who keeps the Red-Lyon-Inn at Whetstone, was again, being the 3d time, committed to Newgate, on suspicion of robbing on the highway.

24-31 December 1789 Last Monday two notorious highwaymen were taken at Knightsbridge, and committed to Newgate, where, God be thanked, is a pretty handsome collection of those sort of gentlemen.

19 January 1790 Many of the gentry and principal inhabitants of the villages about London, are going to associate, to concert measures for suppressing of robbers; and we hear some further rewards will be offer’d for apprehending them, than those already order’d by law.