This had the desired effect. Many were soon taken, and lodged in the gaols ; and were subsequently tried and executed. Before, however, narrating the few particulars of their trials, I proceed to narrate another diabolical murder of an innocent man by two principals and two accessories, all of them smugglers and connected with the " Hawkhurst Gang."
John Mills, alias Smoker, son of old Richard Mills, after the execution of his father, meeting with one Richard Hawkins, a labourer, who happened to be thrashing in a barn at Yapton, near which the smugglers had concealed some tea, accused him of stealing a bag which they missed, but which in their hurry they had overlooked. Hawkins denying any knowledge of it, Mills compelled him to ride behind him to a public-house, called the Dog and Partridge, on Slindon Common, where being joined by one Richard Roland, alias Robb, Jerry Curtis, and Thomas Winter, alias Coachman, Mills and Roland whipped the poor fellow till they were out of breath ; they then stripped off their clothes to their shirts, and kept whipping him with their heavy riding-whips till they were tired of the brutal exercise . Mills and Curtis leaving, to fetch
two other persons whom they threatened they would serve in the same manner, Robb and Winter placed Hawkins in a chair by the fire, where he died. They afterwards laid the body on a horse, and carried it to Parham Park, about twelve miles from Slindon Com-
