Mail robbery. Vincent Matthews is charged in the robbery of the West mail of February 8, 1743

Whereas Vincent Matthews, alias John Saffary, alias William Morris, Esq; alias Thompson, is charged with the Robbery of his Majesty's West Mail upon the 8th of February 1743, He is described to be a lean Man, about five Foot seven Inches high, with a thin long Visage, of a fresh Complexion, somewhat freckled about the Temples, and somewhat pitted with the Small-Pox, and with a longish Nose, with a Rising in the Middle of it. He is farther described to be somewhat round-shoulder'd, with a slender hollow Back, with thin Legs and thick Ankle Bones, and is said to be of a mean Capacity, and writes a very bad Hand, and spells very ill; he is about Thirty-five Years of Age, and is said to have a small white Hand, to be slow of Speech, and of an effeminate Voice, and to stammer a little when he speaks. He was formerly a Hackney Coachman, belonging to the White Hart Yard, and afterwards kept the White Hart Inn in Brook's Market, which he quitted about four Years ago; after that he lived in Theobald's Row, and pretended to be a Dealer in Meat, but, as is said, rode in a Gang of Smuglers, and since that he some Time lived at Bedford; and lastly he lived as a Person of Figure and Fortune in and near the City of York, and particularly at two Houses, or Places called Acomb and Middlethorp, where he went by the Name and Title of William Morris, Esq.

This is therefore to give Notice, That whatever Person or Persons shall, now, or at any Time hereafter, apprehend the said Vincent Matthews, alias John Saffary, alias William Morris, Esq; alias Thompson, so that he be brought to Justice, will be intitled to a Reward of Two Hundred Pounds on the Conviction of the said Vincent Matthews for the said Offence, over and above what is allowed by Act of Parliament for the apprehending of Highwaymen. The same Reward and Encouragement is offered to any Person or Persons who may have been an Accomplice or Accomplices in the said Robbery, who will moreover be intitled to his Majesty's most gracious Pardon.

GEORGE SHELVOCKE, Secretary.