WILLIAM ELBY OTHERWISE DUNN
An Armed Criminal, who was hanged for Burglary and Murder at Fulham on the 13th of September, 1707
WILLIAM ELBY was indicted at the sessions in the Old Bailey for breaking into the house of Mr. James Barry, at Fulham, the 2nd of August, 1707, with intent to rob it; and likewise for the murder of Nicholas Hatfield, by giving him a mortal wound with a rapier near the left breast, of which he died soon after.
The evidence deposed that, Mr. Barry hearing a noise about his house between twelve and two in the morning, he got up with his wife and man, Nicholas Hatfield, went downstairs, found a window broken open, and espied two men without, at about five yards' distance, one of whom was the prisoner. They then ran immediately upstairs for arms, but Hatfield, stepping into the kitchen, was met by Elby, who drove him into the pantry, and gave him a stab in the breast, of which he died twelve hours afterwards.
In the scuffle between Elby and Hatfield one of the thieves fired a pistol to disengage them, which happened to wound Elby in the leg, and a button was found in the pantry which belonged to Elby's coat, also a bloody sword was found under a haycock, and a receipt that had been given Mr Barry for money paid.
The prisoner, who had little to say in his defence, was found guilty of the fact, and received sentence accordingly, upon which he was so impious as to say: "G-d d --n you all."
Elby owned he was guilty of the burglary, but would not confess the murder, neither would he discover his accomplices or any other offences he had committed, and in this obstinacy he all along persisted; and was so peremptory as to say that if any person should ask him any such questions again he would knock him down.
He was hanged in chains at Fulham, on the 13th of September, 1707.