Volume IV
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at Tyburn, 30th of November, 1774, for Highway Robbery created gentleman. He was born at a village a few miles from Bath. For some time he obtained a livelihood by vending goods, which he drove round the city and adjacent country on an ass. A lady of distinction, who happened to be at Bath, took Rann into her service when he was about twelve years of age, and his behaviour was such that he became the favourite of his mistress and fellow-servants. At length he came to London and got employment as a helper in the stables at Brooke's mews; in which station he bore a good character. He then became the driver of a post- chaise, after which he was servant to an officer, and in both these stations he was well spoken of. About four years before his execution he was coachman to a gentleman of fortune near Portman Square, and it was at this period that he dressed in the manner which gave rise to the appellation of " Sixteen-String Jack." He wore breeches with eight strings at each knee. After living in the service of several noblemen he lost his character, and turned pickpocket, in company with three fellows named Jones, Clayton and Colledge, the latter of whom (a mere boy) obtained the name of " Eight-String Jack." For some time Rann kept company with a young woman named Roche, who, having been apprenticed to a milliner, and being seduced by an officer of the Guards, was reduced to obtain bread by the casual wages of prostitution ; and at length, associating with highwaymen, received such valuable effects as they took on the road. On the 30th of May, Rann was taken into custody, and was brought to Bow Street on the following Wednesday, charged with robbing John Devall, Esq., near the nine milestone on the Hounslow Road, of his watch and money. This watch he had given to Miss Roche, who had delivered it to Catherine Smith, who offered it in pledge to Mr Hallam, a pawnbroker, who, suspecting that it was not honestly obtained, caused all the parties to be taken into custody. Sir John Fielding asked Rann if he would offer anything in his defence; on which the latter said: " I know no more of the matter than you do, nor half so much neither." On this occasion Rann wore a bundle of flowers in the breast of his coat almost as large as a broom, and his irons were tied up with a number of blue ribbons. Rann was tried at the sessions held at the Old Bailey in July, 1774, and acquitted. On the Sunday following, Rann appeared at Bagnigge Wells, dressed in a scarlet coat, tambour waistcoat, white silk stockings, laced hat, etc., and publicly declared himself to be a highwayman. Having drank pretty freely, he became extremely quarrelsome, and several scuffles ensued, in one of which he lost a ring from his finger, and when he discovered his loss he said it was but a hundred guineas gone, which one evening's work would replace. He became at length so troublesome that part of the company agreed to turn him out of the house; but they met with so obstinate a resistance that they were obliged to give up their design, when a number of young fellows, possessed of more spirit than discretion, attacked this magnanimous hero, and actually forced him through the window into the road. Rann was not much injured by this severe treatment; but he complained bitterly against those who could so affront a gentleman of his character. Soon, afterwards Rann appeared at Barnet Races, dressed in a most elegant sporting style, his waistcoat being blue satin trimmed with silver; and he was followed by hundreds of people, who were eager to gratify their curiosity by the sight of a man who had been so much the subject of public conversation. A very short time before Rann was capitally convicted he attended a public execution at Tyburn, and, getting within the ring formed by the constables round the gallows, desired that he might be permitted to stand there " For," said he, " perhaps.it is very proper that I should be a spectator on this occasion." On the 26th of September, 1774, Rann and William Collier went on the Uxbridge Road to commit robberies on the highway; and on the Wednesday following they were examined at the public office in Bow Street, when Dr William Bell, chaplain to the Princess Amelia, deposed that between three and four o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, the 26th of September, as he was riding near Ealing, he observed two men of mean appearance, who rode past him; and that soon afterwards Rann crossed the head of his horse and, demand- ing his money, said: " Give it me, and take no notice, or I'll blow your brains out." On this the Doctor gave him one shilling and sixpence, which was all the silver he had, and likewise a common watch in a tortoiseshell case. On the evening of the day on which the robbery was committed Eleanor Roche (who was kept by Rann) and her maid-servant carried the watch to pledge it with Mr Cordy, pawnbroker in Oxford Road, who, suspecting that it had not been honestly acquired, stopped it and applied to Mr Grignion, watchmaker in Russell Street, Covent Garden, who had made the watch for Dr Bell. Rann and Collier were committed to Newgate, to take their trial for the highway robbery; Miss Roche was sent to Clerkenwell Bridewell, and Christian Stewart (her servant) to Tothill Fields Bridewell, to be tried as accessories after the fact. At the trial Collier was recommended to mercy, and afterwards respited during the King's pleasure. Miss Roche was sentenced to be transported for fourteen years, her servant was acquitted, and Rann was left for execution. When Rann was brought down to take his trial he was dressed in a new suit of pea-green clothes, his hat was bound round with silver strings, he wore a ruffled shirt, and his behaviour evidenced the utmost unconcern. Rann was so confident of being acquitted that he had ordered a genteel supper to be provided for the entertainment of his particular friends and associates on the joyful acquittal; but their intended mirth was turned into mourning, and the madness of guilty joy to the sullen melancholy of equally guilty grief. After conviction the behaviour of this malefactor was for some time very improper for one in his unhappy circum- stances. On Sunday, the 23rd of October, he had seven girls to dine with him. The company were remarkably cheerful ; nor was Rann less joyous than his companions. On the morning of the execution he received the Sacra- ment in the chapel of the prison. When he came near the fatal tree he turned round and looked at it as an object which he had long expected to see, but not as on one that he dreaded. After the customary devotions he was turned off, and, having hung the usual time, his body was delivered to his friends for interment. |