The trials of Samuel Goodere, Esq : Matthew Mahony, and Charles White, for the murder of Sir John Dineley Goodere, Bart. (brother to the said Samuel Goodere) on board His Majesty's ship the Ruby / [Samuel Goodere].

  • Goodere, Samuel, 1687-1741.
Date:
1741
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trials of Samuel Goodere, Esq : Matthew Mahony, and Charles White, for the murder of Sir John Dineley Goodere, Bart. (brother to the said Samuel Goodere) on board His Majesty's ship the Ruby / [Samuel Goodere]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Samuel Goodere. Did you not inform me, that that Will did cut me off of every thing, and gave the Eftate to the Fools and that Sir John told you fo ? Mr. IVathns. Sir John told me that he had made his Will, and had cut his Brother off from every thingand that he had given the Eftate to the Foots: of which I told Mr. Goodere foon after. Sa-muel Goodere. How long ago ? Mr, Watkins. I can't tell exactly ; about half a Yeatj Or three-quarters of a Year, it might be. Mr. Vernon. They have been giving Sir John the Charadter of being a Lunatick ; I think, Sir, you are Minifter of Cropthorne, and mull, I prefume, have been pretty conver- fant v^^ith Sir John., and a frequent Witnefs of his Behaviour in that Neighbourhood ; be pleafed therefore to fpeak wliat you know, as to his Sanity or Infanity of Mind. Mr. JVatkins. Sir John\ Charafter in my opinion hath been very much mifreprefented to the World. During my Acquaintance with him^ I have found him to be a good Neigh- bour, and a kind Friend : He was a Man of ftrong Pafllons ; if any one affronted him, he would let the Party know that he did refent it. All his Tenants of our Country, and thofe I have converfed with fay, that he was one of the belt of Landlords. Mr. Vernon. I don't ask you, Sirj concerning his moral Charafter j but whether he was in his Senfes, or not ? Mr. Watkins. In his Senfes! I ftw him laft Chrijlmas., he was making up his Accounts with feveral of his Tenants •, he was then in very good Underftanding. Mr. Vernon. Pray did you ever know him vifited with Lunacy ? Mr. Watkins. I never did but on the contrary, I take him to have been a Man ttat always had his Senfes in a regular Exercife, Mr. Vernon. Do you know. Sir, whether there was any Mifunderftanding between the two Brothers ? Mr. Watkins. There has been a long Mifunderftanding between them. Mr. Vernon. What have you heard the Prifoner Mr. Goodere fay, in relation to Sir John^s. making his Will ? Mr. Watkins. I believe he told me, that Sir John had not power to make a Will; I told him it was my opinion, if they would be reconciled together. Sir John's^ Will would not ftand. (Mr. Thomas fworn.) Samuel Goodtre. Mr. Thomas., how long have you known me, and what was my Character ? Mr. Thomas. I have known the Prifoner, Mr. Samuel Goodere., a great many Years„ have very often been in his Company : I never found but that he ever behaved with all the Good-nature that poffibly could be. I always took him to be a good-natured well- behaved Man, and he is a Man well beloved in his Country. (Mr. Afhfield fworn.) Mr. AJhfield. 1 have known Mr. Goodere a great many Years, I never heard any ill of him till this Affair ; he is reputed in the Country of a general good Character. I have been concerned for him in feveral Suits, I never knew any ill of him. Mr. Vernon. Pray, Sir, what have you heard Mr. Goodere fay, concerning his Brother*s cutting off the Entail of his Eftate ? Mr. Ajhfield. I have heard Mr. Goodere fay, that his Brother had no power to cut off* the Entail, and that he would fet the Recovery afide j I have heard him fay that forty times. Mr. Vernon. What is your opinion as to the Sanity or Infanity of Sir John ? Mr. AJhJield. I never thought him a Mad-man ; I always thought him to be one of the beft Underftanding in the whole Family. (Reverend Mr. Rogers fworn.) Mr. Rogers. I have been acquainted with the Prifoner Goodere feveral Years, I know he hath behaved very well, done good Offices to all Mankind j and I never heard any other of him. (Mr. George Forcevil fworn.) Mr. Forcevil. The Prifoner Goodere hath been my Neighbour for fourteen or fifteen Years; he hath always behaved well in his Neighbourhood, and has a very good Clia- ra6ter •, he conftantly attended his Church twice a Day Sundays., and would be there at Prayers almoft every Day ; he was always a fober Man, and a good-humoured Gentle- man. I thought him to be a good Man. Samuel Goodere. Mr. Recorder, I would not give you and the Jury any more trouble in relation to my Charadrer; all I have to fay further is, my being deprived of Evidence in my Behalf, by reafon of my Diforder and the Sicknefs in the Goal, which hath pre- I vented