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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    was a poor prefs'd Servant, and a6led by Command. But, Gentlemen, if you believe the Evidence wliich has been given againft him, no Command of any Supcriour whatfocver (fuppofing that to have been an Ingredient in his Cafe) will excufe him. Mr. Goodere fays, that his Brother was a Lunatick, and that he being his only Brother thought it his duty to take care of him in that condition ; that in order thereto he had endcavour'd to get a Lodging in this City, where he v/as to be confin'd under the Care of the Prifoner Mahon)\ who was to have 5 /. a Month for his Attendance on him. That not being able to get a Lodging for the purpofe in the City, he cook him on board the Ruby^ in order to have him taken proper care of there. He denies that he ever confented to the Murder, or had any knowledge of it; and infills on the great Improbability there is liiat he fhovild be concern'd in the Murder, fince, he fays, he knev/ that Sir Jchn had cut Off the Entail of the Family-Ellate, and had actually made his Will, by which he had devifed the Eftate to another Branch of the Family. So chat, fays he. Sir John dying while this Will ftands, I have no chance for the Eftate: whereas, as long as he lived, my Chance as Heir at Law continu'd; for he might have chang'd his mind, and alter'd or d^ftroy'd his Will.^ The firfl; Witnefs he call'd was Mrs. Gethins^ who, I fuppofe, lets Lodgings in the City 5 and 9ai fays, that Mr. Goodere never made a Secret of his Defign, of confining his Brother as a Lunatick; and that about three Weeks before this matter happen'd, he fpoke to her for a Garret in her Houfe for tiiat purpofe \ but Ihe remembers no Difcourfe the Pri- foner had with her about Mahony. Mr. Goodere then called two WitnelTes in relation to fomething which was open*d againft him, (but not diredly prov'd by any of the WitnelTes call'd by the Profecutors) touching his fending Mahony and White away in the Yawl the Morning the Fa6l was committed. They were Mr. Marjh and Mr. Bagg. Mr. Marjh fays, that on the Sunday in the Afternoon, after Sir John was brought aboard, he was order'd by Mr. Goodere to go up in the Yawl early the next Morning, to fetch Letters from the Poft-Office •, and he tells you that as he was fetting out on Monday Morn- ing he was inform'd by fome of the Ship's Company, that Mahony and White were to go with him. Upon which he went to the Captain to have his Orders for, fiid he, I never take any body alhore without leave. And he tells you, that Mr. Goodere did order him to take White and Mahony up in the Yawl. He fays, that he had no oi-ders to land them at any particular Place; and that they were put afliore at the Gibb^ the ufual Place of Landing, about fix in the Morning. Mr. T)agg tells you, that Mahony had charg'd one Mervin in his Cuftody in an Action for Wages •, that the Wednefday or 'Thurfday before this matter happened he \vaited on Mr. Goodere from Mervin^ in order to accommodate Matters with Mahony : And that Mr. Goodere appointed to meet Mervin on that Affair the Monday following. He cannot fay, thzt Mahony was to meet on that day (tho' indeed he fays he did tell a Gentleman fo) and knows not of any Bufinefs White had that day in Brijiol. Mr. Goodere next called three WitnefTes to the Point of Sir John*s Lunacy. The two firft have lived with him as Servants, and they gi /e you divers Inftances of an extravagant unaccountable Behaviour in him ; from which they conclude that he muft have been a Mad- man. The other Witnefs fays, that he knew Sir John for fome Years; and in general fays that from his Adtions he took him to be mad. He then called feveral WitnefTes, Gendemen of Worth, who have knov/n him many Years and they all agree in giving him a very good Charadter, as to his formjer Life and Converfation : and particularly fay, that they always took him to be a good-natur'd, weli- behav'd Man, and one that merited the Love and Efteem of his Neighbours. One of thefe WitnefTes Mr. Fore evil fays, that he was conflant at Church on Sundays twice a day, generally attended the Church-Service, and feldom miffed attending at the Sacrament. Another of thefe WitnefTes, Mr. AJhfield, having given the Prifoner a good Charafter, was ask'd touching Sir John, particularly with regard to his Sanity ; and he feems furprifed to hear Sir John reprefented as a Mad-man ; and tells you, that he always took him to be a Man of good Underftanding ; and goes fo far as .to fay, that he took him to be thi^ Man of the beft Senfe in the Family. He was asked, touching the Prifbner's having been inform'd of the Contents of his Brother's Will j and he tells you diat the Prifoner was in- form'd of the Purport of the Will; but adds, that the Prifoner dcclar'd that he did not value the Will : And fays, that there had been a long Mifunderflanding between the Brothers. Mr. Goodere call'd a Witnefs (Mr. Watkins) to prove that he was inform'd of the Con-»- tents of Sir y^j^w's Will. And he tells you, that about half a Year, or three quarters of a Year ago, he did inform Mr. Goodere that Sir John had made his Will, and had given his Eftate to the Foots j who, it leems, are Nephews to Sir John and ths Priibner. But he