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A Further and more true Account of the Apprehending and Taking of Gerard Dromelius the Drawer, For the Murder of Oliver Norris Esquire, At the White-Cross Tavern in East Smithfield

His Examination, and Confession, together with the Examination of Michael Van Burgh, and Catherine Truet before the Coroner’s inquest, and their commitment to Newgate on Saturday last: As also a further, and more particular Account of the said barbarous murder.

Gerard Dromelius, the Dutchman’s drawer, who was chiefly concerned in the murder of Oliver Norris esq; at the White-Cross Tavern in East Smithfield, was discovered and taken after this manner, viz. the constables and other officers of the parish where the murder was committed; having intelligence, that he carried a hamper out very early the next morning, and that he went towards St. Catherine’s with it, they by making inquiry along the water side, fortunately found out the waterman that carried him up the river about 5 of the clock, that Morning who informed them, that he carried his Hamper to Mr. Taylor’s at the Crown in Charles Street by St. James's Square; where being come by the Waterman's direction, they found that one of the Lord Shoots’s footmen had fetched the said hamper away, by the said drawer's order, upon which sending to the Lord Shoots (who is ambassador from the Duke of Zelly for the same footman; he told them that the drawer being his countryman, and well known in his lord’s family, he had taken a lodging for him at Mr. Comins’s at the Cock and Bottle in the same street, where he left him:  But Mr. Comins, would not consent to entertain him, till he had further enquired of him at the Lord Shoot’s house in St James's Square, where the servants gave him a favourable character.  Whereupon going thither, they found him up two pair of stairs upon the bed about 8 in the evening, where he was apprehended and taken (and not at the Crown by St. James's Square, as was falsely given out), when being charged with the said murder, he at first utterly denied it, alleging he did not understand them, but being taken thence that night, and the next day being Saturday, he was carried before the worshipful Justice [in White Cross], where the hamper being opened, they found the clothes of the murdered gentleman all bloody, at which time being examined he confessed that he murdered him, and being asked, “Why?”, he alleged that the gentleman drew his sword against him, where upon in his defense (as he says) he knocked him down; and having got that advantage, it suddenly came in his mind to murder him for his money, which he immediately performed  by dragging him to a ditch side behind the old buildings near his master’s house, where he cut his throat with a sharp knife of his own, and having robbed and stripped him, he threw his naked body into the ditch, or common shore, which was deep of water and mud, laying a considerable quantity of dirt and rubbish on him, and having covered the blood as well as he could, went to his master's house, and asked hid pretended mistress for a hamper, who seeing his hands bloody, asked him how they came so, he answered, he believed he had killed the gentleman; so she fetched him the hamper, and sent him going.  This being his real confession, and no other, notwithstanding the flying reports and pamphlets, to the contrary, however the maid being examined, declared that, when she asked at first about the hamper, she said it was lent to a sugar baker, but before the Justice and Coroner, confessed the drawer had it, and being found in several other contrary tale, the Justice ordered them to be had before the Coroner’s Inquest, where the same matters was again repeated, without any or very little variation, whereupon Mr. George Rivers, Coroner, committed Gerard Dromelius the drawer, together with VanBurgh and his pretended Wife to Newgate, where the two former are very much loaded with irons, on order to be tried for the said murder the next approaching Sessions, but the maid is to be discharged upon bail.

 On Thursday last being the 13th of June 1700, Mr Norris a Co*** of Horse, belonging to the King's-Guards, having occasion to go to Epping upon some weighty business, his Father enjoying a very great estate in those parts, took horse in order for his journey that morning but unfortunately (as I may terms it) he met with some gentlemen of his acquaintance, who being something longer than ordinary in taking their Leaves of him; he was so much disordered in drink as rendered him incapable of going his journey, having drunk variety of liquors in St. Catherine’s, that where leaving his friends, he secretly with drew himself, and sent his horse, by a porter to the Bull Head in Whitechapel, and at the same time took coach; and came about 10 a Clock that night to the White Cross Tavern in East Smithfield, the master of which, being one Van Burgh a Dutchman, where he continued till after 11 a Clock, being seen there by several of the neighbours, but was no more heard of till next morning about seven, at which time was found by a strong water man, in a Maudlin’s Rents very near the said Dutch house, striped stark naked and murdered in a cruel and inhuman manner, having his throat cut from ear to ear, in such a savage and abominable manner as scarcely ever was known or heard of, for not only his windpipe and all his throat was cut across, but the joints of his neck bones almost cut asunder, with a cruel bruise on the left side of his head; and not only so but all his fingers on his right hand cut on the top, supposed to be done by his laying hold of the knife, which proved the tragic instrument of his death, he likewise was barbarously hacked, and mangled on the left hand and arm, being robbed of all his clothes, and a considerable quantity of gold and silver, which his friends has since affirmed he had about him over night, some says 100 guineas besides a rich watch, and other things of great value; having nothing on him but, a pair of boots, and scarlet stockings, which it is supposed, his murderers could not get off with such speed as they desired.

The news of this barbarous cruelty being noised about, abundance of people came crowding from all parts of London to see this murdered object, upon which it appearing by several that he was late the night before at the Dutch man’s house which was near that place; he and his wife were taken into custody on suspicion and carries before the Worshipful Justice Constable in Goodman Fields, where they were strictly examined, as was also his maid, who all confessed that the deceased gentleman was drinking in his house from 10 of the clock that Night till after 11 and that Van Burgh offered his man to conduct him to his lodging, but he refusing it they alleged that a stranger coming by accidentally, the gentleman agreed with him for 6 pence to go with him to his lodging, and that they did not seem him any more till dead the next morning among the crowd of people; but the justice asking where the drawer was, his wife replied, they had sent him to fetch some Wine from a certain place which she named, whereupon a messenger being sent thither to know the truth, soon brought word that he had not been there, which made their case the more suspicious, after which the maid declared that she saw the same gentleman, about 10 of the clock drinking below stairs with the drawer at which time her master and mistress caused her to go to bed contrary to her usual custom, for other nights she used to sit up latest in the house but that night she was forced to bed in all the hast, and further declared that when in her chamber she heard a strange bustling noise below, insomuch that she was coming down to see what was the matter, but was met by her mistress, who told her all was well, and so she went into her chamber again and so to bed, but knew nothing further, only saw her mistress fetch down the hamper, in great hast towards the morning, when asking her afterwards what was became of it, her answer was, she had lent it to a sugar baker, though some hours after she told her who had it, desiring her not to speak of it, alleging her life was in her hand; so that although the drawer doth yet seem to take fact wholly upon himself, yet there is great cause to suspect both her, and her pretended husband’s innocence.

Upon further search of his body after he was carried in a coffin to the Constable’s house, several wounds were found in divers parts of his body, being used after such a Loathsome and inhuman manner, that the most savage, barbarous, and worst of infidels would be ashamed of.  It was observed among other discourse which the Dutch man expressed, during his being in the Constable’s custody it is said he told them that it was their way in Holland when any person was murdered by a confederacy, they always sent the murderer out of the way, the very instant after he had committed it, while the other took care to hide the murdered body, and by that means they usually escaped unpunished; and if so this was one of his own Country Tricks, but it is thought he will meet with contrary success here.

 

London, Printed by J. W. near Fleet-street, 1700

[Bodleian Library 31 July 1971]

 

 

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