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me who were those that came after me。 I told her they were people going
to Mr Knight's below。 As soon as she was gone I said to Mary Tracey；
‘Now do you and Tom Alexander go down。 I know the door is ajar；
because the old maid is ill； and can't get up to let the young maid in when
she comes back。' Upon that； James Alexander； by my order； went in and
hid himself under the bed； and as I was going down myself I met the
young maid coming up again。 She asked me if I spoke to Mrs Betty。 I
told her no； though I should have told her otherwise； but only that I was
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afraid she might say something to Mrs Betty about me； and Mrs Betty
might tell her I had not been there； and so they might have a suspicion of
me。''
There is a possibility that this part of her confession； the tale of having
met the young maid； Nanny； may be true。＇21＇ And here may the truth of
the murder be hidden away。 Very likely it is； indeed； that Sarah
encountered the girl going out with the blue mug for milk to make a sack
posset； and she may have slipped in by the open door to hide under the bed
until the moment was ripe for her terrible intention。 On the other hand； if
there is truth in the tale of her encountering the girl again as she returned
with the milkand her cunning in answering ‘‘no'' to the maid's query if
she had seen Mrs Betty has the real ringother ways of getting an entry
were open to her。 We know that the lock of the vacant chambers opposite
Mrs Duncomb's would have yielded to small manipulation。 It is not at all
unlikely that Sarah； having been charwoman to the old lady； and with the
propensities picked up from her Shoreditch acquaintances； had made
herself familiar with the locks on the landing。 So that she may have
waited her hour in the empty rooms； and have got into Mrs Duncomb's by
the same method used by Mrs Oliphant after the murder。 She may even
have slipped back the spring…catch of the outer door。 One account of the
murder suggests that she may have asked Ann Price； on one pretext or
other； to let her share her bed。 It certainly was not beyond the
callousness of Sarah Malcolm to have chosen this method； murdering the
girl in her sleep； and then going on to finish off the two helpless old
women。
＇21＇ This confession； however； varies in several particulars with that
contained in A Paper delivered by Sarah Malcolm on the Night before her
Execution to the Rev。 Mr Piddington； and published by Him （London；
1733）。
The truth； as I have said； lies hidden in this extraordinarily mendacious
confection。 Liars of Sarah's quality are apt to base their fabrications on a
structure； however slight； of truth。 I continue with the confession； then；
for what the reader may get out of it。
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‘‘I passed her ＇Nanny Price＇ and went down； and spoke with Tracey
and Alexander； and then went to my master's chambers； and stirred up the
fire。 I stayed about a quarter of an hour； and when I came back I saw
Tracey and Tom Alexander sitting on Mrs Duncomb's stairs； and I sat
down with them。 At twelve o'clock we heard some people walking； and
by and by Mr Knight came home； went to his room； and shut the door。 It
was a very stormy night； there was hardly anybody stirring abroad； and the
watchmen kept up close； except just when they cried the hour。 At two
o'clock another gentleman came； and called the watch to light his candle；
upon which I went farther upstairs； and soon after this I heard Mrs
Duncomb's door open； James Alexander came out； and said； ‘Now is the
time。' Then Mary Tracey and Thomas Alexander went in； but I stayed
upon the stair to watch。 I had told them where Mrs Duncomb's box stood。
They came out between four and five； and one of them called to me softly；
and said； ‘Hip！ How shall I shut the door？' Says I； ‘ 'Tis a spring…lock；
pull it to； and it will be fast。' And so one of them did。 They would have
shared the money and goods upon the stairs； but I told them we had better
go down； so we went under the arch by Fig…tree Court； where there was a
lamp。 I asked them how much they had got。 They said they had found
fifty guineas and some silver in the maid's purse； about one hundred
pounds in the chest of drawers； besides the silver tankard and the money in
the box and several other things； so that in all they had got to the value of
about three hundred pounds in money and goods。 They told me that they
had been forced to gag the people。 They gave me the tankard with what
was in it and some linen for my share； and they had a silver spoon and a
ring and the rest of the money among themselves。 They advised me to be
cunning and plant the money and goods underground； and not to be seen
to be flush。 Then we appointed to meet at Greenwich； but we did not
go。＇22＇
＇22＇ In Mr Piddington's paper the supposed appointment is for ‘‘3 or
4 o'clock at the Pewter Platter； Holbourn Bridge。''
‘‘I was taken in the manner the witnesses have sworn； and carried to
the watch…house； from whence I was sent to the Compter； and so to
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Newgate。 I own that I said the tankard was mine； and that it was left me
by my mother： several witnesses have swore what account I gave of the
tankard being bloody； I had hurt my finger； and that was the occasion of it。
I am sure of death； and therefore have no occasion to speak anything but
the truth。 When I was in the Compter I happened to see a young man＇23＇
whom I knew； with a fetter on。 I told him I was sorry to see him there；
and I gave him a shilling； and called for half a quartern of rum to make
him drink。 I afterwards went into my room； and heard a voice call me；
and perceived something poking behind the curtain。 I was a little
surprised； and looking to see what it was； I found a hole in the wall；
through which the young man I had given the shilling to spoke to me； and
asked me if I had sent for my friends。 I told him no。 He said he would
do what he could for me； and so went away； and some time after he called
to me again； and said； ‘Here is a friend。'
＇23＇ One Bridgewater。
‘‘I looked through； and saw Will Gibbs come in。 Says he； ‘Who is
there to swear against you？' I told him my two masters would be the
chief witnesses。 ‘And what can they charge you with？' says he。 I told
him the tankard was the only thing； for there was nothing else that I
thought could hurt me。 ‘Never fear； then；' says he； ‘we'll do well enough。
We will get them that will rap the tankard was your grandmother's； and
that you was in Shoreditch the night the act was committed； and we'll have
two men that shall shoot your masters。 But；' said he； ‘one of the
witnesses is a woman； and she won't swear under four guineas； but the
men will swear for two guineas apiece；' and he brought a woman and three
men。 I gave them ten guineas； and they promised to wait for me at the
Bull Head in Broad Street。 But when I called for them； when I was going
before Sir Richard Brocas； they were not there。 Then I found I should be
sent to Newgate； and I was full of anxious thoughts； but a young man told
me I had better go to the Whit than to the Compter。
‘‘When I came to Newgate I had but eighteenpence in silver； besides
the money in my hair； and I gave eighteenpence for my garnish。 I was
ordered to a high place in the gaol。 Buck； as I said before； having seen
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my hair loose； told Johnson of it； and Johnson asked me