Richard Steele

The Thief is Caught!
And was last thursday bro’t to this town and again committed to goal. He is perhaps the most notorious one that ever infested this colony, was last September before the hon. Superior Court, held in this place, convicted of Burglary, by the name of Richard Steele, and in consequence thereof crop't and branded, not long after which he broke goal and escaped, but pursuing his trade was again taken for Burglary, committed in Derby, and indicted at New Haven before the adjourn'd Superior Court in December last, for the second offence, and again crop't and branded, and very soon after escaped from that goal, and has since (perhaps) committed more Burglary's than ever the notorious Frasier, who was hanged at Fairfield ever did in so short a time. He is now put in irons in very close confinement, but lest he should again escape, would that the world might know him, observe that he is a young man of about 20 years old, rather of a slender make, and about or little more than middling for stature; his face finely pitted with the small pox, has keen black eye, wears his own hair, of a very dark colour, pretty well down on his forehead in order no doubt to hide his scars, is a very lively active man and I believe when at liberty very sociable and familiar. He had on him now when taken, a light coloured surtout of a cloth call’d bearskin or coating most probably stolen from Mr. Ingersol of Westfield; a strait bodyed coat, stolen from Dr. Hooker of this town, trim’d with silver buttons, on each of which was wrote at large, Sept. 2d, Daniel Hooker 1764; also 2 summer jackets stolen from Mr. Mallocks's shop a barber in this place from whom also it is supposed, he took at the same time 2 wiggs not yet found; had also with him, two silver watches; one of which stolen from Mr. Jonah Gillet of Wintonbury the other with a China face, seems to answer the description of one advertized to be stolen from somebody in Stratford; also 5 pair silver shoe buckles; 2 gold necklaces; 2 pair stone jewels set in gold; 2 small rings with 3 stones set in each; 3 watch seals set in silver; one pair gold sleeve buttons; one chain ditto, marked within side B W; one worsted purse with a mill'd dollar, marked G R and sundry other pieces of silver money; a very good black Barcelona handkerchiefs, with a paper pin’d on one of them marked 9s; a hatt crape; one brass inker with penknife and case, marked D; a scale for a woman finger; a bodkin, and a small gimblet; said to be owned by Jonathan Burey of Union, where he was now apprehended and whereabouts it is supposed he has disposed of a considerable quantity of valuable goods. — The foregoing articles are now lodged with the Sheriff of this County, and may be seen by any claimers, this week at the Court House in Hartford, and any time afterwards before the setting of the Superior Court, in March next at his own house in Weathersfield. If the Printers should generally insert the foregoing in their papers, it might perhaps be of public service.