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On Tuesday night, William Mellish, Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby, Samuel Bosanquet, one of the Directors of the Bank of England, and Peter Poole Esq., were returning to town after hunting with His Majesty (George III) when they were attacked at Houslow Heath by three footpads armed with pistols, one or more of whom fired into the carriage.

They then robbed the Gentlemen of their gold watches and money and afterwards fired again into the chaise, one of the balls lodging in the back part of Mr Mellish’s head. The unfortunate gentleman was conveyed to the Three Magpies Inn where he remained on Wednesday in a state of the most imminent danger as the ball had not been extracted.

A surgeon was called and pronounced Mr Mellish capable of recovery, but on his return journey the surgeon was attacked by the same three footpads who made off with his watch and money.

Originally published in the Worcester Journal