Street Gang leader who was publicly executed at Tyburn for violent theft: highway robbery.

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Self-proclaimed as being "one of the most impudent, irreclaimable thieves that ever was in England."

While serving a three-year sentence for assaulting a person named Doctor Mead with the intent of robbing him, Dalton was recognised in prison by fellow highwayman and career perjurer, John Waller.

Waller, possibly in an attempt at gaining early release, lied to the authorities that Dalton had robbed him at gunpoint prior to their incarceration. Dalton admitted to committing various other offences, but strenuously denied this particular accusation.

The case went to court, and on the basis of Waller's perjury, Dalton was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.

For committing perjury, Waller was pilloried at the Seven Dials (Covent Garden area) on the 13th June 1732 and pelted, almost to death, by the populace.

In an act of revenge for James Dalton's execution, Dalton's brother Edward, together with an accomplice named Richard Griffith, beat Waller to death while he was still in the pillory. Both men were subsequently hanged at Tyburn for Waller's murder on the 9th October 1732.

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Incorrectly listed on his burial record as Isaac Daulton.

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Trial account:

https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t17300408-61

Ordinary's account:

https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/OA17300512

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dalton_(criminal)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Harlot%27s_Progress

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bailey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyburn

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Born: c.1699

Burial: 13 May 1730

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[1] https://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng419.htm.....

JOHN WALLER, alias TREVOR

Pilloried for perjury, and pelted to death* by the populace, 13th June, 1732.

(* He was actually pelted 'almost' to death by the populace. See above).

THE pillory is an engine mode of wood, to punish offenders, by exposing them to public view, and rendering them infamous. There is a statute of the pillory 51 Henry III.; and by statute it is appointed for bakers, forestallers, and those who use false weights, perjury, forgery, &c. Lords of Leets are to have a pillory and tumbrel or it will be the cause of forfeiture of the leet; and a village may be bound by proscription to provide a pillory, &c. The name is derived from two Greek words, signifying 'to look through a door;' because one standing on the pillory puts his head, as it were, through a door.

This profligate wretch, Waller, to robbery added the still greater sin of accusing the innocent, in order to receive the reward in certain cases attending conviction. The abominable dealer in human blood was tried at the Old Bailey for robbing, on the highway, one John Edglin, and afterwards, under the name of John Trevor, giving a false evidence against the said John Edglin, whereby his life might have become forfeited to the abused laws of the country. On the latter charge he was found guilty.

It appeared, on this memorable trial, that Waller made it a practice to go the circuits as regularly as the judges and counsel, and to swear robberies against such as he deemed fit objects for his purpose, from no other motive than to obtain the reward given by each county for the apprehension and conviction of criminals for highway robberies and other offences therein committed.

The sentence of the Court was, that he should pay a fine of twenty marks, and be imprisoned for the term of two years, and at the expiration thereof to find good and sufficient security for his good behaviour during the remainder of his life; that he do stand twice in and upon the pillory, bareheaded, with his crime written in large characters; and that he do also stand twice before the pillory, likewise bareheaded, one hour each time.

On Tuesday, the 13th of June, 1732, this wicked man was put in the pillory, pursuant to his sentence, at the Seven Dials, in London; where, so great was the indignation of the populace, that they pelted him to death* and the day after the coroner's inquest gave a verdict, 'Wilful murder by persons unknown.' [1]