Book Clipping of the Day

Accounts of people who claim to have solved a murder via dreams are surprisingly common. This relatively little-known example was related in Clarence S. Day's "Remarkable Apparitions and Ghost Stories." (1848)

Mr. William Smythies, curate of St. Giles's Cripplegate, London, in the year 1698, published an account of the robbery and murder of John Stockden, victualler, in Grub street, within the said parish, and of the discovery of the murderers by several dreams of Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Greenwood, a neighbor to the said Stockden. Here is the substance of the account:—

Mr. Smythies, first telling us that none can doubt but great discoveries have been made by dreams, says: Mr. Stockden was robbed and murdered by three men, in his own house, on the 23d day of December, 1695, about midnight. A little after the murder, there came a woman into the street, and said she believed one Maynard (a very stout and powerful man) to be one of the murderers, because she was informed he was full of money, both silver and gold; upon which there was a warrant against him, but he could not be found. 

Soon after this Stockden appeared to Elizabeth Greenwood, in a dream, and showed her a house in Thames street, near the George, and told her that one of the murderers was there: she went the next morning, and took one Mary Buggas, an honest woman, who lived near her, to go with her to the place to which her dream directed, and asking for Maynard, was informed that he lodged there, but was gone abroad. 

After that Stockden soon appeared again to Mrs. Greenwood, and then representing Maynard's face with a flat mole on the side of his nose (whom she had never seen), signified to her that a wire-drawer must take him, and that he should be carried to Newgate in a coach. Upon inquiry, they found out one of that trade, who was his great intimate, and who, for a reward of ten pounds, promised him on his taking, undertook it, and effected it. He sent to Maynard to meet him, upon extraordinary business, at a public house, near Hockley-in-the-Hole, where, after plying him with liquor, both parties went to bed ; after which a constable came forward, armed with a great club to defend himself, and so apprehended him, and carried him before a magistrate, who committed him to Newgate, and he was carried thither in a coach. 

Maynard, being in prison, confessed the horrid fact, and discovered his accomplices, who were, one Marsh, Bevel, and Mercer,and said that Marsh was the setter-on, being a near neighbor to Stockden, and knew he was well furnished with money and plate; and though Marsh was not present at the robbery, yet he meant to have a share of the booty. Marsh, knowing or suspecting that Maynard had discovered him, left his habitation. 

Stockden appeared soon after to Mrs. Greenwood, and seemed by his countenance to be displeased: he carried her to a house in Old street, where she had never been, and showed her a flight of stairs, and told her that one of the men lodged there: the next morning she took Mary Buggas with her to the house, according to the direction of the dream, where she asked a woman if one Marsh did not live there; to which the woman replied that he often came thither. This Marsh was taken soon after in another place. 

After this, Mrs. Greenwood dreamed that Stockden carried her over the bridge, up the burough, and into a yard, where she saw Bevil, the third criminal (whom she had never seen before) and his wife: upon her telling this dream, it was believed that it was one of the prison-yards; and thereupon she went with Mrs. Footman (who was Stockden's kinswoman and housekeeper, and was gagged in his house when he was murdered) to the Marshalsea, where they inquired for Bevil, and were informed that he was lately brought thither for coining, and that he was taken near the Bankside, according to a dream which Mrs. Greenwood had before of his being there. They desired to see him, and when he came, he said to Mrs. Footman, “Do you know me?” She replied, “I do not.” Whereupon he went from them.  Mrs. Greenwood then told Mrs. Footman, that she was sure of his being the man whom she saw in her sleep. 

They then went into the cellar, where Mrs. Greenwood saw a lusty woman, and privately said to Mrs. Footman, “That's Bevil's wife, whom I saw in my sleep.” They desired that Bevil might come to them, and first put on his periwig, which was not on the time before: the lusty woman said, “Why should you speak with my husband again, since you said you did not know him?" He came the second time, and said, “Do you know me now?" Mrs. Footman replied, “No;” but it proceeded from a sudden fear, that some mischief might be done to her, who had very narrowly escaped death from him when she was gagged; and as soon as she was out of the cellar, she told Mrs. Greenwood that she then remembered him to be the man. 

They went soon after to the clerk of the peace, and procured his removal to Newgate, where he confessed the fact, and said, “To the grief of my heart, I killed him.”  

Mrs. Greenwood did not dream anything concerning Mercer, who was a party concerned, but would not consent to the murder of Stockden, and preserved Mrs. Footman's life; nor has there been any discovery of him since.  He consequently escaped, and the three others were found guilty and hanged. After the murderers were taken, Mrs. Greenwood dreamed that Stockden came to her in the street, and said, “Elizabeth, I thank thee; the God of heaven reward thee for what thou hast done.” 

Since which she has been at quiet from those frights which had much tormented her, and caused an alteration considerable in her countenance. This relation is certified by the lord bishop of Gloucester, who, with the then dean of York, the master of the Charterhouse, and Dr. Alix, had the particulars of the foregoing narrative from Mrs. Greenwood and Mrs.Buggas.