Early Criminal Trials. Kennedy and was confined to his lodgings in consequence. With the assistance of his constant companion, the Earl of Warwick, he broke out and fought his first duel, in which both parties were disarmed. Two days later he participated in an affair which led to his trial for murder. This affair was the murder of William Mountford, the actor, in Norfolk street, Strand, by Captain Hill. Mountford was the most admired actor of young lover's parts which the stage then possessed; and he was murdered mainly, it would seem, because of the fire which he threw into his scenes with the beautiful Mrs. Bracegirdle, of whom the turbulent captain had the impertinence to be enamored. This celebrated actress was then at the height of her powers, "the darling of the theatre," as Colley Cibber describes her; "for it will be no extravagant thing to say, scarce an audience saw her that were less than half of them lovers, without a sus pected favorite among them; and though she might be said to have been the universal passion, and under the strongest temptation, her constancy in resisting them seemed but to increase the number of her admirers." According to the universal tradition of the age this discreet actress deviated from the path of discretion, if ever, only in favor of Richard Congreve, for whom at all events, to the day of his death, she preserved a close and affectionate friendship. Captain Hill, it seems, had for some time paid his addresses to Mrs. Bracegirdle, but his proposals had been totally rejected. This enraged the captain, who declared that Mountford was the only man who stood in his way, and, with many execrations, he repeatedly expressed a resolution to be re venged upon the young actor. On the morning of the murder Lord Mohun and Captain Hill together hired a coach and directed the coachman to be in waiting for them in Drury Lane, near the playhouse, about nine o'clock that night. Mohun and Hill dined together that day at a tavern in Covent Garden, and discoursed much about
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Mrs. Bracegirdle, both declaring their belief that Mountford was unduly intimate with her. The conversation was principally con cerned, however, with a design which they had formed to seize Mrs. Bracegirdle, force her into a coach and carry her into the country. This design was to be executed that night, and they secured arms and soldiers for the purpose. Hill was heard to say, "П the villain resist I will stab him;" whereupon Mohun asserted that he would stand by his friend. In accordance with their plans they met that night at the playhouse. When they went behind the scenes they were informed that Mrs. Bracegirdle would not be there that night, as she was to sup at a Mr. Page's house in Drury Lane. They proceeded therefore to post themselves with their soldiers at the latter place. After wait ing a considerable time without results, and suspecting that they had been misinformed, they drove to Mrs. Bracegirdle's lodgings. They soon returned, however, to their former station in Drury Lane, and were rewarded about ten o'clock by seeing Mrs. Bracegirdle come out, accompanied by her mother and Mr. Page. Mohun sat in the coach, with the door open and several cases of pistols by him. When Mrs. Bracegirdle and her companions reached the place where the coach stood, Hill and the soldiers seized Mrs. Bracegirdle and attempted to force her into the coach. A scuffle ensued in which the lady's mother and Mr. Page clung to her so effectively that the conspirators were unable to accomplish their purpose; a crowd began to collect in respone to cries for help and they were compelled to desist. The soldiers were dismissed. Mohun and Hill would not be denied the liberty of escorting Mrs. Bracegirdle to her lodgings, and all five accordingly started hence followed by the crowd. After Mrs. Bracegirdle and her companions had entered the house Mohun and Hill remained in the street near by for nearly two hours, drinking wine and stand ing about with drawn swords. Mountford lived just below Mrs. Bracegirdle, and, it
