William Hollywell and William Huggins, were indicted, the former for an Assault, with an Intent to commit the detestable Crime of Buggery upon the latter, and he for consenting and submitting to the same.
John Rowden depos'd, That it had been for many Years his Business to show the upper part of the Cathedral of St. Paul's; that the 19th of November, betwixt 12 and 1 o'Clock, he was going to Dinner, and having heard the old Man's Door shut, he afterwards heard some Persons that seem'd to be coming up softly, he hearken'd, but heard no Voices, that suspecting something more than usual, he look'd through the Light of the Newel Stairs, he being about 30 or 40 Steps from the Prisoners, and did discover the Prisoners in very indecent Postures, whereupon he made haste to them, and surpriz'd them in the following Posture;
Huggins's Breeches were down, he stooping very low, so that he could not see his Head, his Shirt was turn'd up on his Back, and his Back-side was bare; Hollywell was standing close by, with his fore Parts to the other's Posteriors, and his Body in Motion, but his fore Parts he could not then see, his Back being towards him, this Evidence:
That having thus surpriz'd them, Huggins was busy'd in putting up his Breeches, and Hollywell struggled with him to have got from him, and to have gone off, and tore his Turnover, but he having disengag'd himself, Hollywell got to the Church Door, but could not get out, it being Lock'd, and he having the Key in his Pocket, so he Lock'd them into the Side-Isle, and went to get the Clerk of the Works to go with him to acquaint the Dean with the Matter;
that when he came again, Hollywell was got out of the Place where he left him, and could not be found for a considerable time, but at last was found hidden in a Gallery adjoining to the Organ-Loft; and when they were before the Justice, Hollywell's Shirt was examin'd, and there appear'd plain Tokens of Emission.
The Prisoner Huggins call'd a great many of his Neighbours, who gave him the Character of an industrious Man in his Calling (which was that of a Waterman ) of a loving Husband to his Wife, of a tender Father to his Children, of an honest Man in his Dealings, and of a religious Man that kept to his Church constantly on Sundays, and one of the last Men they should have suspected as to such Practices, and should more readily have credited his Familiarity with Women, he commonly associating himself with Women more than Men,
but this Character did not avail him against positive and credible Evidence; and Hollywell not calling one single Evidence to his Character, and the Fact being plainly prov'd, the Jury found them both Guilty of the Indictment.
[Punishments: pillory; imprisonment; fine]
