“ Joseph Blake, known as “Blueskin,” being a frequent confederate. In the first six months of 1724 he twice escaped from gaol, and towards the end of that period he was responsible for an almost daily robbery in or near London. Eventually, however, his independent attitude provoked the bitter enmity of Jonathan Wild, who procured his capture at the end of July. Sheppard was tried at the Old Bailey and condemned to death, but, largely thanks to “Edgeworth Bess,” he managed to escape from the condemned cell, and was soon back in his old haunts. ”