Informers

Saturday, 6 January 1739   Late on Friday 7-night last the corpse of Edward Parker, the noted Informer, and who had been instrumental in given [sic] informations against upwards of 1500 persons, for retailing spiritous liquors, was interred in a private manner; that few persons knew it but with whom he was intimate, for fear the mob should tear his corpse to pieces. 'Tis true, he got a considerable sum of money by those informations; but it prospered accordingly, for he scarce left enough to bury him: He died in a miserable condition, and in a good time; for there were several bills of indictment found against him at the last Sessions at Hickes's Hall, by the Grand Jury for the County of Middlesex, for subornacion of perjury. He took the same much to heart, and which was the occasion of his death. – Happy is the man, whose worldly industry is not a burthen to his conscience on his death-bed!
          We hear that the executors of the abgove Edward Parker, viz. Mr. Davis and Mr. Smith, have laid their clai at the Excise-Office, for 1535l. as due to the deceased for informations against persons selling spirituous liquors contrary to law. (Read's Weekly Journal, or, British-Gazetteer)