Curiosities of Street Literature. Various

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      Aged 25, who was hung in front of the Gaol,

      For the Wilful Murder he committed on the body of his Wife, near Edminton.

      TRIAL.

      At an early hour on the morning of the trial, the court was crowded to excess, the Judge taking his seat at nine o’clock. The Prisoner, on being placed at the bar, pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ in a firm tone of voice. The trial lasted many hours, when, having been found ‘GUILTY,’ the learned Judge addressed the prisoner as follows:—

      “Prisoner, you have been found guilty of a most cold-blooded murder, a more deliberate murder I never heard of. You and your wife had been to a neighbouring town, and were returning home, when you did it. She was found in a ditch. I cannot hold out the slightest hope of mercy towards you in this case.” During this address the whole court was melted into tears. His Lordship then put on the black cap and passed the sentence as usual, holding out no hope of mercy to the prisoner.

      Letter written after his Condemnation.

      Condemned Cell.

      Dear Sister,

      When you receive this you will see that I am condemned to die; my Father and Mother are coming to take their last farewell, and I should very much liked to have seen you, but knowing that you are on the eve of bringing into the world another to your family, I beg that you will refrain from coming; if that you do serious may be the consequences, therefore, dear Sister, do not attempt to come. I hope that no one will upbraid you for what I have done; so may God bless you and yours; farewell! dear sister for ever.

      J WARDE

      EXECUTION.

      The Execution of the above prisoner took place early this morning at eight o’clock, the people flocking to the scene at an early hour. As the period of the wretched man’s departure drew near, the chaplain became anxious to obtain from him a confession of the justice of the sentence. He acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and said he was not fit to live, and that he was afraid to die, but he prayed to the Lord for forgiveness, and hoped through the merits of his Saviour that his prayer would be heard. Having received the sacrament, the executioner was not long in performing his office. The solemn procession moved towards the place of execution, the chaplain repeating the confession words, “In the midst of life we are in death.” Upon ascending the platform he appeared to tremble very much. The cap being drawn over his eyes and the signal given, the wretched man was launched into eternity. He died almost without a struggle. After the body had hanged the usual time it was cut down and buried according to the sentence, in the gaol.

      LAMENTATION.

      Come all you feeling hearted christians, wherever you may be,

      Attention give to these few lines, and listen unto me;

      Its of this cruel murder, to you I will unfold,

      The bare recital of the same will make your blood run cold.

      Confined within a lonely cell, with sorrow I am opprest,

      The very thoughts of what I’ve done deprives me of rest;

      “Within this dark and gloomy cell in the county Gaol I lie,

      For murder of my dear wife I am condemned to die.

      For four long years I’d married been, I always lov’d her well,

      Till at length I was overlooked, oh shame for me to tell;

      By Satan sure I was beguiled, he led me quite astray,

      Unto another I gave way on that sad unlucky day.

      I well deserve my wretched fate, no one can pity me,

      To think that I in cold blood could take the life away;

      I took a stake out of the hedge and hit on the head,

      My cruel blows I did repeat until she were dead.

      I dragged the body from the stile to a ditch running by,

      I quite forgot there’s One above with an all-seeing eye,

      Who always brings such deeds to light, as you so plainly see,

      I questioned was about it and took immediately.

      The body’s found, the inquest held, to prison I was sent,

      With shame I do confess my sin, with grief I do repent;

      And СКАЧАТЬ