Celebrated trials of all countries, and remarkable cases of criminal jurisprudence / Selected by a member of the Philadelphia bar [i.e. J.J. Smith].

  • John Jay Smith
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Celebrated trials of all countries, and remarkable cases of criminal jurisprudence / Selected by a member of the Philadelphia bar [i.e. J.J. Smith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    516/612 (page 506)
    Thistlewood came first, with his eyes fixed, as it were, abstracted in thought, and apparently lost to his situation. Tidd walked next, and seemed somewhat affected by his situation. He tried, however, to assume an indifference to his fate, and was frequently rallied by Ings for his depression. Ings came next, laughing without reserve. Brunt next advanced, and with a sullen and morose air, surveyed the officers who were conducting him to his fate. Davidson came last, with clasped hands and uplifted eyes, praying most devoutly ; and the officers of the jail closed the procession. On their arrival at the lodge, leading to the scaffold, a moment's pause took place, while the dreadful apparatus of death was adjusted without. Thistlewood, who stood first, clasped his lips, and with a frown surveyed, from the door-way in which he stood, the awful preparation for his fate. Tidd was next summoned to the scaffold. Ings seized Tidd's hand at the moment he was going out, and exclaimed, with a burst of laughter, Give us your hand ! good bye I A tear stood in Tidd's eye, and his lips involuntarily muttered, My wife and ! Ings proceeded— Come, my old cock-of-wax, keep up your spirits, it all will be over soon. Tidd immediately squeezed his hand, and rushed towards the stairs lead- ing to the scaffold. He was received with three cheers from the crowd, in which he made a faint effort to join. A humane individual who stood by remonstrated with Brunt again, and beseeched him to ask pardon of God. Brunt, with a fierce and savage air, surveyed his adviser contemptuously, and exclaimed,— What have I done 1 I have done nothing ! what should I ask pardon for]—Well done, Brunt, exclaimed Ings, and was proceeding to sing, O! give me death or liberty! when he was summoned to the scaffold. He turned to Brunt, and with a smile upon his countenance, shook hands with him, and prepared to go. While he stood on the edge of the steps, at the door of the jail, he said to Davis, one of the turnkeys, Well, Mr. Davis, I am going to find out this great secret; and then springing on the scaffold, exclaimed, Good bye, gen- tlemen ! here goes the remains of an unfortunate man. Brunt now stood by himself, and muttered about the injustice of his fate; but he appeared to wish to ascend the scaffold next. Davidson, however, was summoned before him. Brunt now appeared considerably irritated, I suppose, said he, they are afraid I should say something to the people, because I spoke my mind on the trial. The composure of Davidson, particularly on Sunday, on taking leave of his wife, was of the most extraordinary description. He declared that this day would be the happiest of his life. The conduct of Ings, too, violent and hardened as it had been, was inter- rupted once by something like a feeling of nature. On entering the lodge, before he ascended the scaffold, some person told him to be firm; when he ejaculated, Firm ! I am firm ; but we have children, sir. The last act of Brunt was to take a pinch of snuff from a paper which he held in his hand. He stooped to put it to his nose, and this he was only able to effect by pushing np the night-cap which hung over his face. He also threw off his shoes. Ings, when the handkerchief was tied over his eyes, cried out, I hope, Mr. Cotton, you will give me a good character. Mr. Cotton bowed. Ings then commenced swinging about in his hand an old night-cap, in the most careless manner.