Recollections of John Thurtell, who was executed at Hertford on Friday, the 9th of January, 1824 for murdering Mr. W. Weare. Including various anecdotes, and an account of his demeanour after sentence was passed. Also, the condemned sermon, and a correct view of the execution, taken on the spot by an eminent artist / by Pierce Egan ; being an appendix to his account of the trial.
- Pierce Egan
- Date:
- 1824
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Recollections of John Thurtell, who was executed at Hertford on Friday, the 9th of January, 1824 for murdering Mr. W. Weare. Including various anecdotes, and an account of his demeanour after sentence was passed. Also, the condemned sermon, and a correct view of the execution, taken on the spot by an eminent artist / by Pierce Egan ; being an appendix to his account of the trial. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![73 ae were witnesses, and others magistrates ; but as those persons could not pro- duce tickets, or any persons to vouch for their veracity, they were forced back, thereby creating additional inconvenience to those who were regularly privileged, many of whom were seriously bruised. Some few were success- ful by passing as barristers’ clerks, and for once carrying the bags of their friends in that character. The public were admitted to the galleries at the time appointed, and the rush which was then made was really alarming. Cries of anguish burst from all quarters, but we did’ not hear of any parti- cular injury beyond a few bruises. Every seat instantly found an occupant, and the most expert manager of a theatre could not have packed his audi- ence more compactly. The body of the court also presented a dense mass of auditors, ile the places set apart for the magistrates and the friends of the high sheriff were tieetise filled to an overflow. During the entrance of these persons the greatest confusion prevailed, and disputes, arising from resistance to those to whom the duty of preserving order in the court was entrusted, were constantly arising. Onno former occasion, in fact, did we witness a more extraordinary desire to be present at judicial proceedings. We noticed, among others on the bencb, Lord Errol], Lord Verulam, Lord Essex, and Capt. Fitzclarence. There were only four ladies in court; two in the gallery, and two close to the prisoners. At half-past seven precisely, the officers of the sheriff arrived at the gaol with a post-carriage, to conduct the prisoners to the court. The prisoners had previously been shaved and dressed. Thurtell, as on the former oc- casion, was placed inside the carriage, while Hunt sat on the box. They had their irons on, but moved with ease. Thurtell was dressed in a dark frock coat, drab cloth waistcoat with gilt buttons, white corderoy breeches, and black stock. Hunt was attired in a shabby suit of black. The former looked very well, but there was a gloomy cast on his countenance, while the latter was pale and somewhat agitated. On their arrival at the court-house, they were placed in the pound behind the dock, previous to being put to the bar. They sat at a distance from each other, and were visited by their re- spective solicitors. Instead of eating a hearty breakfast, as when last up, Thurtell took but a quarter of a round of toast, and then he seemed to eat with difficulty. Hunt’s appetite was equally bad. Neither of them spoke to the other. The prisoners’ irons were knocked off in this court ; and ia con- sequence of sume difhculty arising while Thurtell’s irons were removing, a iece of cloth being in the way, he exclaimed passionately, “ Haven’t you a nite?” and on one being produced, he exclaimed, “ That’sthe way, I like to use a knife on such occasions,” or words to that effect. They were subse- quently all conducted to the pound behind the dock. Thurtell had a desk before him, on which was placed a volume of the Newgate Calendar, au Al- manack, and some pens and paper, of which he made free use in the course of the day. : Previous to the arrival of the Learned Judge, Mr. Andrews and Mr. Chitty, Mr. Williams and Mr. Phillips, crossed the court, and proceeded to the prisoners, and held a personal consultation with their clients. The object of Messrs. Williams and Phillips’ interview was, we understand, to recommend to Probert, in any evidence he might be called upon to give, to tell the whole truth, and every thing he knew touching the crime imputed to him and his associates: for if he should take a different course, he was still liable to be himself indicted and tried—the condition of his being a witness for the crown being, that he should make a candid and correct statement of all that came withm his knowledge.' Probert promised to abide by this advice, and the counsel shortly afterwards returned fnto court. | The witnesses who:had arrived the preceding night, were now brought to the court-house, and placed in a room by themselves. Thomas Thurtell came down in the care of Bishop, the Turnkey of Newgate, and one of his assistants ; he was removed, as before, by a writ of Hubeas Corpus: Mrs. Probert was accoispanied by'a friend, and on being brought into the passage](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33287442_0039.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
