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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![49 was not for him, as there was for Thurtell, an apology for his visit. He hired a gig, and he procured a sack—the jury knew to what end and purpose. They would also bear in mind, that the gun, travelling-bag, and backgammon-board, were found in his lodging. These constituted a part of the plunder of Mr. Weare, and could only be possessed by a person participating in this crime. Besides, there was placed about the neck of Probert’s wife, a chain, which had belonged to Mr. Weare, and round the neck of the murdered man there was found a shawl, which belonged to Thurtell, but which had been seen in the hands of Hunt. In giving this summary of the case, he had not stated every circumstance connected with it. His great anxiety was, not to state that which he did not firmly believe would be borne out by evidence. One circum- stance he had omitted, which he felt it necessary to lay before the jury. It was, that a watch was seen in the possession of Thurtell, which he would show belonged to Mr. Weare. After Thurtell was apprehended, and Hunt had said something on the subject of this transaction, an officer asked Thurtell what he had done with the watch? He answered that, ‘* when he was taken into cus- tody, he puthis hand behind him, and chucked it away.” Thurtell also made another disclosure. He said, when questioned, ‘‘ that other persons, near the spot, were concerned iu it, whom he forbore to mention.” As to Thurtell, the evidence would, he believed, clearly prove him to have been the perpetrator of the murder; and with respect to Hunt, it was equally clear that he was an accessory before the fact. If, however, the jury. felt any conscientious doubt, the prisoner ought certainly to receive the benefit of it; but where a case was clearly and satisfactorily made out, they would perform fearlessly that daty which they owed to heaven, and to the due administration of justice. Thuriell, who bad been most attentive during Mr. Gurney’s speech, looked steadfastly at the door through which the witnesses were to enter He had some short communication with Mr: Andrews, his counsel; and soon after, — Mr. Justice Park having withdrawn for a few moments, he ate a thin sand- wich, which the governor of th: prison, Mr. Wilson, had provided. Both pasoners conducted themselves with firmness, nor was there the slightest change of manner in the deportment of Thurtel!, even in those parts of the statement which detailed those horrible facts in which he was the presumed agent. | e | [Oar readers will find our annexed Plate a correct representation of the court during these interesting proceedings; it was drawn ch the spot expressly for this edition. ] EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION John Beeson, examined by Mr.- Bolland ; I live in the parish of Aldenham ; I went in search of a body with Ruthven and Upson, two Bow-street officers, the prisoner Hunt was with us; we went to Aldenham and found the body ina brook called Hill-slough, near Eistree ; Hunt pointed it out; the body: was concealed in asack ; the head was. downwards in the sack; there was a rope fastened round the sack ; the length of the rope was two or three yards ; there was a stone tied to the end; I was not present. when the sack was opened : itwas carried’ to the Artichoke public-house, at Elstree ; the pond was a quarter of a mile from Elstree; it was to the right hand side of the road coming from Elstree towards Radlett ; [am acquainted with the roads about Gill’s-hill. There is a road branching off towards Watford, with a. finger-post direction puinting that way. Pursuing that road, you pass a cot- tage, where a person named Hunt lives; the road divides, one leading to Radlett, and the other to Mr. Probert’s cottage at Gill’s-hill. A man ignorant of the road might mistake his way. He might, however, return again on the road to Probert’s cottage, though he went by mistake to High Cross. It would’ be a circuitous passage. Even if a person went to Radlett, he might turn to the right and get to Probert’s cottage, The roads are very bad and very nar- row. if a person met any thing in his way while driving, he must back out, Travelling on from Radlett, he might get by Medbourne to Gill’s-hill) A man not knowing the road might mistake. These roadsare hilly, and a per~ son, ordinarily speaking, must drive slowly. bf .](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33287442_0059.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
