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.
77/172 page 67
![Mr. Gurney. I do not want you to tell us what was said. . Mr. Justice Park. Pray compose yourself, good woman; “you need not be alarmed. Mrs. Probert. Must I answer questions concerning my husband? These were, we believe, her words ; but the low and faltering : and hysterical manner in which they were pronounced, rendered it difficult to catch them. Mr. Gurney. No evidence you now give can prejudice your husband. He has been this day put before ajury of his countrymen, and acquitted of this murder, Mrs. Probert, in a sobbing, hysterical shriek, ‘* Oh, has he! has he!’”” Mr. Gurney repeated his question. Mrs. Probert. Oh; Vll answer anything! but has he been acquitted? [The agitation of the witness for some time was so excessive, that she was unable to attend to the questions, She ejaculated at times a few unconnected words, in a low sobbing tone. } “Mr. Justice Park. Pray compose yourself, pray, good woman. Don’t be alarmed; we are not wanting you to say any thing against your husband, No- thing will be drawn from you against your husband. Pray compose yourself ; pray do not be alarmed. During this scene, Hunt turned round te the persons standing by him in the dock, and smiled, as if in incredulity of Mrs. Probert’s appearance of feelin Thurtell did not change his countenance, but bent down a little, and took snuff, drawing up bis brows, and closing his lips firmly, with the expression of face habitual to him. Mr. Gurney then repeated his question, and Mrs. Probert answered—Yes, I did mention to him (my husband) what I had seen and heard. The next morning Hunt and Thurtell came and dined with us, and on the Sunday, Thomas } Noyes and T. Thurtell then also came. On the Monday night J. Thurtell and Hunt came again ; it was past nine, I think, when they came. They stayed to supper, and went away soon. after. Cross-examined by. Mr. Platt. You affected surprise to hear that your hus- band was eee Now, did you not know that he was to be acquitted previously to his giving evidence ? No [in a low tone]. | - . Did you not hear that he was to be acquitted of the charge, pronidet d he gave his testimony here truly’? I don’t recollect that I was told so. Can you say on your oath that you were not told so? I don’t know that Iwas. - There were two garden gates on the left- hand side of the road, going along the lane; one as you passed out of the lane into the stable-yard ; another gate, leading to the garden, forms part of a-high fence ;.my bed-room window looked towards the fence. I could look over the fence, so as.to’see the horse come. out of the door, and I think I could see the door- -way of the stable itself; it was a fine moon-light ‘night... There was but one sitting-room in the cottage over the parlour, the window of which looks to the garden; £ rather think the short man whom I. saw dragging something heavy. was Hunt; it was at the landing-place of the floor where I slept that I lis- tened 3 all the conversation was carried on in whispers; there was a great deal of whispering which I did not ‘hear; 1 could not distinctly hear the whole of the conversation ; I thought I could discover the different voices, but. cannot be positive ; my husband whispered so low that I could not hear him; cannot take upon myself to say positively that he did whisper; my hus- band gave me no money just before he was apprehended; he did not give me 231. ; did not tell me what to say, if any body should come; never saw Holding in John Thurtell’s company ; it was my husband, who was acquainted with Holding ; I and Miss Noyes retired to bed about twelve; I was in my rooma little time before I went to the window; a few minutes after I got wp stairs, I saw the horse coming from the stable; I heard the parlour door opened a few minutes after; { saw a short man with a light, and another go out from the parlour to the stable; heard no noise in the ‘stable ; cannot say whether the light continued in the stable till I saw the horse; [ heard no one go out before that, but I think I-heard some one go into the kitchen before; we kept a store of potatoes in the garden; there was a hole made for them, and they were covered over. I went out into the garden on Saturday; I did not go near the pond ; cannot say whetlicr the pond is so shallow that you may see the bottom ;](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33287442_0077.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
