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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![59 done. After this, I trust I shall not have occasion to say more or to exercise the power with which I am invested. — - i . Thomas Thurtell said he could not remember every thing. Examination continued. Hunt said, we Turpin lads can do the trick, or some- thing of that sort. There was something said about abag. Hunt said he had been killing game, and Probert held the bag. (The witness showed consider- able reluctance in giving this testimony.) Hunt used:the word murder in joke. Hunt said we have been committing murder, or something of that sort in joke. He said, “ we have been committing murder to:be sure.” This was in answer to a question from me; of course I asked them what they had been doing. I went to Probert’s cottage on Sunday. I walked as far as Maida Hill ; Hunt and my brother thei took me up in a gig; I saw a spade in the gig; when I came to Probert’s, Hunt asked me to throw the spade over the garden gate ; my brother had got down and was walking with Noyes, whom we overtook. I said, with regard to the spade, “ had you not better take it as far as the stable?” and he said, No; I know what I am about ; and by his desire I threw it over. He said, he did not wish Probert’s wife to know it, or something of that kind. Cross-examined by Mr. Thessiger. This conversation about Turpin-like lads wasafter dinner. They had not been drinking much wine. I was present at Gill’se hill cottage on Sunday night; I recollect cards being introduced; we were all present, I believe; I will not be certain.— Witness stood down. Thomas Noyes, sworn, and examined by Mr. Bolland. I am a wine-mer- chant ; I know Mr. Tetsall, Thomas Thurtell, and the prisoners. On Friday the 24th of October, I dined with them at Tetsall’s; Mr, Probert borrowed some money of Mr. Tetsall, for the purpose of paying it over to John Thurtell. John Thurtell went away ina gig; it was an iron-grey horse ; he was alone ; Hunt and Mr. Probert also went away in Probert’s gig; Isaw some of them again on the Saturday morning at Tetsall’s ; Isaw John Thurtell, Hunt, and Thomas Thurtell; I went down to my brother-in-law’s cottage on Sunday ; I walked, and the two Thurtells and Hunt overtook me ina gig; John Thurtell alighted, and walked with me ; Thomas Thurtell went on with Hunt. 1 was afterwards met by Thomas Thurtell ina gig at Brockley Hill. He came to meet us ina gig. On the Sunday evening in question, at Gill’s-hill, cards were in- troduced. John Thurtell, Thomas Thurtell, Hunt, and myself, played at whist. Probert went out. We did not play the game out. Probert was absent a quarter of an hour. On that night Thurtell and Hunt sat up. I left the .cot- tage on Monday, at past two; my sister and John Thurtell were of the party. . The others went away in the morning. Cross-examined by Mr. Chitty. When they played cards on the Sunday, John Thurtell threw the cards up, and said he could not play such cards, they ran cross. There was nothing said about the children. Miss Anne Noyes sworn, and examined by Mr. Broderick. She was at first a good deal agitated, and was accommodated with a chair. I was at Mr. Probert’s cottage on Friday, the 24th of October. About eight o’clock I heard a gig passing. I heard aring at the bell about half-past nine; during the evening Mr. John Thurtell, Hunt, and Mr. Probert, came into the room; Thurtell had a black coat on.—[Here there was atremendous outcry outside the Court. Mr. Justice Park, observing that no person moved to stop this.noise, said he would fine Mr. Hawkins 501, if he heard the noise repeated.]—I knew that Mr. Pro- bert had a white hat, which was kept in the hall. None of the three had a white hat that evening. They had a little bramdy, and I rather think that John Thurtell proposed to go to Mr. Nicholls’s to ask for a day’s shooting. They all went, and returned about eleven; when they came back, they mentioned that Mr. Nicholls was not athome. They had supper; I did not sup withthem. I saw a gold watch that Mr. Thurtell had; he took it out of his pocket; it had a chain. It was a hunting watch. Mr. Thurtell took the chain off, and gave it to Mrs. Probert; he proposed that Mr. Probert should give it to her first; but on Mr. Probert declining, he put it round her neck himself. The chain pro- duced she believed to be the same; there was some singing that night; Mr. Hunt sung; soon after I went to bed. I did not come down the next morning till after breakfast. I saw Hunt and Thurtell go out at half-past nine. Onthe Sunday morning, Mr. John Thurtell, Thomas Thurtell, and Hunt, came down. I believe Hunt’s dress was changediafter he came to our houses When. the dress was changed he had on a black coat and waistcoat, and, L rather think, a](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33287442_0079.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
