Part 2
Throughout the trial _Bedworth_ manifested a good deal of agitation; but this the Editor ascertains to have arisen in consequence of the evidence of two women, who made, as he supposed, some misstatements, as to _time_, on the day whereon the murder had been committed. Indeed, such was the effect of these trivial inaccuracies upon his mind, that he _twice_ solemnly addressed the court, calling upon God to witness, that the women had _forsworn_ themselves in this respect.—This conduct was _mistaken_, _by the court_, as an attempt to deny his guilt.—But the fact was otherwise, and the whole tenor of his conduct in prison, from the time of his surrender, in July, as well as his confession, furnish the best proofs to the contrary.
The trial did not last an hour, and Mr. JUSTICE HEATH having charged the Jury, the latter almost unhesitatingly returned a verdict of—GUILTY.
The wretched man was then asked by the clerk of the peace, what he had to offer in an arrest of judgment by the court—to die according to law.
The prisoner replied, in much agitation, “nothing beyond the false swearing of the women.”
_The_ RECORDER _being absent_, a short explanation then took place upon the bench, as to the passing of the sentence. Mr. JUSTICE HEATH, who tried the prisoner, declining to perform that duty, and the COMMON SERJEANT expressing a wish to evade the painful task, never having been called upon to execute it. It was however, at length, settled that the COMMON SERJEANT should pronounce the sentence of death, and, in doing so, he addressed the prisoner to the following effect:—
“_Thomas Bedworth_,—After a painful investigation of the crime which has been laid to your charge, a humane and impartial jury of your country, hearing the evidence adduced against you, as well as your own voluntary confession, have thought it their duty to find you GUILTY of the horrid crime of MURDER!
“We see that, in all ages of the world, a terror has been held out against those persons whose ferocious and unbridled passions have led to the shedding of innocent blood, and that the life of the guilty has been demanded in retribution—a retribution however which scarcely atones for the foul deed. This is exactly the situation in which you are at present awfully placed, but it is sincerely to be hoped, that the motive which induced you to make a full and unreserved confession of your guilt, arose from devout and serious reflections upon that eternity to which you are fast hastening. Your appearance in this court, to day, before the bar of man, may have for a moment drawn you aside from that truth you had hitherto asserted, and induced you to attempt a denial of it, yet I do most charitably hope, that as you had been led to disclose the weight of your sin and guilt, as read to us this day, so you will now reflect upon the dreadful consequences of that _confession_, and turn, with full purpose of heart, to serious repentance and prayer. And let me inform you, that the repentance you are called upon to evince, is not a mere sorrow for the consequence that would await our crime, but a sincere and hearty sorrow for this and other crimes which you have committed, and for which you must shortly give an account.
“It is now my painful duty to acquaint you, that your time in this world is of very short duration, but you have the consolation to know, that it is not too short, or too late for repentance, and for pouring out your soul, to your Maker, in supplication and prayer, before you are called to appear at his awful tribunal. The mercy that is thus held out to you, you ill deserve, as, in a moment of jealous rage, you hurled into quick eternity, the wretched victim of your passion and lust—sent her to her dread account, without a moment for repentance of her numerous sins—without even time to implore the mercy of her God, for the base and guilty connection she had formed with you!
(_Here the prisoner lifted his eyes towards Heaven_, _struck the bar with his hand_, _and_, _bursting into tears_, _bowed assent to the remark_.)
“I have now only to beseech you that, as soon as you leave that bar, you fall before God, on your bended knees, and, with thorough sorrow and conviction, implore that mercy you so much require. In your prayers you will be assisted by a pious man, who will zealously aid your applications to Heaven. Fly to him for his advice, his assistance, and prayers—you need them all—and let the conduct of your future hours, in this life, be so devoted, as to prepare you, through the mercy of the Redeemer, for that awful eternity which shall shortly receive you.
“There is now nothing left for me, but to pronounce upon you the dreadful sentence of that law, which you have so grossly violated, which is:—_that you_, THOMAS BEDWORTH, _be taken from hence_, _to the place from whence you came_, _and from thence_, _on Monday morning next_, _to a place of execution_, _where you shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead_.—_Your body will then be delivered over to the surgeons_, _for dissecting and anatomising_, _according to the statute_. And may the Lord God Almighty, through the merits and intercession of the _Redeemer_, have mercy upon your soul!”
The prisoner heard his sentence with great firmness, but, at the conclusion, seemed deeply affected, and wept bitterly. After regaining a moment silent at the bar, he assumed an air of resignation and, respectfully bowing to the Court, retired.
He cordially shook hands with some females and others, as he passed to one of the condemned cells, where he evinced a resignation and calmness, in every respect suitable to the death he was to die. Soon afterwards the _Rev. Mr. Cotton_, the _ordinary_, in virtue of his office, visited him, and in the evening he was called on by one or two religious characters, who had serious conferences with him. He continued constant and fervent in prayer throughput the night, except at those times when, exhausted by weakness and strong feeling, he sunk occasionally to rest. At intervals he related some extraordinary circumstances of his varied life, which were taken down in writing from his lips. He was asked to give a full relation by the _respectable officer of the prison_, to whom he afterwards completely detailed it, but he for the present excused himself, by saying that the number of persons, religious and otherwise, who were visiting him, prevented him from delivering it, then, as he wished.
_Saturday_ was spent by him chiefly in devotional exercises, and in receiving the kind and charitable visits of religious characters. Throughout the whole of this day and night, he displayed great piety, a repentant disposition, and strong faith in the mercy of Heaven.
On _Sunday_ morning, _Bedworth_ sent a message to the _ordinary_, entreating permission for the “_convict school boys_” to come near his cell, and join him in singing a hymn. This was of course complied with, and they repeated their singing, at his request, on Sunday evening, when he joined the children, and expressed himself much happier by this social act of devotion.—The number of youths who united their voices in these gloomy vaults amounted to about _thirty_, and such sounds, floating through the dreary passages, might well have been supposed to impress, not only the criminal, but the children themselves, with edifying thoughts. The _Rev. Mr. Cotton_ remained several hours with _Bedworth_, on Sunday evening, and his labours were succeeded by two gentlemen, who were dissenters, one of whom remained with him throughout the night. On this occasion he was reminded of his promise to completely detail his _narrative_ and confession, previously given in these pages, which he did with perfect composure, with an apparently entire recollection of the events of his life. Having done this, he continued incessantly in prayer and religious conversation. He sang with his companion two or three hymns, and he repeated, and sang with great fervour, the Hymn beginning,
“Jesu, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly,” &c.
As the morning dawned, Bedworth conversed with much animation, and amongst other things, asked his friend, whether he thought the _populace_ would assemble in any great number to witness his ignominious death? Being answered that it was likely there would be many, he remarked, “_I would that the poor creatures would remain at home_, _and pray for_ ME, _if not for_ THEMSELVES.”
At _six_ o’clock on _Monday_ morning, the _ordinary_ again attended _Bedworth_ in his cell, and continued with him in prayer, until half-past seven, when one of the sheriffs also visited him. After remaining with him some moments, the latter retired to assist in the necessary preparations, and _Bedworth_ was again left in prayer with his companion. The crowd, now assembled to witness the execution, was very considerable; though certainly it did not amount to _half_, perhaps not _one-third_ of the number collected upon the occasion of the extraordinary execution of the unfortunate _Elizabeth Fenning_.
At about three minutes before _eight_ o’clock, _Mr. Newman_ arrived at the Justice room, in the Old Bailey, to announce the time. The High Sheriff, _Mr. Leigh_, and the two Under Sheriffs, Messrs. _Leigh_ and _Rooke_, proceeded to the cell of the criminal. _Bedworth_ walked forth with uncommon firmness and resignation, and, with a countenance open and serene, advanced towards Mr. Sheriff _Leigh_, whom he cordially shook by the hand. He very much facilitated, by his activity and presence of mind, in knocking off his own irons, after which he walked with composure towards the executioner, who bound his arms, and tied his halter round his body. He then requested one of the officers to give to a fellow-prisoner, his pair of _leggings_, or leathers, to protect the flesh from excoriation by the fetters, and with them his remembrance and prayers. After expressing his deep sense of his sinful life, and the crime for which he was about to die, and expressing strong hopes of mercy and pardon hereafter, the dead bell tolled, and he moved on, in the customary procession, to the scaffold. The _ordinary_ prayed with him whilst they passed through the dreary avenues, _Bedworth_ walking with a firm, undaunted step, and bowing, in silence, to all whom he observed within the dreary passage. On the _scaffold_, he manifested the same firmness, but directed his eyes imploringly towards heaven, while the executioner made his fatal preparations: the _ordinary_ continued a few moments in prayer with him, and, the awful signal being given; he was launched off, in the act of fervent supplication.
[Picture: Drawing of ghost]
Just Published by W. HONE, 55, Fleet Street, _La Pie Voleuse_.—Price Sixpence.
THE NARRATIVE of THE MAGPIE; or the Maid of _Palaiseau_, being the History of THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE, founded upon the circumstance of an unfortunate Female having been _unjustly sentenced to Death_, on strong PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE. _With a_ PREFACE, _and curious_ ANECDOTES.
*** This _most interesting Story_, as it is dramatised, has been put into Narrative. On the performance of the MAID _and the_ MAGPIE at the Theatres, it was represented amidst _unanimous and repeated shouts of applause_, and, “many incidents were seized on by the audience, who thought proper to apply them to the case of ELIZA FENNING.”—_Anti-Gallican Monitor_, _September_ 3, 1815.