Transcription
Execution. A Full and Particular Account of the Execution of JOHN HILL and WILLIAM PORTER, who were executed at Glas- gow, yesterday, Wednesday the 12th May 1830, for Assaulting and Rob- ing William Marshall, an old man of 76 years of age, on the 19th Decem- last; with their Behaviour since con- demnation and at the place of Exe- cution. W E D N E S D A Y morning, May 12, 1830, JOHN MILL and WILLIAM PORTER, who were convicted at last Glasgow Assizes of as- saulting and robbing William Marshall, a man 76 years of age, in an avenue to the north of the city, known by the name of 'Stewart's Road,' on the evening of Saturday the 10th of December last, paid the forfeit of their lives, at the usual place of execution. Ever since their condemnation, the prisoners conducted themselves with the greatest propriety, and in a manner which gave those cha- ritable and pious persons who visited them the highest satisfaction. In consequence of their youth?neither of them being above nineteen years of age-a number of humane individuals made considerable exertions in order to obtain a commutation of the sentence ; but the agents to the parties received for answer that the prayer of the petition could not be com- plied with, the crime being one of great aggrava- tion. On Tuesday evening, the parents and friends of the two unhappy youths were admitted to take their last farewell; and the scene that took place between Porter, his mother and sisters, is describ- ed to have been affecting in the highest degree..... Both prisoners slept soundly for two hours on Tuesday night. They were waited on at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning by the magistrates and clergyman, who spent some time in prayer, and shortly after the executioner appeared, who pi- nioned both their arms. After the usual religious ceremonies had been gone through, they left the Hall, and with a com- paratively light step mounted the Scaffold, where Dr Smyth offered up an energetic prayer ; after which Porter warmly embraced his companion, and during the time the executioner was engaged in adjusting the ropes, he prayed loudly. Hill was heard speaking, but in a low tone. Every thing being ready, Porter was furnished with the handkerchief, when, in an instant, he gave the fatal signal, and the drop fell. They both struggled violently for three minutes, when life was extinct. After hanging the usual time, the bodies were cut down, and delivered over to their relations. The crowd was considered larger than on many previous occasions of a similar de- scription; but happily every thing went off quietly. Edinburgh.....Printed for Felix O'Neill
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Date of publication:
1830 shelfmark: F.3.a.14(49)
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