Transcription
EXECUTION. A Full and Particular Account of the Execution of Thomas Conner and Bell M'Menemy, who were Executed at Glasgow on Wednesday Morning, the 22d October 1828, for Assault and Robbery; to- gether with their Behaviour since their Condemna- tion, and at the place of Execution. It will be recollected that the unfortunate persons above alluded to, Thomus Conner and Bell M'Menemy, were tried at the last Circuit Court of Justiciary at Glasgow, for Assault and Robbery, in so far as they were guilty of, on the 20th of May last, assault- ing Alexander M'Kinnon, from Tralee, who came to Glasgow to sell Eggs, and who stated the Case as follows :?" Was in Glasgow 20th May last, and came with a wherry to sell eggs ; sold his egg, and had about £ 8 in notes, and £ 2 in silver, and some copper, before the robbery took place. The notes he had in a stocking on his leg ; the silver was in the other stocking. Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, on the night he was assaulted, met a woman, and went into a house with her and had one gill of whisky. This took place in Glasgow. The prisoner M'Menemy was the woman; M'Menemy followed witness after he had left the house, and when at the Bromielaw Bridge, M'Menemy said she would take him to a house. They went together, and on the road met a watchman, who spoke to M'Menemy ; this was on their way to the Aqueduct Bridge. Further on M'Menemy met a man whom she said was her brother. Prisoner (M'Menemy) wanted witness to sit down, but he would not do so, and the man they met canght him by the neckcloth got a blow also on the head, which made him senseless. On coming to himself, he found his silver gone missed a pair of shoes, and a stocking which contained the silver ; the stocking was left, but the money in it gone. Before he was knocked on the head, there came up another man , thinks the prisoner Richardson was the person who twisted his neckcloth; identities his shoes as those he lost : two policemen went back to place where he was robbed, and found the empty stocking; there was much blood on the ground; beside the spot there was a brick. Witness was very weak and sore, and severely cut in the head from the blows he had got, and has not done much good since The stone shewn is like the one he saw lying near where he was robbed. Indentifies a bloody shirt as being his. The night was dark. They were both found Guilty by the Jury,?M'Menemy, in terms of her own confession ; and Conner by the evidence ; but on account of his youth was recommended to mercy. Lord Meadowbank then addressed Conner. He said that he thought he would not again have appeared at that bar, as the sin- gular escape he had made about six years ago, would have given him a sufficient warning. His hardihood in crime, however, was by no means allayed, and the law must now take its course. Conner and M'Menemy were then sentenced to be executed on Wednesday the 23d October, betwixt the hours of eight and ten morning. Conner appears to be about 25 years old, and M'Me- nemy nearly the some age. They accordingly suffered this day in front of the New Jail. The woman has been very penitent, indeed, since her condemna- tion, and acknowledged her Guilt in the most unqualified terms. Conner also admitted the justice of his sentence, and mentioned that he ought to have taken warning from his former conviction, but that he could not. Soon after eight o'clock the Magistrates were in attendance, when the prisoners were brought forward. A psalm was then sung, and a prayer offered up by one the Rev. Clergymen present. After which they proceeded to the Scaffold, where another psalm was sung, and a prayer fervently offered up in behalf of the un- fortunate prisoners. They saluted one another, and shook hand with those around them. They then mounted the fatal Drop, and after praying fervently for a few minutes, the signal was dropt, and they were instantly launched into eternity, amidst a great con- course of spectators, it being an unusual sight to see a woman exe- -cuted in Scotland. PRICE ONE PENNY.
View Commentary | Download PDF Facsimile
|
|
Date of publication:
1828 shelfmark: Ry.III.a.2(87)
View larger image
|