Transcription
TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF James Wilson, At Carlisle, on Monday the l6th March, for the wilful Murder of JOHN ELLIOT, a poor Pack Boy, on Eastdale Moor, on the 8th day of August, 1884. ON February the 12th, came on the trial of James Docherty or Wilson. The indictment set forth,' That you the said James Docherty or Wilson did, on the 8th day of August, on Eastdale Moor, in the county of Cumberland, wickedly, feloni- ously and barbarously murder John Elliot, aged 14 years, by striking him on the head with large wooden clogs, or some other weapon to the prosecutor unknown, and afterwards take from his person £1,13s, more or less, his wooden box or pack, with its contents, valued at £1 : That after he had murdered the deceased he threw the box into a stream or river.' The prisoner, in a style of effrontery and impudence, pled Not Guilty. A number of witnesses were then called, who all, in the clearest manner, tended to criminate the prisoner. The Judge then summed up the evidence; and the Jury, after a few minutes consultation, returned a verdict of Guilty. EXECUTION. Since his condemnation the prisoner behaved in a careless and reckless manner. He was often visited by the Catholic Priest of Dumfries. At 12 o'clock on Monday he appeared on the scaffold, arected on the top of the Jail. After a few minutes spent in prayer, the bolt was drawn, and he was launched into eternity. VERSES. John Elliot was at Hexham born, And grew a simple boy, A tender mind and slender frame, Unfit for hard employ. Induced from his home to range, Far from his native town; His little box of pedlar ware He carried up and down. He travell'd through Northumberland; Oft had he cross'd the Tweed ; And where shepherds climb the heights, Their fleecy flocks to feed. Snuff boxes, purses, little combs, And trumps, were in his pack; And oft the curious eye to please, He loos'd them from his back. His trinkets were of Sheffield make. Of iron, steel and brass; . His ballads the attention drew Of many a buxom lass. To buy his prints, the children oft On mothers would prevail; Then to amend his trisling purse, Would offer him a meal. On every side of winding Tweed Right many friends he had, For all esteem'd him, for he was An honest, harmless lad. But can the innocence of Iambi Protect them from the fox ? Who would have thought that such a boy, Would be murder'd for his box ? Cue human bloodhound followed him, And flatter'd night and day, To lure him to the wilderness, To make of him a prey. " If you but cross the moor," quoth he, " Whatever may befall, I'll bring you to a plenteous board. And hospitable hall; " And when you open out your pack, They'll buy up every thing; That great addition to your purse With joy will make you sing." This was the way that he deceiv'd The poor unthinking boy ; He by hopes of gain beguil'd, Was fill'd quite full of joy. With worse than devils artifice He lur'd him to the wild, And with worse than savage breast, To kill the harmless child. For lack of weapons on a bent Did iron-shod clogs employ, And with these monst'rous clogs He kill'd the little boy. Alas! a brother's life, Of such a small account, His blood should thus be shed. For a trifling pack's amount. Since first that Cain his brother dew, Can intermediate time, Such cowardly murder shew among The lost of human kind ? But mark the wooden box he stole, When he the owner slew, Tho' rifled and thrown in the stream, A strict enquiry drew. So now he's hanged for the deed, And what more can I say, But he that did no mercy show, Can scarce for mercy pray. This barbarous Murder was discovered by a Shepherd's dog. As it is very frequent in that part of the country, Shepherds go out of a Sunday evening to look after their flocks ; on one of these evenings the body of the lad was discovered. Printed for Francis M'Cartney ?Price One Halfpenny.
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