The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-27 00:00:00

ixEiwitom

•
On Monday the sentence of the law was carried into erect at
Pennenden-heath, near 3/aidstoive. upon Atha Smith, convicted at
the last Alaimo of murder.
We hate now to record one of the t remarkable instances of
mental abstrattioo that, perhaps, has seer been manifested under
the awful circunsataucts of deliberate murder. About a fortnight
ago the prisoner sent fur a gentleman of Maidstoue, oho. at-
tending the summons, received from the prisoner a vehement ih-
junction to make public what be called a history of his life. Tke
surprise of the gentleman may be conceived, when, on examining
the paper, he thstovered it to be a concise narrative of the place
of the prisoner's birth—his propensities—and, finally, his motives
for committing the murder, described in doggerel verse. Although
the production of an illiterate man, it is truly astonishing this[ the
mind of a man nearly fourscore years could, by any possibility,
under circumstances so peculiarly awful, for a moment be so ab-
stracted from his situation as to admit of so extraordinary app
duction. The levity of the concluding lines is not the least strik-
ing part alibis extraordinary erosion.
The original, which is in the hands of Mr. Agar, has been id-
lowed literateut ci rerbatim.
Lines dictated by John Smith, aged 78 years, who was csomniul
on Petinendea-heath, on ?doildigy, Dee. 0, HMI, for the wilfal
murder of Catharine Smith, at Greenwich, on theft of October
last.
In the County of Wicklow I was born
but now in Maidstone die its scorn
I once was counted a roving blade
but to my misfortune had no trade
women was always my downfall
but still I liked and loved them all
a hundred I have had in my time
Wi:en I was young and in my prime
women was always my delight
but when I got old they did am slight
a woman from London to me came
she said with You I would fti remain
if you will be rou.tant 111 be tree
I never want 1 o Ilan but I so—
and oa her own able a Oath did take
that she never wend Me forsake
and during the time that I had Life
she would always prove a loving wit*
and by that Means we did agree
to live together she and Ile--
but scowler vows and Oath did break
and to soother Man did take
Which ohs flaels'd home with her to lay
and that proved her own destiny
So as Joel Smith lay on his bed
this notion strongly run ie his Head
then he got up with that intent
to find her out was fully beat
swearing if he found out her Oathshe'd broke
he stick a knife into her throat
then to the Cricketers he did go
to see if he eJuld I d it out or no
not long been there before she come in
with this same fellow to retell some Ole
then with A Knife himself brought in
immediately stab'd her under the Chin
and i• five minutes she was no more
but there laid in her purple gore
Now to conclude and end my song
they are both dead dead and gone
they are both gone I do declare
gone they are but God knows where—
The body'wno taken away to Greenwich to lie for public view
for oue day, and afterwards to he dissected and anatomised in
Greenwich Hospital. Ile received the Sacrament just before be
left the gaol, and appeared very penitent and resigead at the
place of execution. Ile spoke for a short time to the peeled', say-
ing, " that women wore the cause of his dowufal." *prayed
aloud and very f until the drop fell, saying, " t.ord have
mercy uponme! Christ have mercy upon me V ` The drop fell
about It o'clock. He slept but very little on Sunday night.