The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-05 00:00:00

INTERMENT OF JOHN WILLIAMS.

At ten o'clock on Tuesday morning the body of Williams was removed
from the Flouse of Correction, in Cold-bath-fields, to St. George's
Watch-house Shadwell, on a raised platform in a cart, so that it was vi-
sible to the spectators. It was precisely in the same state as when cut
down in the cell; without a hat, coat or shoes, the neckerchief with
which he put an end to his existence round his neck, the shirt-neck open,
the sleeves tucked up to the elbows, the hair flowing loosely over the
forehead. The countenance was serene, and bore no marks which could
lead to a supposition that the wretched victim of self-destruction had
experienced much agony in the hour of death. Towards the upper part
of the face there were marks of coagulated blood, the effect of etrangu-
lation ; but excepting that circumstance, there was very little alteration
in the general appearance of the person from his first examination to his
exhibition on Tuesday. On the right side of the head was placed, in a
perpendicular posture, the blOodyntall, with *filch the murder of the
Mari family was effected ; on the left side was placed, also in a perpen-
' diciliar posture, the ripringchistel which was found in Mare's house, and
at the head, in a transverse direction, were laid the iron crow, found in
Wiliiainspn's house, and the wooden stake, sharpened at the extreme,
destined to be driven through the bOsly. .
The procession proceeded at a slow pace up Ratcliff-highway, until it
arrived opposite the Lite Mr. Mares house, where the cart was stopped
for nearly a quarter of an hour ; front thence it proceeded down Old
Gravel-lane, rotted by the London-Dock Bank, and up
.New Gravej.
lane, until it came to the scene of Williamson, his wife, and servants.
destruction, where it was again stopped for a quarter of an hour, and a
burst of indignation and horror was heard from the multitude ; it then
advanced intßatclifithigliway again, and' turning to the lett paned
slowly on till it came to Cannon-street, up which it went, and finally,
.stopped in the centre of the cross-roads, formed by the intersection of
"the New road, at St. George's Turnpike, by Cannon-street, and Cannoh-
street-road. Within six feet of the lamp post, at the corner of Cannon-
street-road, farthest from the Turnpike, a
.hole five feet long and as
many deep, had already been dug, and towards this the cart was now
moved.
The crowds of spectators collected here were beyond calculation, the
houses covered--the windows were Riled, and the tops of coaches,
waggons, and carts were, literally, swarming with people, whose anxiety
to witness the disgraceful scene was sufficiently evinced by the hazard
they ran in procuring elevated situations for that purpose. As the body
approached, a murtnulo of 'contempt and execration was heard from all
quarters, which rose to a shriek of satiifaction, when two men mounted
the platform, and unceremoniously hurled the remains of the monster,
for such only do his decas pronounce him to be, into his last earthly re-
ceptacle. 'rile hole being too short to permit the body to lie at full length;
1 it was Crammed down in rather a contracted• position; the stake was
F then handed to the person who was appointed to drive it through the
lhotly of the suicide, which he did with several blows from the mall al-
ready mentioned, a ceremony which again called forth execration on the
of the murderer, and expressive of sympathy (Or the unfortu-
-1 nate victims of his cruelty. The earth was then thrown into the hole,
; together with some unslaked linie, and the paving stones were immedi-
ately restored to their former situation. The parties forming the pro-
fCe3Sioll then disper•ed , and those persons who bad not an opportunity
1 of witnessing the awful ceremony, advanced, and while regarding the
(trave of one who had proved himself such a disgraceto humanity, they
0,
seemed to entertain no other feeling than horror for his crimes, and re-
. Bret that he had riot lived to receive, at the hands of justice, that ignomi-
i Mous punishment which the laws of his country prescribed; but which,
whets compared with his guilt, seemed an inadequate .compensation to
the enraged feelings of his fellow-subjects.