The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-08-01 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF NESBITT. THE irooLII7CH
MURDERER. .

Mutes-roar, Juror 31, lte2.o.—The late trial and con-
viction of the above indivitlital coiled li considerable
degree of interest in Maidstone esti the surrounding
I °worry. It was generally reported that he would be
executed out Woolwich UOIIIIIIOI, adjacent to where the.,
murders wereysopeseaol. Preparetions were however
comment-ell on l'enaiugdrn Heath, near 31aidstone, for
the awful ceremony, and at an early hour yesterday
morning. the gallows was erected. fronds of persons
a mo-mmilileil on the Ileath preparatory to the arrival of
'a .. wrenched et.iprit; crowds also assembled round the
1,, ~,is. At about eight o'clock in the morning, Nesbitt's
olother, an elderly woman, took her station at the side
i.t the prison-gate, at intervals crying bitterly, waiting
to take a last farewell of her son.
At eight o'coack on Sunday evening, Mrs. Nesbitt,
wimh four interesting children, arrived at the prison, fur
t!o, pi;rpoae of having an interview with the prisoner;
the Rev. Mr. Hacker. eau at the time remielimlg his de-
A omitmnal assistance to hint, and then iumwtediate entrance
w .. prevented ; they remained until nine o'clock, when
they were admitted into the cell, where a most affec-
tionate leeve was taken by them. The mother and chit-
/nen. awl likewise the Henna were in tears the whole
et the time. At the suggestion of Mr. Hacker, they if•
terwartia joined iii prayer, and Ira. Nesbitt and the
children after taking tea with the Rev. Gentleman, re-
turned to Woolwich. thi their road home, at about
pselie o'clock, a tremendous thundet storm took place,
aci timpanistl by large hail stones and vivid lightning.
Mrs. Nesbitt, for sabot% was necessitated to take shelter '
at the. Portobello, at iiiegsmlown, where she remained
in good spirits, until the storm had abated ; she then
a ens to Woolwich. During this dreadful storm, Nesbitt
ma .I. in his cell with the Governor of the prison ; it bad
laude lif no etfectaspon him, he was very calm and only
r-mr,esiett that the Governor would close the windows
to :wevent the lightning rimming through. It is re-
nr:t kelt as a snootier coincidence, that on the night that
Hussey, for time murder of Mr. Bird, he. was confined
in :he saute cell, a similar storm took place.
Nesbitt, preparatory to his trial acted with an extra-
or:i nary degree of levity, and appeared to feel little
i! ... :!mt lint he would he acquitted of the charges against
1:111. On his conviction, his conduct was completely
changed, and repentance seemed to he his only object
lie was conducted to his cell, ironed, where be end left
f.m: a short time by himself, when it was discovered that
he i•ati contrived by some means to get possession of ins.
id-oimans of destruction. The handle of a saucepan was
foand on him when searched : he then delivered up two
ge:eves of gunpowder and some marbles, which he, It
is supposed, intended to tise instead of bullets. The haw
the lead a touch-hole made in it, and was so ingenfoliny
romattroicted that it would have answered the intent of it
pivot. He was to have asked for a pipe, to let it off.
0 this discovery he was unslress,..l, and what is termed
a c.•mmtory dress was substituted in its stead ; and his
al. rt anti stockings wt re the only articles of his own
ail.lelm he bail on besides. Ile was afterwards carefully
watched and two persons left with him. Ilia mother 1"
pomapectrml of havine conveyed them to him preparatory
to his trial taking place. Suspicion also fell upon a
W.J:! who was, at the time of Nesbitt's trial, in the Court ;
Le was seeu to shift something to the prisoner while at
t/ e her, and he having leaned un a silk handerchief the
most of the time, was suspected to have covered what
was given to him, and soon after he put the hand-
kerchief into hit pocket, but it appeared tp, cosign ,
so met king.
Since bus awful dooms .was made known to him he
has behaved with marked contrition and penitence. Ile
frequently rea.! religious books, and joined in fervent
prayer with the Rev. Mr. Hacker, mind also paid the
greatest attention to the advice of Gnome who rendered
the assistance of devotion. Ile very seldom spoke of
the murders at Woolwich, but he cleared his family of
any connexion with him in the horrid affair.
Various reports were in circulation throughout vester-
stay concetning Nesbitt, which would he most impru-
dent to mention.
As early as eight o'clock, a peat nninher of javelin
wen were parading the town, and on their appearance,
snobs of persons began to assemble round the prison,
male:tad female. As the morning advanced, the crowds
locreas.a.l, and at about test o'clock, horsemen. carriages
and vehicles of various descriptions had arrived at the
spot (moue of them from London), and took their sta.
Ilona along the road to Penningden Heath, Neshittes
mother still sitting at the door in tears. A wages
drawn by three horses arrived soon in the morning, and
went inside time prison gates. The javelin men, Aerie.
coostabies, hr. he. entered the prison, and after every
neceasary preparation, the tolling-bell announced that
the tints bad arrived when the repression should proceed.
A digital sensation was the instant possession of the
crowd, who all seemed anxious to hare a view of the
culprit. The gates at length opened, and the procession
began to move slowly, some of the javelin men at the
head, and others waiting by the sides of the horses with
staves in their hands. Nesbitt WAS sitting with his
aroma pinioned, and the rope with which lie was to he
henged behind him; lie had his hat on anti his irons,
anti Jack Befell sat behind him. The turnkey and an
*dicer had two blunderbusses in their hands sitting
opposite; Nesbitt was dressed in a blue coat, buff waist.
coat, kersevmere small clothes, top-boots and while i
haadherchief I he held a prayer-hook iii his heed, and
prayed mast fervently going along. The waggon
followed by an inimenee throng or persons, sow::
whom betimed very indecorously. The roads wort
lined with persons, and at different parts. grow if
females were seen. Nesbitt, on looking at Mem, WOW
and then shall teem. mad commenced praying, " held '
Lave 1/101VT on my anal, ice. Many persons were is
tears. fle.lookerl very well in health, indeed, quite di/.
*rent from what should be expected for a person in his
awful situation, but he bad the appearance at first sight,
of having drank some liqnor. lie never changed colour
until he arrived at that port of the, road which com-
mands a view of Penningden-heath; on looking around,
and seeing tire gallows erected, • slight change took
piss*, and he burst into tears, exclaiming "Christ have
marry ft, me;" the keeper wiped his errs. 'The waggon
sem draws up by the side of the gallows, he joined in
prayer, aid was afterwards conducted to the platform.
He-beckoned to Mr. Hay, the Barrack-Master, who was
in the crowd, who came, and he whispered something
to him, on the rope being placed round his seek. A
Mr. Rower, of Woolwich, called to Nesbitt. and asked
erhener he had made any confession, he said he bad;
be asked to whom. Nesbitt answered, " to only no per-
son, but they weld know all *boot it after he was
gone." He requested Mr. Bower to render agebtaace
to his wife and family as they were not concerned with
him in the murder at Woolwich, or in any of bid grimes.
Mr. Hay also called to him, and said, "Nashitt, be
peaiteat ;" he iitofettred, " tiod forbid 1 Shield Ist other.
e•." "Oh I my heavenly Father, 1 arkimscheigo op
ales to those." After every necessary pritplildia AS
sighs sass was lounehiM into eternity, a s smut
His body mu, after hanging the oidpkilm4
out n and delivered tothe surgeons.
serail/
'rho follastiag is the literal No
of a letter ify
Nesbitt to Mr:llay, the Barred:raster of Woolatilllt--
• " ilaidskras. U July. leill-
" This is the Math. AS I lave GOD to meet 111 the mem
wield, lot mb be silty or not, no one of my- family, '
othee•wife se mother. or child's, or any ratio" of

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