The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-11
CURIOSITY HUNTERS.

collect Ilfing curiost'es, who go aDou. 'ie
rsian chitoniers grubbing and Pok,ns ~ -.
highways and byways of society, ior those ueai-
ly-prized objects which the generality OF man
k;nd would turn up their noses at as worthless
rubbish. But though the Tribe oil curiosity
hunters be extremely numerous, Nature, Dy
wise provision, has bestowed on them various
appetiies, so that, in the pursuit OF their prey,
thew are led by different instincts, and what one
sezes with ayidity, another rejects as altogether
unworthy OF notice.
The variety of the species are interminable !;
some Of them are well known, and need no de.
scrption-such as the book worm, the bird-stuh-
er, the coin faster, the picture -scrubber &c out
there are others whose tastes are snguiarIy &C.
centric Of these may mention the snuh poA
collector, the cane-fancier, the ring-taker, .he
playful gatherer, TO say nothing oil one iiiusu.
Gus parsonage, whose passion for collecting ~
brary of Bibles rs generally known. nu, ,hele
is another individual of the species 'nat nav
not yet mentioned, whose moroie P'easu.. -
collecting relics and memorials Of the most re,
voting deeds of blood and crime, are TOO wen
authenticated 10 be dscredited. believe that
this variety. which term THE Criminal Curl
osity Hunter is unknown 10 every country ~
the world, except England.
How such horrible taste should have been
engendered here, is question not easily solved.
Psychologists are inclined TO attribute II 10 our
hedVV
thoughts and fancies; while moralists assign as
its cause, the sanguinary spirit Of our laws, our
brutal exhibitions Of hanging, drawing and quar-
tering, of gibbetings, whippings, brandings, anu
torturngs, which degrade mems natures, ana
give them relish for scenes OF blood and cru
city.
il happened that had occasion to call on one
of those Criminal Curiosity Hunters lately
He received me with extreme urbanity, and
IL foe
requested me to be seated. did SO.
II suppose, sir" said he, with an air OF sup
pressed triumph, "that you have no idea that
YOU are now sitting in remarkable chair"
| assured him was totally unconscious Of
the fact
~ can tell you then" he replied, "that it was
in that chair that Fauntleroy the banker who
was hanged for forgery, was sitting when he
was arrested"
.Indeed p
'sFact, sir | gave ten guineas for il.
thought also to have obtained the nlght-cap IN
which he slept the night before his execution,
but another collector was beforehand with me,
and bribed the turnkey TO steal it for HIM"
81 had no idea there could be any competition
for such an article" Observed.
"Ah SIR" said he with deep sigh" you
don't know the value of these interesting relics.
have been for upwards Of thirty years collec-
of Criminal Curiosities as you could desire TO
see."
at seems you have been interchangeable in your
pursuit" said |.
.sYes,n he replied, "when man devoes
himsefto great object he must go to it heart and
soul. | have spared neither time nor money in
my pursuit; and since became collector,
have attended the execution of every noted ma
lefactor throughout the kingdom"
hat Ira, IN n
common rope, which served as bellpul, he
said
81 see you are remarking my bell-cord-tha'
is the identical rope, sir, which hanged Belling-
ham, who shot Mr.. Percival in the House Of
Commons. offered any sum for the one in
which Thistlewood ended his life, to match it
but was unfortunately disappointed; and the
laws have now ! ecome so disgracefully lenient
that fear shall never have an opportunity o
procuring respectable companion rope for the
other side Of the mantel piece.
And It's all owing to the rascaly Wings, si'
they have swept away all our good old En-
glish customs, and deprived OF US our national re-
creations. REMAINDER, sir, when Monday was
called changing day" at the Old Baily on tina,
morning man might be certain Of seeing three
or four criminals swung off before his breakfast
IT'S curious study, sir, that Of hanging
have seen great many people suffer in my time
some 90 off as quiet as lambs, while others die
very reluctantly. | have remarked, sir, thai
tits very difficult TO hang Jew pedlar, or hack
ney-coach man-there's something obstinate in
their nature that won't let them die like other
men. But as said before, the Wings and
Reiormers have knocked up the hanging pro
fession; and if it was not for the suicides
which am happy to say, are as abundant as
ever, don't know what we should do.
After my friends indignation against the anti
hanging principles of Reform had subsidized a
little, he invited me to examine his curiosities
which he had arranged in an adjoining room.
81 have not" said he as we were proceed
ing thither, /" confined my collection to objects
connected with capital offenders only; il com
prehends relcts of every grade Of crime, from
murder TO petty larceny. In that respect am
LIBERAL SIR"
We had now reached the door of the apart
ment, when my conductor Selling my arm sud
denly, pointed to the door mat upon which | had
just set my foot, and said "Observe that mat,
sir, it is composed Of oakum picked by the fair
fingers of the lady Barrymore, while confined in
the Penitentiary."
! cast glance at this humble memorial of her
ladyship's industry, and passed into the museum.
In doing so, happened to stumble over a sta
ble-bucket, which my friend affirmed was the
one from which Thurtell watered his horse on
his way to Probert's cottage. Opening drawer
he produced pair of dirty-looking slippers, the
authentic property Of the celebrated key Solo
mons; and along with them a pair Of cotton
hose, which he assured me he had mangled with
his own hands in Sarah Gales mangle.
In another drawer he directed my attention to
a clay pipe, once in the possession Of Burke;
and tobacco-stopper belonging to Hare, the
notorious murderer He had also preserved with
great care Corder's advertisement for a wife,
written in his own hand as it appeared in the
weekly papers, and small fragment of tile
from the Red Barn, where Maria Martin was
murdered by the same Corder. He also pos
sessed the fork belonging TO the knife with
his wife's and chdren's throats and a pewter
haf-quartern measure, used at the black Lion
in Wych-slreet by Sixteen string Jack.