Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-31
MORE VICTIMS OF JUDICIAL ERROR

On our first page is completed the touching his
tory oflhc judicial murder OF Lesurques in France.
The following from Liverpool Mercury, rece'v-
cd by The last arrival from England, gives SINH
lar Instance OF more rcccnt occurrence in Eng
lund How carefully aud cautiously should esIi-
mony he considered in criminal cases.
We mentioned in our last the execution Of four
men, James Ashcroft David Ashcroft, james Ash.
croft ir and William lio eli, NJ LaLcHser, Tor the
murder OF two female servants Of Mr. LltIlew00d,
at Pendleton, on The 2Gth Of April 1917, OF which
AN old man, John Holden, the uncle OF the man
who was executed, confessed himself the perpo-
traitor Tic other day on his death bed. The fol-
lowing trngcai circumstances occurred al HE iri-
al and execution 1t appears HAT all The prisoners
were without counsel, and that, upon receiving
the sentence OF death each of them pro tested 10
the Coilrl his innocence. James Ashcroft, senior,
exclaimed, " This is numbering us in cold blood.
God will reveal This injustice pray earnestly
that he would now send TWO angels 10 declare up
on that table who committed this murder. We
are all innocent, will declare it 10 The last
David Ashcroft invoked God, and protested his
innocence in the same manner james Ashcroft
the younger, Ii must suffer for crime never
committed, l inplors youg honor to look III mercy
on my poor wife and children" Here Tie wife
being in Court shriekcd out falntIng.l William
Holden (poinling upwnrds) said, There's God
wonder v no knO rs that we are innocent ana who
will make amends for this" These Explanations
being stopped Ivy the Judge, sentence of death
was passed upon them ALI at the conclusion Of
which David Ashcroft TOLD the Judge that he
hoped God would not allow the injustice done to
Them TO he always unknown aud james Ash
croft Junior said he would meet a higher Judge
with conscience clear Of this guilt. At tie
place Of execution upon the Monday following,
The crowd assembled was immense, aud there, up.
on The scailold, the conycts renewed their protes-
tations of innocence. David Ashcroft said, d"
am glad 10 see so many persons looking on, as
testify TO them that we are all ignorant of this
crime. do protest TO you all, before God as
am now going, trust, TO glory, | wonl'l not for
the whole world die with lie in my mouth" Al
this period they all joined in singing Tour lines Of
hymn which they had not quite finished when
they were launched into eternity.
Nevertheless the public were perfectly satisfied
Of their guilt, nhout whch there never seemed 10
be n doubt, until Thursday the Mh of March inst,
when old man, aged 81 named John Holden,
Nhe uncle, we believe, oil The man who was hung ]
living at n very dsrepulabe place, called Egypt,
on tho right hand side Of the road between Leigh
and Chowbemt finding himself on the point OF
death, confessed 10 Two women, whom he called
the bedside for the purpose Ilia he Was the per-
peiraler OF the murder above referred to, bat that
ho did not conmil HE robbery On die following
day he died. The subject is tar too painful tor
comment.