The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-08-17
HIGH TREASON.
Grsphie Deseripsisn Of The Last Deeapisasiss
fer The Crime In Englana.

The Rev. T. Motley. an English clergyman,
has Published q volume Of "reminiscences. among
which oceans an account Of what is believed to
have been the last decapitation for high TREASON
in England. The following is the excerpt re-
ferred to:
"In june, 1917, there was a rising of poor
stockingers and handioom weavers, in the north
of Derbys shire and Noting hamshire, very like
some former outbreaks. The men had no work,
or wages they could live on. Though simple,
they could read the papers, and their leader had
made an important Improvement in his machine.
They believed that their misery was owing to
high taxation and corrupt government. These,
indeed, were the universal topics of the day. A
band Of these men, never amounting to 100,
some armed with pixies and swords, went about
demanding bread and aims, and they seem to
have thought that they might be strong enough,
in few days, to march upon Derby or Noting
ham, where, they were told, the soldiers would
not fire on them. Coming to n farmhouse, and
being refused what the asked for, the leader
shot man through the kitchen window. Al
ready the widest rumors had been circulated as
TO their designs, and this made the matter look
very serious. The most serious part of it, how
ever, was that the population Of Derby, gener-
ally, and most Of the people interested in trade
and manufacture, heartily agreed with the in
eurgents, only differing from them as to the
means to lie employed. Charles S. Hope was
Mayor, and Immediately took the proper meas
ures for the defense Of the town. calling up the
yeomanry and the militia, swearing in Consta-
bIes, and patroliing the approaches. The insur-
gents were surprised and routed by the Hnssars
from Nottingham, but were lodged in Derby
Jail A special commission was issued and
opened at Derby, in October. The Grand Jury
had already at the previous assizes returned
true bills on the indictment for high treason
against all the men. Meanwhile, the whole
town was very much moved. The charge of
high treason was trumped up, people said, for
political effect. The leader, it was true, was q
fanatic, and talked nonsense, but the rest were
workmen, and wanted bread. The Liberal par
ty which included the corporation generally,
had the modification Of witnessing two serious
desertions from their ranks One of these was
Copely, afterwards Lord Lyndhurst, who had
now taken brief from the Crown. The other
was William Jeffrey Lockett, Clerk of the Peace
for the County. He was the leading lawyer of
the town, . tall, grave figure, with very marked
and prominent features, and perfectly sallow
complexion. He had been a corresponding men,
Der Of the French Revolutionary Convention.
He was known to lie at heart kind and Gener-
Gus man. But he was now to be solicitor for
the Crown. He lived next door to MS, and
now often saw him and Copcly walking arm
and arm; himself the taller solemn and sat
urnine; Copely, bright, ruddy and mercurial.
The trial once begun, did not take very long.
Dcnman exhausted his clOquence in vain, but
deeply impressed all hearers. The facts were
undcniable; one or two guns and some newly
cast bullets in stockings were produced and
handed abOut the court. So, too, some strange
ly written proclamations. An example must he
made. The leader and two others were sen
fenced to be executed after the barbarous old
fashion. When the warrant came down, it was
found that his Royal HiShness had graciously
RENTED the drawing and quarterng.' A
week was given them TO prepare. The day be-
| fore the execution and my older brother went
to the blacksmith's, to see the Instruments
| ponderons axe, u small and handy one and a
large knife. all beautifully finished and sharp
| q razor. We tried the edges on our fingers.
When the morning came, all good people, wheth-
er as protest or in mere disgust, were TO kecl
| indoors But there was still an underlined hope
| of some intervention, not probable, hardly pos.
| sible, in those days. The execution was fixed
for II; the London mail was to come in at H.
| As the clocks struck, it drove up in the middle
| Of the town. There was reprieye, bnt the
Princess Charlotte, with her babe, was dead. In
| n few minutes everybody in the town knew it
and everybody asked whether it was possible
the execution should take place after that. But
there was no possibility of stopping it. Ny
| father after some changes of mind, felt it n pub
| lie duty to witness what no doubt would be va
riously described. There was n vast crowd
| The hangman's work was then q very ordinary
business, and made no sensation. There wa:
| then long pause. One of the poor creature,
| was lowered and something was done behind q
low screen. In matter Of fact, young London
surgeon did the work with a knife. A grim fell
| low then stood up and raised high with both hi,
hands the head of the chief criminal pronounc
ing thrice in different directions, The head of
traitor At that hideous spectacle, tho whole
crowd, with q confused cry of horror, reeled and
| staggered back several yards, surgng against
! the opposite houses. My father came home sick
and faint. For many days after, the snail shop
windows contained coarse and vivid representa-
| tions of the scene. We had memcnto of tho
execution always in sight Mr. LOckctt soor
after considerably enlarged and beautiiird hi,
| home, throwing ont handsome portico. 1t was
speedily named 'Brandreth's Gallows,' after the
unhappy ring-lcader."