The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-17
CROMWELL'S HEAD.
The Private Property of a Country
Squire.
London Daily Mail.

CromwelPs body. after suffering Va
rious indignities at the hands OF the
Royalists, was buried at the foot OF
the eallows at Tyburn. His head,
however. after being above ground
for two and a half centuries. now
threatens to become the center 9!
discussion on the desirability or
otherwise OF a belated interment.
Writing to the editor OF Truth, A
Colonial and an Imperialist" says: 1
suggest that it is time to reverentiy
bury this portion OF the remains OF
a very great EngliShman. and | teel
certain that this opinion viii! be
shared by our fellow countrymen and
women, as also by Americans" The
writer mentions that the head is IN
the custody OF S. F. Wilkinson, OF
Seal, near Seven-oaks, and Truth.
commenting on this, says that If 1t
coulC decided that the head in pos
session OF Mr.. Wilkinson belonged to
the protector the suggestion in the
letter would be supported by the
whole English speaking world.
The evidence of the heads identity
courteously offered yesterday by Mr..
Wilkinson to a representative OF the
Dailv Mail was complete and convinc-
ing.
in 1861" he said. the body OF
Cromwell was exhumed from its
resting place in Henry Wis chapel
in Westminster Abbey and the head
together with those OF 1reton and
Bradshaw, struck off and impaled On
pixies, placed on the roof OF Westmln-
ster Hall.
"Twenty-fve years later sentinel
on the ramparts saw the head tall
down during a storm. He hid 1t un-
der his cloak and taking t home.
, concealed it in his chimney. Owing
to the hue and cry that followed he
did not dispose of it, but told his wife
and daughter about it on his death
bed.
"They sold it to branch OF the
Cambridgeshire Russells. who were
connected with Cromwell's family.
four Russells having married four
Cromwells. The last of the RussellS
10 own the head was Samuel. who Is
described as being very poor conc
d:aii
Samuel exhibited it to all corners
in Clare Market at IS cd head. He
ran into debt. however, to James Cox.
a rival Snowman, to whom he sold 1t
for Sis. Cox then disposed OF it to
three men. all ii whom died sudden
iy, and the friends of the last sur
vivor sold it to my grandfather near
ly a century ago.
Then Mr.. Wilkinson produced docu-
ments. the most curious being the
actual deed between Samuel Russell
and James Cox. in which the former
relinquished all claim on the head,
promising. in quaint legal phraseol-
ogy. not to interfere with Cox, in the
enjoyment of the same.
Il only got this five or six yeas
ago." said the guardian of the relic.
1T was sent to me by lady, who said
that, as / had the head. l ought to
have the deed"
Then. with due solernnity, the grim
head Of the Lord Protector itself
was produced. Within an outer case
OF polished elm lay the original oaken
casket, black with age, into which it
was first placed by the Russells.
Unlocking this inner box Mr.. Will
kinson revealed a mass OF red and
black silk, from which he took the
grim head OF "the Curse OF England.
The brown-Skinned head is still
pierced by the pike which bore it on
Westminster Hall. The point. atten-
uated by rust and exposure, energies
from the top of the skull slightly to
the right OF the center.
The hair. which owes its present
light yellow color to the embalmlng
Avid ,r,e croooed short nv the rOis-