The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-12-17
! 8reat Jriols oR
Histor4!.
JOHN FERNWICK.
TRIAL OF SIR

I
Sir John FernWick was the prime
Of Social HighWaymen during tn
reign of William III, and for btinI
implicated in a plot to assassinate hi
King he lost his head. In fact, Si
John could not have had very mucl
head TO lose, for he was continual.
losing his heada throughout the bet
er part of his life. He was barone
and man of considerable ability, bu
he was also of a profligate and rest
less disposition.
Although Sir John commanded &
regiment in the service of William Ill
when that monarch was the prince Of
Orange, as soon as William became
King, John became one of the most
persistent of plotters against his
throne. He was always formenting
disturbances and was several times
placed in the tower until his ardor
Jomewhat cooled. He was most rude
10 Queen Mary and, according to one
fersion, ventured to cock his hat in
Ter face, while other versions add de-
ails of even more marked imperti-
dence.
Two years before he was finally
brought to trial he had concocted an
Elaborate scheme for the assassination
If the King. but it miscarried in that
William unexpectedly left for Fland-
ars before it could be carried out The
plot was discovered and Fanwick
tept in hiding. When the trial of his
3onfederates, who had been captured
yas held he found there were only
Two witnesses he had to fear, so he
lecided that he would be able to bribe
them.
ST. John thought he had succeeded
nd could make his-escape, but he was
pprehended in Kent when on his
ag to France. The King did ont act
hastily in his case because he believed
le. could secure from him a confess
lion which would implicate others
Fenwiek only revealed as much as
louid imp1icate his political enemies.
When this confession was read, in
which be implicated Marlborough Co
l9lphin, Russell and Shrewsbury, the
ling directed the confesson to be sent
the Lords Justices expressing, at
he same time, his astonishment and
lcredulity and gave orders that Fen
Fick should be sent Immediately be-
ore jury. 1t was deemed advisa-
,le, however, not to hurry matters too
auch, for the prisoner might be in
iced to make more revelations.
When brought before the bar of the
louise of Commons, Fenwick was still
obstinate, and it was moved and car
led without division that his con-
ession was false and scandalous
While the guilt of Fenwick was moral
Y certain, and was aggravated by his
subsequent disingenuous conduct, it
1an scarcely be affirmed that the pro-
,edure against him was justifiable, as
regards either the tribunal by which
1e was. tried, of the manner in which
the TRIAL was conducted.
In fact, Fenwick's attanider was de-
cided on to render escape impossible
and for the same reason the law re-
1uiring two witnesses In cases of trea-
son was dispensed with, and there
gere other irregularities.
A writer commenting on the trial at
he time said: Il do not find many
3f his life has been such, and the man
2gemcnt of the part he had now to act
80 bad, that he had few friends; but
he method OF Furnishing him being out
of the common road, and such as has
not been often used, and, when ii has,
concerned for his purpose The course
been condemned by those who have
judged .coolly, is what some are stalled
at"
Fenwick's wife, Lady Mary, used
every effort to save her husbands life
be petitioning both the King and the
House of Lords, but Fenwicks adroit-
mes sin putting forward the plea that
he had been privy to an assassination
plot in 1896, and had frustrated it,
ohly served to prove how deeply he
Eas in the confidence of the conspir-
ators against Williams throne.
The bill of conviction against Fen
wick was passed by the House of
Lords by the small majority of seven.
Seeing no hope was left, he desired the
services of one of the deprived bish-
ops, favor which he obtained through
the courteous help of Bishop Burnet,
He was beheaded on Tower-hill on
January 23. 1897.
Owing to Fenwick's connection with
so many noble families, and possibly
also to the fact that he had been pro-
ceeded against by attainder, the for
malities employed at his execution
were similar TO those used in the case
of a peer of the realm. Burnet states
that he died very composed, in much
ibetter temper than was to be expected.
for his life had been very irregular"