Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-12-15
He was taken to the tower Of Lon

'Qo0 where ne S0Dered up cOmpietelys
and justified the theory that he was
naturally charming man. All who
came In contact with him during his
Imprisonment agreed that he was just
too sweet for anything. In due season
his trial occurred, and he conducted
his own defense, introducing a great
deal Of testimony calculated to show
that he was insane when the crime
was committed. There were no pro-
fessional alienists In those days, and
his showing didn't make much Of an
Impression upon the jury. He was
found guilty Of willful murder and SEN
fenced to be hanged and then turned
over to the college of surgeons for dis
section. This little matter being set
tied, he expressed regret that he had
tried to prove himself insane. He did
1t by the advice Of friends, he said.
Had his defense resulted In acquit-
tai, he'd have been greatly ashamed
and embarrassed. ''-.-'''------ -'---.-'
On the morning of May 5, 1760 the
sheriffs Of. London and Middlesex
made a formal call at the tower of
London and demanded the body of
Laurence Earl Ferrers for execution.
His lordship, being informed Of it,
asked that he might ride to the gal
lows In his own landau, and this was
granted. 1--WE strive to please" was
the motto of the sheriffs Of London
and Middlesex. His lordship came
from his cell, cool, intrepid, suave, at
tired in his wedding suit, which was
trimmed with silver. His toilet had
been attended to with great care, and
he was fine figure of man.
Sheriff Valiant and another promi-
nent citizen seated themselves in the
landau with him. This carriage was
drawn by six horses, and would have
The grand free street parade was then
organized as follows: A large body of
constables in advance, on foot party
of horse grenadiers and another of in
fantry; Mr.. Sheriff Errington in his
cnariot; the landau, escorted by horse
grenadiers; private carriages; q
mourning coach drawn by six horses; |;
a hearse, drawn by six horses. The
calliope wasn't invented then, or there
would have been one at the end of the
procession.
The streets were absolutely packed
with humanity. ALI London was there
to see a real nobleman go to a felon's
death. Every few rods the procession
was halted until the grenadiers could
clear the way. So it took nearly three
hours for the pageant to reach Ty-
burn. Meanwhile his lordship sat in
the landau as serene as though going
to a clam-bake. He discussed litera-
ture, art and religion. He criticized
new book by Lord Bolingbroke, and
recited several recent poems which
had caught his fancy. Sheriff Valiant
used to say in after years that he
newer heard snchsa ra0ned ard .Aelp-
ful disco1x1a zs - !.
At last the pageant reached tAe
place Of execution. Everything had
been done to make the scaftold seem
cozy and cheerful. The timbers were
covered with black baize, and there
was a comfortable chair for his lord
ship, in case he wanted to rest. The
whole mechanism of the gallows had
been changed to make death as pleas
ant as possible. The earl ascended
the steps jauntily, gave five guineas to
the executioner, smiled cheerfully on
everybody, and died without tremor.
During his last night on earth he tried
his hand at poetry, and produced the
following three lines:
''In doubt lived, in doubt I die,
Yet stand prepared the vast abyss to
try,
And, undismayed, expect eternity"