Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-01-05

Tie was taken to the tower Of Lon
don where he sobered up completely
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 great
deal of testimony calculated 80 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. lie 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 8, 1850 the
sherilfs OF London and Middlesex
made formal call Mt 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. "Wc 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
been a credit to an American circus.
The grand free street parade was then
organized as follows: A large body of
censtables in advance on foot party
of horse grenadiers and another of in
fantry; Mr.. Sheriff Errington In his
chariot; the landau, escorted by horse
~
mourning coach drawn by six horses
n hearse, drawn by six horses. The
calliope wasn't invented then, or there
would have been one ut the end of the
procession.
The streets were absolutely packed
to see "A real nobleman go to felon's
death. Every few rods the procession
was halted until the grenadiers could
clear the way. So 1t took nearly three
hours for the pageant to reach Ty-
burn. Meanwhile his lordshlp sat in
to clam-bake. He discussed litera-
ture, art and religion. He criticized
II 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
never heard such refined and help
full discourse.
At last the pageant reached the
place of execution. Everything had
been done to make the scaffold seem
cozy and cheerful. The timbers were
covered with black baize, and there
was comfortable chair for his lord
slip, In case he wanted to rest. The
whole mechanism of the gallows had
been changed to make death as pleas
ant ns possible. The earl assembled
the steps jauntily. gave five guineas to
the executioner, smiled cheerfully on
everybody, and died without tremor.
his hand at poetry, and produced the
following three lines:
I'm doubt lived, in doubt die,
Yet stand prepared the vast abyss to
try.
And. undismayed, expect eternity"