SOME PARTICULARS OF
The Trial and Execution
OF
MARY COOK,

AGED 25 YEARS,

Who was tried at Dorchester on Friday the 29th of July, 1814,

For the WILFUL MURDER of her Female
BASTARD CHILD,

And Executed at the County Gaol on Monday the 1st of August following.

THIS unfortunate young woman was one of a large family of children, born of poor, but sober & honest parents, belonging to the parish of Netherbury in the county of Dorset, and excepting the fatal error which led her to so untimely an end, her conduct was proper and becoming her situation in life.—It appeared from the evidence in court, that the Child was found in a Coppice, partly covered with leaves, & the throat cut about three inches in length with some sharp instrument, and the windpipe partly divided, signs of life were visible when the Infant was taken up, but it died soon after. Circumstances strongly connected, left no doubt who was the perpetrator of the horrid deed, and the Jury accordingly found her guilty, the learned Judge in passing the dreadful sentence of the law, pathetically pointed out the enormity of the offence, and lamented that she, who appeared to have lived heretofore in a decent and orderly way, should have committed so foul and unnatural a crime, as to have forfeited her life to the offended laws of her country.

He then in a most solemn and impressive manner pronounced the following sentence, That she should be taken to the place of Execution on Monday, and there be hung by her Neck 'till she was dead, and her body to be afterwards delivered to the Surgeons for dissection.

It is but justice to say, that during her confinement and since her condemnation, as well as at the place of Execution, MARY COOK expressed the most sincere resignation & poignant contrition for the crime for which she was about to suffer, imploring pardon & forgiveness thro' the merits of a merciful Redeemer.

After praying some time with the Clergyman, she was launched into eternity, amidst a great concourse of Spectators.

G. Frampton, Printer, adjoining the County Hall, Dorchester.