The Ordinary of NEWGATE's Account of the Behaviour, Confection, and Dying Words of Theodore Gardelle, who was Executed in the Hay-Market, London, on Saturday the Fourth of April, 1761, for the barbarous and bloody Murder of Mrs. Anne King.

ON Thursday, April 2, Theodore Gardelle, after a Tryal of some Hours, for the Murder of Mrs King of Leicestershire, and afterwards diff'ering her in a fiocking Manner, and receiv'd Sentence of Death agreeable to the Statute.

The following is a Translation of Mr. Gardelle's Manuscript.

— As here is Nothing Material in my first Years, I need not take Notice of them. At 14, my Father bound me Ap-prentice to an Engraver and Embosber for 3 Years, but it was so impatious to learn the Art of Painting, that I let out for Paris in 1739, without taking Leave of any Body; A few Months after I return'd to my own Country, and serv'd out the Reit of my Tim; and then Employ'd myself in Paining till 1744. I then went again to Paris, and remain'd there till 1748, but my Father being in a bad State of Health, I return'd home again, and he dy'd about 2 Months after. I then went again to Paris, and from thence to Brussels, and so to London, and liv'd left Summer at Mrs King's, went from thence to Knaufbridge for some Time, and then return'd and lodged with her again. The Morning when the Murder was committed I de-find the Maid to carry a Guinea to a Snuff-shoph, an I came down Stairs the mean Time to give an Anfer to any one that should come, when in an unhappy Moment, Mrs King cam: into the Room, and began to abuse me, and fruck me, when I gave her a Pufh, the fell, and fruck her Head againft the Bed puf t I went to take her up, but the repul'd me, and by her Cries made me think the intended to profecute me as a Murderer, I then gave her a Blow with a Cmb that had a sharp, Point and the Blood flowing abundantly, slop'd her Voice, and I drew the Bed cloaths over her to hide the Blood, and at last took a foolish Scheme to bury the Body, which I could not do without dividing it into Piecvs. Some Acquaintance observing me melancholy, brought me what they thought a Remedy for that Diftemper, a Woman of the Town; this was the third Day, and I was feiz'd with Horror at the Sight of her; I lain would have deft'd that he might not be admitt'd, but dare not; they ask'd her to flay a few Days, which he did. They who have liv'd in London know to what a Pi in these Women carry their Impudence. I left her up two Pair of Stairs and came down to carry out some Part of the dead Body, but the getting out of Bed follow'd me down, and by her Extremities I went o b d with her.

I cannot make an End of this Account for want of Time; I declare it is exactly True.

THEODORE GARDELLE.

Newgate, March 28, 1761.

Whiff! he was confin'd in Newgate he appear'd calm and re-fig'd to his Fate, yet heem'd to have a due Sense of his Guilt. He lamented an Attempt he had made on his own Life the first Night of his being committed to New Pison, which was in the following Manner. That when the Officers went to ap-prehend him, he recollected a little Box of Opium which ftood upon a Shelf; that he convey'd it into his Pocket unperceiv'd, and at Nig't fwalld it, but it had no Maner of Effect on him, which he suppos'd was owing to us being flue. Thet he afterwards ftruckt it H ad aga nft a Staple that was ftaff'd to the Floor feve at Times, but this making a N ife drew up

the Keepers, so that he dropt that Deſign. He then took the unaccountable Reſo urion of Swallowing Haltpence, which he did to the Number of 10 or 12, which was all he had; and that finding himſelf in the Night, he suppos'd he had n't upon the right Means of di ftraying himſelf; therefore in the Morning he procu'd more, which he likewise Swallow'd. He was no Exac to the Number, but he fupped in the Whole they might amount to near 30, which he faid would be found in his Stomach upon Diſſection, as he was sure not one of them paſ'd thro' him.

When in Newgate he made no Attempt, and ſem'd pleas'd that the former did not ſucceſ; as he being made a publick Example, may in ſome Measure attone for his Guilt, and be a Warnun to others to avoid the Commiffion of so horrid a Crime.

About 3 o'Clock in the Morning on Saturday the 4th he was carry'd in a Cart from Newgate to the Haymarket, and there Executed, purſuant to his Seuſence, after which his Body was taken down in Order to be hung in Chains upon Housſow Health.

He den'd his having any carnal D ſign upon Mrs King; and the Circumſtance of his being in her Bad Chamber he thus accounted for. — That having ſent the Maid to one Mr Firewoyng's in the Haymarket, for ſome Snuff, he went down into the Fore Parlout to wait her Return, that ſezing a Book ye upon the Table, between the Windows, he took it up to amuse himself; but finding it to be English, which he did not underſand, laid it down again; then caſing his Eye towards the other End of the Room, perceiv'd another lying on a Table which flood cloſe to the Back Parlout Door, where the un-happy Woman lay, that going towards the Place, the fudely open'd the Door, and began, as he suppos'd, to abufe him, for by her Looks the appear'd to be in a violent Paffion; upon which he told her as well as he could, that the was var impre tinnant Woman; that then he fruck him with her Fist in his Stomach; then rettling, he purſu'd her, and giving her a Pufh, ſhe fell with ſuch Violence (her Foot having Entangl'd in the Bed Cup) that the Blood illu'd from her Mouth and Noſe; that he attempted to raiſe her, but ſcram'd out 2 and tearing the Neighbourhood ſhou'd be alarm'd, he raf'd to difpatch her, and ran to her Dressing-Table, and took up an Intrument, which he was not able to deſcribe propertly, but appears to have been of Ivory, pre'th sharp pointed, with which he made a Stab at her Neck; and finding her almost expiring, and a prodigious Effusion of Blood, concluded the Stab was the Occafion of her Death; but 3 Days afterwards, when he ſeperat'd the Head from the Body, he found he had not pierc'd her Skin, but that her Death was owing entirely to her Fall. He was, &c a good Family a Geneva, where his Mother and two Sitters are now living. A few Years ago he decoy'd a young Gentlewoman of the Name of Dupin from her Frinds, and carry'd her to Paris, where he left her with two Children. He fail'd he intended, had not this mele cho'y Aſſair happeu'd, to have ſent for her from Paris, and matry'd her as the was a very deferving young Women. He was not qui e 39 Years of Age, of a very unflavourable Aspect, and went off the Strife very little pity'd by the Populace, who with Execrations at the laſt of his Departure.