1807: Richard Faulkner, scared straight
Add comment July 13th, 2017 09:55am Headsman
On this date in 1807 at Wisbech, 15-year-old Richard Faulkner hanged in a truly repentant frame of mind — as described by the Norfolk Chronicle of August 1, 1807:
At Ely assizes, held at Wisbech, there was but one prisoner for trial; viz. Richard Faulkner, convicted of the murder of George Burnham a lad about 13 years of age, at Whittlesea, on Sunday, the 15th of February last, by cruelly beating him to death, for no other cause than to revenge his (the deceased) mother’s having thrown some dirty water upon him.
The prisoner himself was not 16, but so shockingly depraved and hardened, that after condemnation he repeatedly clenched his fist, and threatened to murder the clergyman who attended the gaol, or any one who dared to approach him.
Indeed he was so ferocious that the gaoler found it necessary to chain him hands and feet to his dungeon, where he uttered the most horrid oaths and imprecations on all who came near him; and from the Friday to Saturday night refused to listen to any religious advice or admonition.
At length to prevent the termination of his existence in this depraved state, the expedient was devised of procuring a child about the size of the one murdered, and similar in feature and dress, whom two clergymen unexpectedly led between them, by the hands, into his cell, where he laid sulkily chained to the ground; but on their approach he started and seemed so completely terrified, that he trembled every limb, cold drops of sweat profusely falling from him, and was almost momentarily in such a dreadful state of agitation, that he intreated the clergymen to continue with him, and from that instant became as contrite a penitent as he had before been callous and insensible.
In this happy transition he remained till his execution on Monday morning the 13th inst. having fully confessed his crime and implored by fervent prayer the forgiveness of his sins from a merciful God!
On this day..
- 1860: Albert Hicks, the last pirate hanged by the US? - 2016
- 1918: Private David Stevenson, repeat deserter - 2015
- 1616: "A gentellwoeman" by exposure, for a eunuch liaison - 2014
- 1955: Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in England - 2013
- 1708: Anne Harris, twice a hempen widow - 2012
- 2010: William Garner, arsonist - 2011
- 1989: Arnaldo Ochoa and Tony de la Guardia - 2010
- 1971: Ten failed putschists in Morocco - 2009
- 1882: Thomas Egan: 3 tries, 2 ropes, 1 innocent man - 2008
Entry Filed under: 19th Century,Capital Punishment,Children,Common Criminals,Crime,Death Penalty,England,Execution,Hanged,History,Murder,Public Executions
Tags: 1800s, 1807, july 13, richard faulkner, wisbech
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