The trial of Laurence Earl Ferrers, for the murder of John Johnson, before the Right Honourable the House of Peers. In Westminster-hall, in full Parliament, on Wednesday the 16th, Thursday the 17th, and Friday the 18th of April, 1760: on the last of which days, judgment for murder was given against him ... / [Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers].

  • Shirley, Laurence, 4th Earl Ferrers, 1720-1760.
Date:
1760
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trial of Laurence Earl Ferrers, for the murder of John Johnson, before the Right Honourable the House of Peers. In Westminster-hall, in full Parliament, on Wednesday the 16th, Thursday the 17th, and Friday the 18th of April, 1760: on the last of which days, judgment for murder was given against him ... / [Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Davis. Not then. I came back from the corner of the wall, and pulled a book out of my pocket, and made figns for her to write : She fliook her head, and pointed with her finger. I went b*k to the gate that belongs to the Duke of Bedford's; I {laid there for about a minute •, while I was there, fhe got from that window to the Venetian win- dow in the centre of the front, fhe waved her hand, and then I went round to the other corner. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. How did fhe appear ? Davis. She feemed in the greateft agony that a perfon could be in. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Did lhe fay any thing ? Davis. The firft word fhe faid was, I can't come to you, I can't come to you t faid, How do you do ? fhe rather waved that anfwer, and faid, How does my father do? 1 anlwered her, He is well, and we are all well; I think the next was, Are you well ? fhe faid, I am well. I afked where Mrs. Harvey was, for I had a warrant in my pocket for taking her; fhe fhook her head, and faid, 1 don't know, I don't know. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Did fhe fpeak thefe words calmly and quietly, or in an appear- ance of diftrefs and mifery ? Davis. She feemed in diftrefs and mifery to the greateft degree. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Was this the only queftion ? Davis. I faid, Is all well ? She feemed then more confufed than ever, and put down the fafh. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. After this, I believe you was at Lord Mansfield's, when fhe was brought there ; do you remember what paffed, or what was faid in her prefence ? Davis. Mr. Brown faid in my hearing, that it was a mere joke for my friends to attempt any thing of t«hat kind, for that fhe would certainly go back again with Lord Baltimore; which confufed me, in the manner I ftood connected with her. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. This affurance of Mr. Brown, that fhe would go back with Lord Baltimore, fo confufed you, that you did not know what was faid or done ? Davis. Yes, it was fo. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Did you go to Sir John Fielding ? Davies. I did. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Do you recoiled any thing material that paffed ? Davis. I do not. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Did fhe tell you any thing of her ufage ? Davis. No. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Had you put any queftion to her f Davis. No, I did not. , Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Was you prefent at her information before Sir John ? Davis. I was. Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Then the accufation was made ? Davis. Yes, it was. .■»*.* Mr. Serjeant Leigh. Was that the firft you heard of it ? Davis. Yes, it was. Lord Baltimore. Was you prefent at the information ? Davies. Sir John afked the queftion whether fhe had been laid with or no; I wa3 not prefent during the firft converfation ; She was in a room with Sir John Fielding, and when fhe came out the information was made in form. William Watts /worn. Mr Cox Did you know the family of the Woodcocks before December iaft ? Mr Watts On the 19th of December, one Mr. Cay, a baker in White Crofs ftreet 'a client of mine, for whom I had done a good deal of bufinefs, applied to me, and told me he was come on an important affair; for a member of fbciety was muling, and that they could not tell where fhe was, and told me the manner fhe wenc away , and he told me the appointment made by the Jew. Mr. Cox. Tell what you was employed to do. . , . Mr Watts. I was employed by him to go to the father, in order to wait for the co- min- of this perfon to the father's -, between ten and three of the af ternpon of that Satur- day! perfon was to came; I went and waited at the father's a confiderable time, and no body came ; Mr. Cay and I went to the King's Head tavern, which was a place where this perfon had been before, and we made every enquiry we could after that perfon, ih reTad been no fuchp erfon there that day. Upon this I adv.fcd the making this