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.

    25/58 (page 23)
    would recover ; I replied, Yes; he laid, then I may go to Bed in Safety; he went to Bed direCtly. Mr. Attorney General. What palled after ? Kirkland. The firft Thing I did I went to Mr. Johnfon, who defired, for God’s Sake, that I would remove him ; while we were talking, I heard my Lord open the Door, and call up his Pointer: Mr. Johnfon was a good deal alarmed at it, fearing my Lord lhould come again ; but my Lord fhut the Door ; then he again intreated me to remove him. Mr. Attorney General. Was any Propofal made to remove him before that? Kirkland. Yes; Mrs. Clifford came down before that into the Still Room, and faid, cannot Johnfon be removed ? My Lord replied, No, he lhall not be removed, till he be either better or dead : And fome time after that he faid, he was glad he had him in the Houfe, that he could plague the Rafcal ; or fome fuch Words. Mr. Attorney General. Why did you propofe to remove him ? Kirkland. I thought it prudent for many Reafons to remove him ; I imagined, Mr. Johnfon would die ; and if my Lord came and found him dying, his Refentment would rife againft me ; befides, Mr. Johnfon was in a good deal of Apprehenfion of being again fhot; I really appre¬ hended he might die through Fear, for he was a Man of a very weak Conftitution; upon this, I went to the Lount, and got a Parcel of Fellows, and placed Mr. Johnfon in an ealy Chair, and carried him upon Poles to the Lount, where he got without being much fatigued. Mr. Attorney General. Did you apprehend that the moving would be prejudicial to him, con- fidering the Condition he was in ? Kirkland. It is impoffible to fay it might not ; but there was much more Danger in leaving him at Stanton ; and he expreffed Satisfaction on my removing him : When he came there, he defired he might be removed from one Room where he was, into another; for he faid, my Lord might come and fnoot him there, the Window was facing the Bed ; I told him, he might make himfelf eafy, I would place a Centry at each Door. Mr. Attorney General. At what Time was Mr. Johnfon removed ? Kirkland. I believe about Two o’clock in the Morning; I am not quite certain of the Hour. Mr. Attorney General. How long did he live after that ? Kirkland, He lived, as I was informed, till about Nine ; I did not leave him till Seven ©’Clock. fydr. Attorney Genercil. in wiiat Conriin/^n nwe «»!»««. y©v» lofc lum ? Kirlkand. Weak and low, and cold in the Extremities. Mr. Attorney General. What was your Judgment about him? Kirkland. That he would be dead ; he thought fo himfelf. Mr. Attorney General. What happened after he was dead ? Kirkland. Nothing more than my examining the Body. Mr. Attorney General. What did you do upon that ? Kirkland. I examined it the next Day, when the Coroner’s Inqueft Mr. Attorney General. Did you give an Account of the Wound ? Kirkland. The Ball had paffed juft under the loweft Rib, on the of the Guts, and through a Bone we call the Os Inominatum, and the Os Sacrum. Mr. Attorney General. Do you apprehend that Mr. Johnfon died Kirkland. I do ; I am clear in it. Mr. Attorney General. Was you there when the Earl was feized ? Kirkland. I was not; I went to afk Advice what was to be done. Earl Ferrers. You faid that when I afked you to extraCt the Ball, Abdomen, and that I wondered at it. Kirkland. That Queftion was afked before I told your Lordfhip it was lodged; I remember theQueftion was afked. Earl Ferrers. When I told you I had fhot it through a Deal, was it not mentioned with Surprize ? Kirkland, The Surprize feemed to be, that it had not alfo gone through the Man. Earl Ferrers. At the Time that we were talking this over a Bottle of Wine, did you talk with me as a Friend ; or did you intend to betray me ? » Kirkland. I do own, my Lord, that 1 intended to deceive you ; and I thought it abfolutely neceffary. Earl Ferrers. Did you intend to give this in Evidence ? Kirkland. I knew I fhould be called upon on this Occafion. Earl Ferrers. Did you not take Advantage of my being in Liquor ? Kirkland. No, I could not, my Lord ; what you faid was quite voluntary. was taken. Left Side, through One lodg’d in the Bone called of that Wound ? that it was lodged in the Earl