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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    and Form aForefaid, felonioufly, wilfully, and of his Malice aforethought, did kill and murder, againft the Peace of our faid Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity. Witnefifes, Elizabeth Burgeland, Sarah Johnfon, A true Bill. Elizabeth Saxon, Thomas Kirkland, Elizabeth Doleman, William Tomlinfon'. Sworn in Court. Lord High Steward. Is it your Lordfhips Pleafure, that the Judges have Leave to be covered ? Lords. Ay, ay. Clerk of the Crown. Serjeant at Arms, Make Proclamation for the Lieutenant of the Tower to bring his Prifoner to the Bar. Serjeant at Arms. Oyez, Oyez, Oyez! Lieutenant of the Tower of London, Bring forth Lawrence Earl Ferrers, your Prifoner, to the Bar, purfuant to the Order of the Houfe of Lords. Then Lawrence Earl Ferrers was brought to the Bar by the Deputy Governor of the Tower, having the Ax carried before him by the Gentleman-Gaoler, who flood with it on the Left Hand of the Prifoner, with the Edge turned from him. The Prifoner, when he approached the Bar, made Three Reverences, and then fell upon his Knees at the Bar. Lord High Steward. Your Lordfhip may rife. Then the Prifoner rofe up, and bowed to his Grace the Lord High Steward, and to the Houfe of Peers *, which Compliment was returned him by his Grace, and the Lords. Then, Proclamation having been again made for Silence, the Lord High Steward fpake to the Prifoner, as follows. Lord High Steward. Lawrence Earl Ferrers, YO U are brought to this Bar to receive your Trial, upon a Charge of the Murder of John Johnfon ; an Accufation, with refped to the Crime, and the Perfons who make it (the Grand Jury of the County of Leicefier, the Place of your Lordfhip’s Refidence), of the moft folemn and ferious Nature. Yet, my Lord, you may confiderit, but as an Accufation ; for the greatefr ormeaneft Sub¬ ject of this Kingdom (fuch is the Tendernels of our Law) cannot be convided capitally, but by a Charge made by Twelve good and lawful Men, and a Verdid found by the fame Number of his Equals at the lead. My Lord, in this Period of the Proceedings, while your Lordfhip (lands only as accufed, I touch but gently on the Offence charged upon your Lordfhip; yet, for your own Sake, it behoves me, flrongly to mark the Nature of the Judicature before which you now appear. It is aHappinefs refulting from your Lordfhip’s Birth and the Conflitution of this Country, That your Lordfhip is now to be tried by your Peers in full Parliament. What greater Confo- lation can be fuggefled to a Perfon in your unhappy Circumftances, than to be reminded, that you are to be tried by a Set of Judges, whofe Sagacity and Penetration no material Circumftances In Evidence can efcape, and whofe Juftice nothing can influence or pervert? This Confideration, if your Lordfhip is confcious of Innocence, muft free your Mind from any Perturbations that the Solemnity of fuch a Trial might excite; It will render the Charge, heavy as it is, unembarrafling, and leave your Lordfhip firm and compofed, to avail yourfelf of every Mode of Defence, that the moft equal and humane Laws admit of. Your Lordfhip, purfuant to the Courfe of this Judicature, hath been furnifhed with a Copy of the Indidlment, and hath had your own Counfel aftigned ; you are therefore enabled to make fuch Defence as is moft for your Benefit and Advantage *, if your Lordfhip fhall put yourfelf on Trial, you muft be allured to meet with nothing but Juftice, Candour, and Impartiality. Before I conclude, I am, by Command of the Houfe, to acquaint your Lordfhip, and all other Perfons who have Occafion to fpeak to the Court, during the Trial, that they are to addrefs them- felves to the Lords in general, and not to any Lord in particular. Lord High Steward. Lawrence Earl Ferrers, Your Lordfhip will do well to give Attention, while you are arraigned on your Indiflment. Here Earl Ferrers was arraigned, in theForm of the faid Indidlment againft him, by the Clerk of the Crown in the King’s Bench. Clerk of the Crown. How fay you, Lawrence Earl Ferrers, Are you guilty of the Felony and Murder whereof you ftand inuidled, or not guilty ? Earl Ferrers. Not guilty, my Lords. B Clerk