It was April 1829 and Thomas Helston and William Trethrew were to be launched into eternity at Exeter's gaol, each protesting his innocence to the last breath, for attempting to murder W, Jeffrey on the King's Highway:
"Before the execution a silly woman applied at the Prison Gate for a piece of the rope; with which either of the malefactors should be hanged, this was to act as a charm against the effects of some disease, and another asked permission to rub the neck of a child afflicted with the King's evil with the hand of one, after the execution. Mr Cole, the governor, had very properly left orders that all such applicants should have a decided negative."
It would seem that such applicants were likely to be at the prison gate at every Exeter execution. These were two silly women but they were desperate. It is no more silly believing that a dead man's hand might cure scrofula than might the touch of a monarch but the kings of the French were still touching swollen necks at this time and the 'rational' French folk were queueing up for it.
Source: The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 4th April 1829.
No comments:
Post a Comment