Volume I
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COLONEL TURNER HANGED Mr. Tryan, an old man, a merchant in Lyme Streete, robbed last night, (his man and maid being gone out after he was a-bed;) and gagged and robbed of L 1050 in money, and about L 4000 in jewells, which he had in his house, as security for money. It is believed that his man is guilty of confederacy, by their ready going to his secret till in his desk, wherein the key of his cash-chest lay. "11th. -- The general talke of the towne still is of Colonel Turner, about the robbery ; who, it is thought, will be hanged. "18th. -- By coach to the 'Change, after having been at the Coffee-house, where I hear Turner is found guilty of felony and burglary: and strange stories of his confidence at the barr, but yet great indiscretion in his argueing. All desirous of his being hanged. "2oth. -- Sir Richard Ford told me, that Turner is to be hanged to- morrow, and with what impudence he hath carried out his trial ; but that last night, when he brought him news of his death he began to be sober, and shed some tears, and he hopes will die a penitent; he having already confessed all the thing, but says it was partly done for a joke, and partly to get an occasion of obliging the old man by his care in getting him his things again, he having some hopes of being the better by him in his estate at his death. "21st. -- Up, and after sending my wife to my aunt Wight's, to get a place to see Turner hanged, I to the 'Change; and seeing people flock in the City, I enquired, and found that Turner was not yet hanged. So I went among them to Leadenhall Street, at the end of Lyme Street, near where the robbery was done: and to St Mary Axe, where he lived. And there I got for a shilling to stand upon the wheel of a cart, in great pain, above an hour before the execution was done; he delaying the time by long discourses and prayers, one after another in hopes of a reprieve ; but none come, and at last he was flung off the ladder in his cloak. A comely-looked man he was, and kept his countenance to the end ; I was sorry to see him. It was believed there were at least 12 or 14,000 people in the street." The Diary of Samuel Pepys. |