The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, May 19.

Execution of Mr. RICE, &c.

Yesterday Morning Paul Lewis, for shooting at Farmer Brown, and Hannah Degoe, for a House Robbery, in the first Cart, and Mr. Rice, for forging a Letter of Attorney, in the other Cart, after having all received the Sacrament in the Chapel, were conveyed from Newgate to the Place of Execution: Mr. Rice was very decently dressed in a new Suit of Mourning, and had a Bag Wigg on; and all the Way thither, as well as at the Place of Execution, behaved with the most exemplary Composure and Piety; and his whole Deportment was so much that of the Gentleman and the Christian, that the numerous Spectators were greatly affected at his melancholy Catastrophe. Paul Lewis's Behaviour was manly and decent. When Hannah Degoe got up into the Cart, she pulled off her Bonnet and Cardinal with the same Unconcern as at an ordinary Visit, and presented them, together with her Gloves & Handkerchief, to some Friends present; and when the Executioner went to tie her Hands, she pushed him from her: however, when they were all tied up, Lewis and Degoe joined very decently and devoutly with Mr. Rice and the Minister, and after praying for some time, were turned off. It is remarkable that Lewis fixed the Rope himself round his Neck, and then addressing himself to the People, acknowledged the Justice of his Sentence, and said that he sincerely forgave his Prosecutor, and all the World, but hoped no one would reflect on his Family on his account, the thoughts of which he said, gave him more uneasiness than the article of dying; the Woman tied the Handkerchief herself over her Face.

After hanging the usual time, their dead Bodies were carried away in three different Hearses. There was the greatest number of People present ever known on the like occasion.