The following account is said to be given by Mr. Johnson, steward to Lord Ferrers, before his death, which happened nine hours after he was shot by his Lordship: that his Lordship had sent all his servants out of the way but once, when he called him up to deliver in his accounts: that when he entered the room he observed that he turned the key upon him, and when he presented his papers he expressed some discontent, and bid him fall upon his knees: the old gentleman expostulated with him, desiring to know in what he had offended; that he doubted not, but upon examination, he would find his accounts exact, and, as they had always been, to his satisfaction, he besought his Lordship to give him leave to explain them. His answer was, that he did not doubt his accounts, but he had been a tyrant, and he was determined to punish him, and insisted on his falling on his knees to make his peace with his God, for he should never rise again till he rose at the resurrection: the old gentleman then fell upon one knee, and besought him to consider his age and services; that he had been thirty years a servant in the family, and that he could never be charged with wrong to any man. His Lordship made answer, that he must be either a rogue to him, or to others, and pulling a pistol out of his pocket, and cocking it, bid him instantly fall upon both knees and pray to God, for now was the last moment he had to live. He then obeyed, and his Lordship discharged the pistol full at his body. He dropt: and his Lordship raising him, asked how he felt himself now, to which he replied, like a man that has but a few moments to live. Then said he, make good use of your time, and taking him in his arms, placed him in a chair. The only servant then in the house his Lordship sent for a surgeon; and when the surgeon came, he took him to the room where the steward was, and bid him take care of him, but at the same time, with the severest menaces, threatened, that if ever he said a syllable about the wound, he would with the other pistol, (which he pulled out and shewed him) serve him just as he served old Johnson. The surgeon, with great presence of mind, answered, there would be no occasion to say any thing, for the man would be well in twenty-four hours. -- But when he was got out of his reach, he then applied to a neighbouring justice, told him the case, and desired that his Lordship might be secured, which was accordingly done. He was at first confined in his own house, from whence he endeavoured to make his escape; but on Mr. Johnson's dying, he was committed to the county prison, from whence he will be removed in due time, and tried by his Peers.
