DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0135
THE CRUEL MIDWIFE, &C.
115
two children—some of whom were in great measure
decayed; but many of them appeared to have been
deposited in that place within a very few weeks at the
most.
The consecpience of this was, that the midwife was
immediately apprehended, and brought to trial, and con-
demned on the fullest evidence, besides her own confes-
sion. She was sentenced to be executed in the following
manner, and she suffered accordingly on the 28th day
of May, 1673.
“ A gibbet was erected, under which a fire was made,
and the prisoner being brought to the place of execution,
was hung up in a large iron cage, in which were also
placed sixteen wrild cats, which had been catched in the
woods for the purpose.—When the heat of the fire be-
came too great to be endured with patience, the cats flew
upon the woman, as the cause of the intense pain they
felt.—In about fifteen minutes they had pulled out her
intrails, though she continued yet alive, and sensible, im-
ploring, as the greatest favour, an immediate death from
the hands of some charitable spectator. No one, how-
ever, dared to afford her the least assistance; and she.
continued in this wretched situation for the space of
thirty-five minutes, and then expired in unspeakable
torture.”
At the time of her death, twelve of the cats were ex-
pired, and the other four were all dead in less than two
minutes afterwards.
However cruel this execution* may appear with regard
* It has been suggested by some writers that were the crime of murder pun-
ished in this country by a more exemplary mode than now practised., our history
would not be so often disgraced with that most horrid offence ; but it has been
wisely answed, that while our laws are justly acknowledged the mildest in the
world, unnecessary and lingering torments are as wisely dispensed with; as the
Conscience of every offender in this way must be evidently more poignant than
that of the greatest outward torture !
Q 2 tQ
115
two children—some of whom were in great measure
decayed; but many of them appeared to have been
deposited in that place within a very few weeks at the
most.
The consecpience of this was, that the midwife was
immediately apprehended, and brought to trial, and con-
demned on the fullest evidence, besides her own confes-
sion. She was sentenced to be executed in the following
manner, and she suffered accordingly on the 28th day
of May, 1673.
“ A gibbet was erected, under which a fire was made,
and the prisoner being brought to the place of execution,
was hung up in a large iron cage, in which were also
placed sixteen wrild cats, which had been catched in the
woods for the purpose.—When the heat of the fire be-
came too great to be endured with patience, the cats flew
upon the woman, as the cause of the intense pain they
felt.—In about fifteen minutes they had pulled out her
intrails, though she continued yet alive, and sensible, im-
ploring, as the greatest favour, an immediate death from
the hands of some charitable spectator. No one, how-
ever, dared to afford her the least assistance; and she.
continued in this wretched situation for the space of
thirty-five minutes, and then expired in unspeakable
torture.”
At the time of her death, twelve of the cats were ex-
pired, and the other four were all dead in less than two
minutes afterwards.
However cruel this execution* may appear with regard
* It has been suggested by some writers that were the crime of murder pun-
ished in this country by a more exemplary mode than now practised., our history
would not be so often disgraced with that most horrid offence ; but it has been
wisely answed, that while our laws are justly acknowledged the mildest in the
world, unnecessary and lingering torments are as wisely dispensed with; as the
Conscience of every offender in this way must be evidently more poignant than
that of the greatest outward torture !
Q 2 tQ