Lamentation & Execution of James Longhurst
At Horsemonger Lane Gaol, on Tuesday, April 16th, for the wilful murder of Jane Sax, a little Girl seven years old, at Shere, in Surrey,
Terrible Scene in the Prison with the Culprit.
James Longhurst was executed this morning, April 16, on the top of Horsemonger-lane gaol. Since his condemnation he has expressed contrition for his crime, and hoped that God would forgive him. Notwithstanding, the prisoner appearing to be in a state of mind becoming his awful position, when he was taken down from the condemned cell to the yard to be pinioned, a frightful scene ensued. The moment the culprit saw Calcraft, the executioner, approach him with the straps to pinion his arms, he started back with an aspect of terror depicted on his countenance, and began to struggle violently with the turnkeys. The chaplain spoke to him and endeavoured to calm him, and this for a moment appeared to have the effect, but upon the executioner requesting that the culprit might be taken outside, as he could not see to fasten the straps properly, another fearful struggle ensued, and it required five warders to hold him on the ground while he was being pinioned, and one or two of the turnkeys were very much hurt by the kicks they received. The prisoner’s conduct seemed to be actuated by an uncontrollable horror of the executioner and the apparatus of death. After he had been secured he walked quietly by the side of the chaplain until he arrived at the steps leading to the scaffold, and immediately he caught sight of the gibbet his horror appeared to return. He again struggled violently as well as he was able, and was forcibly dragged up to the steps and held under the beam by several turnkeys while the rope was adjusted round his neck, and as speedily as possible the bolt was drawn, and after a few struggles the wretched youth ceased to exist.
Good people all I pray draw near,
And my sad history you soon shall hear,
And when the same I do relate,
I trust you will a warning take.
At Horsemonger lane on the scaffold high,
For a cruel murder I was doomed to die.
James Longhurst, it is my name,
I’ve brought myself to grief & shame
Through the dreadful deed that I had done,
At Churchill field, near Guildford town
It was in last June, the twenty-eighth
I did this deed as I now state;
An innocent child I there did slay,
And with a knife took her life away.
Poor Jane Sax, on that fatal day,—
A child scarce seven years of age;
In Churchill field I her did meet,
And shamefully did her illtreat.
Then coward-like I drew my knife,
To rob this helpless child of life:
I stabbed her in the throat—her blood did pour,—
Then left her welt’ring in her gore.
Then I was taken for this cruel deed,
And sent for trial, as you may read;
At Kingston assizes, tried and cast,
Oh, would I could recall the past.
She cried for help, did poor little Jane,
David Ensor to her assistance came;
Whilst I, a guilty wretch did stand,
And licked her blood from off my hand
The Judge said, James Longhurst, you are guilty found,
You will go from here to London town
And there you’ll die a death of shame,
And meet your fate at Horsemonger lane.
While I lay in my prison cell,
My state of mind no tongue can tell;
I could not rest by day or night,
Poor Jane was always in my sight.
My tender parents came to visit me,
My heart was breaking their grief to see,
Tears from their eyes did in torrents fall,
While for mercy to my God did call.
I hope that none will them upbraid,
While I am in my silent grave;
Farewell to all—the bell does toll,
Have mercy, God, on my sinful soul.
H. Disley, Printer, 57, High Street, St. Giles, London.