Condemnation & Execution of Leigh, for the Murder at Brighton
On Thursday, March 22nd, J. W. Leigh was indicted at the Lewes assizes for the wilful murder of Mrs. Harton, at Brighton, on the 1st of February, 1866.
The first witness, Charles Hastings, deposed—On Thursday night, February 1st, I was in the bar parlour of the Jolly Fisherman tavern with another person named Manuel, and Mrs. Harton, the landlady. She was sitting near the fire, and furthest from the door. Prisoner came into the bar with a revolver in his hand, and as soon as Mrs. Harton saw him she ran to witness for protection. While coming towards Witness prisoner fired the pistol at her and shot her, the ball grazing the forehead of witness. Mrs. Harton fell on the shoulder of witness, and asked him to save her. Prisoner followed her, and placing the revolver within two feet of the woman’s back fired again. Mrs. Harton then left the bar and ran down into the cellar. Witness went for a doctor.
Stephen Loveday, a dyer, deposed he was in the bar, outside the bar-parlour, and saw the prisoner come. Prisoner fired at Mrs. Harton, who ran down the cellar steps. Witness followed her, and found her lying half-way down the stairs, groaning. He got her up stairs into the back room, where he left her.
Serjeant I. Barnden said—From information I received, I went to the Jolly Fisherman tavern about 11 o’clock on the night of February 1st. I saw Mrs. Harton there wounded, and in a fainting state. I went out and saw the prisoner standing in the street, leaning against a house near the King’s road end of Market street. Some one told me not to go near the prisoner, or he would shoot me. I went towards the prisoner and said, “What’s all this about?” He said, “Stand off, or I’ll shoot you,” at the same time bringing the pistol from his breast pocket. I said, “Will you?” At that moment the pistol went off, and I closed with him. I must have touched his arm at the precise instant, for the ball went through my overcoat and trousers, so that it just missed me. I threw him down, and several people assisted me to take him to the Town Hall.
After the examination of several other witnesses, the prisoner’s counsel addressed the jury for the defence, and the judge having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The judge passed the usual sentence of death upon the prisoner, and he was executed this day in front of Lewes Gaol, before an immense crowd of spectators, who came for many miles round.
On the first of February,
In Brighton we see,
There did appear a murderer,
By name John William Leigh.
He led a dissipated life,
To wickedness gave way,
That fatal night he left his wife,
And he did her sister slay.
For this cruel murder he must die,
And end his days on the gallows high.
With a six barrelled revolver,
He went on Thursday night,
To the Jolly Fisherman, in Market st.,
To take away the life
Of the landlady, Mrs. Harton,
He was by Satan led—
Where her husband, Mr. Harton,
Had been ten months ill in bed.
He fired the fatal weapon,
Oh, twice he fired the shot,
His victim soon lay bleeding,
Upon that fatal spot;
Her husband, ill, ran trembling,
And there beheld his wife,
By the hand of a wicked murderer,
Deprived of her life.
John William Leigh, the murderer,
In Brighton town did dwell,
A very wicked troublesome man,
And many knew him well;
He, mad with desperation,
If he could but had his way,
The police, and all around him,
The murderer would slay.
In the American service,
A Confederate, he had been,
Though aged only twenty-eight,
Much villany had seen;
There is nothing now can save him,
For that atrocious deed.
Of such an audacious scoundrel
We scarcely ever read.
Leigh left his wife and entered
The Jolly Fisherman;
He looked just like a demon,
With the revolver in his hand;
He killed his own wife’s sister,
Alas! she soon lay dead,
And her poor afflicted husband,
Lay consumptive in his bed.
He had no consideration,
No pity in his breast,
His wicked desperation
Caused horror and distress
Confined in Lewes dungeon,
For a short time he must be,
Then for the Brighton murder,
They will hang the prisoner Leigh.
Leigh a native was of Brighton,
To the family a disgrace,
By every one detested,
Who knew him in the place;
She was his own wife’s sister,
Who received the fatal wound,
Which has caused such consternation,
Many miles round Brighton town.
C. Phillips, Printer, Market Street, Brighton.