Bi/ W. W. RavenhiUl, Esq. 55 



appeared to prosecute ; but in those days prisoners, by the law of 

 England, were not permitted to " retain for the defence," beyond 

 securing- a barrister to argue points of law for them, should any arise. 

 It is to be regretted that we have no further record on this point, 

 for it is a well known legal axiom that one prisoner's confession 

 cannot prejudice another, though facts discovered in consequence 

 can be given in evidence. Proceedings in the seventeenth century 

 were at times very indifferently carried out ; and there are reported 

 sayings of this judge which have a flavour of Lord Jeffreys. It 

 may be doubted whether any of our present rules with regard to 

 confessions were observed. John Perry's confessions are said to have 

 been fully proved ; he still, however, denied his guilt, as did also 

 the other two, Richard adding that John had accused others besides 

 his mother and himself. On the judge asking their names he said 

 most of the witnesses knew, but he either could not or would not 

 give them, " so this made rather against him." All, moreover, were 

 looked upon with prejudice, from their having confessed the house- 

 breaking — the judgment upon which was recorded against them. 

 The jury found all three guilty, and the awful sentence of death 

 was passed upon them. 



Some days after, they were brought to Broadway Hill for execution, 

 this place being selected, it is said, at the instance of young Mr. 

 Harrison, that he might daily see the bodies. The mother, Joan Perry, 

 was hung first, for she was considered a witch, and to have bewitched 

 her sons. It was hoped they would make some confession, when her 

 spell had been broken. Richard was next led to the gallows; he 

 still declared his entire innocence of the crime, and said he knew 

 nothing of the matter; and then finally with great earnestness 

 besought his brother, for the satisfaction of the world and his own 

 conscience to tell what he knew about it. But the latter, in a 

 surly way, told the people he was not obliged to confess to them. 

 Richard died; and then John,' whose last words were " I am innocent, 

 but hereafter you may hear about it." Some such speech fell from 



' John Perry was hung in irons, as the principal criminal ; the others appear 

 to have sufEered in the usual way. 



