按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 84…
SHE STANDS ACCUSED
my hair loose； told Johnson of it； and Johnson asked me if I had got any
cole planted there。 He searched and found the bag； and there was in it
thirty…six moidores； eighteen guineas； five crown pieces； two half…crowns；
two broad pieces of twenty…five shillings； four of twenty…three shillings；
and one half…broad piece。 He told me I must be cunning； and not to be
seen to be flush of money。 Says I； ‘What would you advise me to do
with it？' ‘Why；' says he； ‘you might have thrown it down the sink； or
have burnt it； but give it to me； and I'll take care of it。' And so I gave it to
him。 Mr Alstone then brought me to the condemned hold and examined
me。 I denied all till I found he had heard of the money； and then I knew
my life was gone。 And therefore I confessed all that I knew。 I gave him
the same account of the robbers as I have given you。 I told him I heard
my masters were to be shot； and I desired him to send them word。 I
described Tracey and the two Alexanders； and when they were first taken
they denied that they knew Mr Oakes； whom they and I had agreed to rob。
‘‘All that I have now declared is fact； and I have no occasion to
murder three persons on a false accusation； for I know I am a condemned
woman。 I know I must suffer an ignominious death which my crimes
deserve； and I shall suffer willingly。 I thank God He has given me time
to repent； when I might have been snatched off in the midst of my crimes；
and without having an opportunity of preparing myself for another world。''
There is a glibness and an occasional turn of phrase in this confession
which suggests some touching up from the pen of a pamphleteer； but one
may take it that it is； in substance； a fairly accurate report。 In spite of the
pleading which threads it that she should be regarded as accessory only in
the robbery； the jury took something less than a quarter of an hour to come
back with their verdict of ‘‘Guilty of murder。'' Sarah Malcolm was
sentenced to death in due form。
％ V
Having regard to the period in which this confession was made； and
considering the not too savoury reputations of Mary Tracey and the
brothers Alexander； we can believe that those three may well have thought
themselves lucky to escape from the mesh of lies Sarah tried to weave
84
… Page 85…
SHE STANDS ACCUSED
about them。＇24＇ It was not to be doubted on all the evidence that she
alone committed that cruel triple murder； and that she alone stole the
money which was found hidden in her hair。 The bulk of the stolen
clothing was found in her possession； bloodstained。 A white…handled
case…knife； presumably that used to cut Nanny Price's throat； was seen on
a table by the three women who； with Sarah herself； were first on the
scene of the murder。 It disappeared later； and it is to be surmised that
Sarah Malcolm managed to get it out of the room unseen。 But to the last
moment possible Sarah tried to get her three friends involved with her。
Say； which is not at all unlikely； that Tracey and the Alexanders may have
first suggested the robbery to her； and her vindictive maneouvring may be
understood。
＇24＇ On more than one hand the crime is ascribed to Sarah's desire to
secure one of the Alexanders in marriage。
It is said that when she heard that Tracey and the Alexanders had been
taken she was highly pleased。 She smiled； and said that she could now
die happy； since the real murderers had been seized。 Even when the three
were brought face to face with her for identification she did not lack
brazenness。 ‘‘Ay；'' she said； ‘‘these are the persons who committed the
murder。'' ‘‘You know this to be true；'' she said to Tracey。 ‘‘See； Mary；
what you have brought me to。 It is through you and the two Alexanders
that I am brought to this shame； and must die for it。 You all promised me
you would do no murder； but； to my great surprise； I found the contrary。''
She was； you will perceive； a determined liar。 Condemned； she
behaved with no fortitude。 ‘‘I am a dead woman！'' she cried； when
brought back to Newgate。 She wept and prayed； lied still more；
pretended illness； and had fits of hysteria。 They put her in the old
condemned hold with a constant guard over her； for fear that she would
attempt suicide The idlers of the town crowded to the prison to see her；
for in the time of his Blessed Majesty King George II Newgate； with the
condemned hold and its content； composed one of the fashionable
spectacles。 Young Mr Hogarth； the painter； was one of those who found
occasion to visit Newgate to view the notorious murderess。 He even
85
… Page 86…
SHE STANDS ACCUSED
painted her portrait。 It is said that Sarah dressed specially for him in a
red dress； but that copyone which belonged to Horace Walpolewhich is
now in the National Gallery of Scotland； Edinburgh； shows her in a grey
gown； with a white cap and apron。 Seated to the left； she leans her folded
hands on a table on which a rosary and a crucifix lie。 Behind her is a
dark grey wall； with a heavy grating over a dark door to the right。 There
are varied mezzotints of this picture by Hogarth himself still extant； and
there is a pen…and…wash drawing of Sarah by Samuel Wale in the British
Museum。
The stories regarding the last days in life of Sarah Malcolm would
occupy more pages than this book can afford to spend on them。 To the
last she hoped for a reprieve。 After the ‘‘dead warrant'' had arrived； to
account for a paroxysm of terror that seized her； she said that it was from
shame at the idea that； instead of going to Tyburn； she was to be hanged in
Fleet Street among all the people that knew her； she having just heard the
news in chapel。 This too was one of her lies。 She had heard the news
hours before。 A turnkey； pointing out the lie to her； urged her to confess
for the easing of her mind。
One account I have of the Tanfield Court murders speaks of the
custom there was at this time of the bellman of St Sepulchre's appearing
outside the gratings of the condemned hold just after midnight on the
morning of executions。＇25＇ This performance was provided for by
bequest from one Robert Dove； or Dow； a merchant… tailor。 Having rung
his bell to draw the attention of the condemned （who； it may be gathered；
were not supposed to be at all in want of sleep）； the bellman recited these
verses：
All you that in the condemned hold do lie； Prepare you； for to…
morrow you shall die。 Watch all and pray； the hour is drawing near
That you before th' Almighty must appear。
Examine well yourselves； in time repent； That you may not
t'eternal flames be sent： And when St 'Pulchre's bell to…morrow tolls；
The Lord above have mercy on your souls！ Past twelve
o'clock！＇26＇
＇25＇ It was once done by the parish priest。 （Stowe's Survey of
86
… Page 87…
SHE STANDS ACCUSED
London； p。 195； fourth edition； 1618。）
＇26＇ The bequest of Dove appears to have provided for a further pious
admonition to the condemned while on the way to execution。 It was
delivered by the sexton of St Sepulchre's from the steps of that church； a
halt being made by the procession for the purpose。 This admonition；
however； was in fair prose。
A fellow…prisoner or a keeper bade Sarah Malcolm heed what the
bellman said； urging her to take it to heart。 Sarah