WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE SENTENCE OF THE LAW FOR CRIMINAL OFFENCES. Embracing a Variety of CURIOUS AND SINGULAR CASES, ANECDOTES, &c. TO WHICH IS ADDED, AN ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS PUNISHMENTS INFLICTED ON THEIR COUNTRY; With a Description of the Crimes by which those punishments are BY A STUDENT OF THE INNER TEMPLE. VOLUME THE FIRST. LONDON: Printed and published by JAMES CUNDEE, IVY-LANE; SOLD BY T. HURST, AND H. D. SYMONDS, PATERNOSTER ROW. PREFACE. HE following authentic accounts of remarkable Culprits are respectfully submitted to the Public with the view of being doubly serviceable; First, by being a warning to youth; who, seriously considering the fatal end of vice, as almost every page in this work records, may early imbibe a due abhorrence of its deformity and learn by times to shun its dangerous path. We are told that a young man was happily reclaimed by the representation of the play of "George Barnwell," it is not therefore improbable but the scenes of depravity which these volumes disclose may have an equal impression.--Secondly, by being a useful book of reference, with respect to extraordinary cases: conse quently, it is presumed, the CRIMINAL RECORDER will not be unworthy the library of all classes. We have had, it is true, many voluminous works of this nature: but they have been one and all, tedious details of every malefactor, and consequently repititions of the same cases; calculated more to disgust, than either interest interest or instruct the reader. The following, however, is a collection of the most extraordinary Characters in the UNITED KINGDOM who have suffered Death, Transportation, &c. for their various offences; including others which have been attended with remarkable verdicts, &c. Some, who have endured a limited confinement have,we acknowledge, been purposely omitted; in hopes that they are now no longer offenders, but useful members of society. The embellishments which accompany several of our narratives have been taken from original likenesses and, we trust, will be a further recommendation of our work. As an interesting Appendix to this Work, an account of the various Punishments inflicted on those who transgress the laws of their Country; viz. the Rack, Knout, Cage, Guillotine, &c. as well as a description of their Crimes by which these Punishments are incurred, &c. &c. are given in the last volume, under appropriate heads, alphabetically arranged from the best authorities, including some original observations; which improvement is further illustrated by suitable Plates descriptive of those modes of Punishment, &c. used by those who make depredations on Society, by which the unwary may guard against them. |