About a quarter of an hour
after the platform had dropped, Phoebe Harris, the female
convict, was led by two officers to a stake about eleven feet
high, fixed in the ground, near the top of which was an inverted
curve made of irons, to which one end of a halter was tied. The
prisoner stood on a low stool, which, after the ordinary had
prayed with her a short time, was taken away, and she hung
suspended by the neck, her feet being scarcely more than twelve
or fourteen inches from the pavement. Soon after the signs of
life had ceased, two cartloads of faggots were placed round her
and set on fire; the flames soon burning the halter, she then
sunk a few inches, but was supported by an iron chain passed
over her chest and affixed to the stake."
The crime for which this woman suffered was coining. Probably the method
of execution here related was adopted in consequence of the horrible
occurrence narrated by Mr. Ross.
In vol. lix. of the same Magazine, Part 1. p. 272, under the date of the
_18th of March_, 1789, is an account of the executions of nine
malefactors at Newgate; and amongst them,--
"Christian Murphy, alias Bowman, for coining, was brought out
after the rest were turned off, and fixed to a stake, and burnt,
being first strangled by the stool being taken from under her.
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