Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 2: From the eighteenth century to its demolitionGriffiths, Arthur
History
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 2: From the eighteenth century to its demolition
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
Three days later a close search of the butler's pantry produced fresh
circumstantial evidence. Behind the skirting board several of his
lordship's rings were discovered; near it was his Waterloo medal, and
the above-mentioned ten-pound note. Further investigation was rewarded
by the discovery in the pantry of a split gold ring, used by Lord
William, to carry his keys on; next, and in the same place, a chased
gold key; and at last his lordship's watch was found secreted under
the leads of the sink. All this was evidence sufficient to warrant
Courvoisier's committal for trial; but still he found friends, and a
liberal subscription was raised among the foreign servants in London
to provide funds for his defence. Courvoisier, when put on his trial,
pleaded not guilty; but on the second day the discovery of fresh
evidence, more particularly the recovery of some of Lord William's
stolen plate, induced the prisoner to make a full confession of his
crime to the lawyers who defended him. This placed them in a position
of much embarrassment. To have thrown up their brief would have been
to have secured Courvoisier's conviction. Mr. Phillips, who led in
the case, went to the other extreme, and in an impassioned address
implored the jury not to send an innocent man to the gallows. It will
be remembered that the question whether Mr. Phillips had not exceeded
the limits usually allowed to counsel was much debated at the time.
The jury without hesitation found Courvoisier guilty, and he was
sentenced to death. The prisoner's demeanour had greatly changed during
the trial. Coolness amounting almost to effrontery gave way to hopeless
dejection. On his removal to Newgate after sentence, he admitted that
he had been justly convicted, and expressed great anxiety that his
fellow-servants should be relieved from all suspicion. Later in the
day he tried to commit suicide by cramming a towel down his throat,
but was prevented. Next morning he made a full confession in presence
of his attorney, and the governor, Mr. Cope. In this he gave as the
motives of his crime a quarrel he had with his master, who threatened
to discharge him without a character. Lord William, according to the
valet, was of a peevish, difficult temper; he was annoyed with his
man for various small omissions and acts of forgetfulness, and on the
night of the murder had taken Courvoisier to task rather sharply.
Finally, on coming downstairs after bed-time, Lord William had found
Courvoisier in the dining-room. "What are you doing here?" asked his
lordship. "You can have no good intentions; you must quit my service
to-morrow morning." This seems to have decided Courvoisier, who took
a carving-knife from the side-board in the dining-room, went upstairs
to Lord William's bed-room, and drew the knife across his throat. "He
appeared to die instantly," said the murderer, in conclusion. His
account of his acts and movements after the deed varied so considerably
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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