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
Doctor's execution, and subsequently printed. It is a curious fact that
among other published works of Dr. Dodd, is a sermon on the injustice
of capital punishments. He was, however, himself the chief witness
against a highwayman, who was hanged for stopping him. Among other
spectators at the execution of Dr. Dodd was the Rev. James Hackman,
who afterwards murdered Miss Reay.
It is said that a scheme was devised to procure Dodd's escape from
Newgate. He was treated with much consideration by Mr. Akerman, allowed
to have books, papers, and a reading-desk. Food and other necessaries
were brought him from outside by a female servant daily. This woman
was found to bear a striking resemblance to the Doctor, which was the
more marked when she was dressed up in a wig and gown. She was asked if
she would coöperate in a scheme for taking the Doctor's place in gaol,
and consented. It was arranged that on a certain day, Dr. Dodd's irons
having been previously filed, he was to change clothes with the woman.
She was to seat herself at the reading-desk while Dr. Dodd, carrying a
bundle under his arm, coolly walked out of the prison. The plan would
probably have succeeded, but Dodd would not be a party to it. He was
so buoyed up with the hope of reprieve that he would not risk the
misconstruction which would have been placed upon the attempt to escape
had it failed. In his own profession Dr. Dodd was not very highly
esteemed. Dr. Newton, Bishop of Bristol, is said to have observed that
Dodd deserved pity, because he was hanged for the least crime he had
committed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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