Chap-books of the eighteenth century . 454 Chap-Books of the Eighteenth Century. ARREST OF HUGH MURPHY AND CHRISTIAN This book is specially interesting, as being an account ofthe last execution by burning in England. There is nothing uncommon in her story. Originally aservant, she married, but was deserted by her husband; shethen lived with a man named Murphy, a coiner. Of coursethey were found out, tried, and condemned to death. Theman was hanged, and the woman, according to the then law, wasburned. Blackstone gives the following curious reason for thispunishment:— In treasons of eve
Chap-books of the eighteenth century . 454 Chap-Books of the Eighteenth Century. ARREST OF HUGH MURPHY AND CHRISTIAN This book is specially interesting, as being an account ofthe last execution by burning in England. There is nothing uncommon in her story. Originally aservant, she married, but was deserted by her husband; shethen lived with a man named Murphy, a coiner. Of coursethey were found out, tried, and condemned to death. Theman was hanged, and the woman, according to the then law, wasburned. Blackstone gives the following curious reason for thispunishment:— In treasons of every kind the punishment ofthe woman is the same, and different from that of men. Foras the decency due to the sex forbids the exposing and publicmangling their bodies, the sentence is, to be drawn to thegallows, and there to be burned alive. The law was alteredby 30 George III. c. 48 (1790), which provided that afterJune 5, 1790, women under this sentence should be hanged. It must be borne in mind that the culprits were strangledbefore burning (Christian Bowman was hanging forty minutes);although, by the carelessness o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectchapboo, bookyear1882
