The Power of Conscience, exemplified in the genuine and extraordinary confession of Thomas Bedworth

The Power of Conscience, exemplified in the genuine and extraordinary confession of Thomas Bedworth - delivered to one of the principal officers of Newgate, the night before his execution on September 18, 1815, for the murder of Elizabeth Beesmore in Drury lane. Relating his horrible sufferings until compelled to surrender to public justice by the constant supernatural visitations of the murdered woman, and the frequent appearance of her apparition. From the original paper now in the possession of the publisher. Including interesting particulars of Bedworth's former life, his behaviour before execution, and an original and full report of the Common Serjeant's address on passing sentence.

THE following brief statement of the life of an almost obscure individual, drawn up from his own lips, is published not from any wish to diminish the just indignation and natural horror excited by the dreadful crime of murder, of which he was found guilty by his own confession, as well as by the Verdict of the Jury, but from an anxious desire to develop such particulars as exemplify the sad consequences of ungoverned passion and depraved pursuit. However different from all rational views that extraordinary portion of his relation may be which details the frequent horrible appearance of the murdered woman, there is no more reason to doubt his solemn belief of the reality of the TERRIBLE APPARITION than of any other part of his edifying Narrative. The criminal related the whole himself, in compliance with the wishes of one of the principal officers of the prison, whose humanity and attention he gratefully acknowledged, and who had long expressed a desire to know his melancholy story. He commenced his relation about midnight before his execution. He solemnly and earnestly, as a dying man and in the presence of Almighty God, protested the truth of every circumstance, and the whole is here faithfully given as he delivered it. Although scrupulously examined upon the supernatural appearance, which was reasonably conjectured to be the effects of his disturbed imagination and wounded conscience, p. 4he eagerly, positively, and repeatedly asseverated it to be a fact as certain as that he was then in the cell, to die that morning. This his full confession upon the brink of his falling into the grave, was taken down in writing in the presence of and by the direction of the officer before mentioned, and the original paper is now in the possession of the publisher, and is as follows: ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 63018
Author: Bedworth, Thomas
Release Date: Aug 23, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English