excerpt from 'Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 February 2019), October 1742, trial of William Bird (t17421013-19).' (337 words)
excerpt from 'Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 February 2019), October 1742, trial of William Bird (t17421013-19).' (337 words)
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[William Bird was tried for the murder of Phillis Wells who suffocated in an underground cell, ‘The Hole’ at St Martin’s Round House, a gaol run by and where Bird lived. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, later commuted to transportation. In total six of a group of twenty women died as a result of incarceration overnight in the six-foot square space. The constables responsible for gaoling the women were never prosecuted] Mary Saint: I know Phillis Wells; saw her in the Round-House about four o'Clock in the Morning, and spoke to her through the Window; the Place was full, she stood in the Middle [...] [...] I did not speak to William Bird . - Between two and three o'Clock in the Afternoon I found [Phillis Wells] dead upon the Bench. - She came from Deptford that Morning […] I cannot tell what Number of Persons there were in; they cried out they should all be smothered. […] Q. Did you hear any singing in the Hole? [Elizabeth] Beaumont: Yes, I heard them singing very much. - I heard them singing in the Room where the Women were. Court. Sure you are mistaken! Beaumont. Indeed I am not. Court. – This Singing you speak of, are you sure it was in the Room where the Women were? Beaumont. It was Women's Voices. Court. Are you sure of it? Beaumont. There were Men down, as well as Women; it might be the Women, or it might be the Men. […] [William] Bird: Mr. Akins [night constable], you swore you were down four or five Steps: I shall catch you by and by. - What Time did you go away? Akins: I went away at half an Hour after Four. - I never heard any Cries before I went away. - Yes, I did hear Singing - I cannot tell whether it was from the Mens Hole, or the Womens Hole. - It was between two and three o'Clock. - I gave no Orders whether the Window should be shut or open. |
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