Stathern man receives death penalty for highway robbery in 1784

In March 1784 at Nottingham Assizes Thomas Henfrey and William Ryder were sentenced to death by Mr Baron Eyre for highway robbery.

 

Thomas Henfrey came from Stathern, and Wm Ryder from Stonesley near Waltham. On the 23rd of the previous January, about six in the morning, they had met Mr Richard Caunt, of Plungar, as he was coming to Nottingham Fair, on Peascroft Hill between Bingham and Ratcliffe, and with horrid imprecations demanded his money. He gave them five guineas in gold, three shillings and sixpence in silver and three pence in copper. They were apprehended the following evening at a public house in Stathern, and being identified by Mr Caunt, while in custody at Leicester, were removed to Nottingham.

They were placed in a cart drawn up to the prison door at eleven o’clock, and as they emerged from the gloom of their cell into the broad light of the sun that had risen upon them for the last time, a feeling of awe, we are told, shot through the minds of the spectators. The men were attired in their shrouds and stalked up to the cart with undismayed step. On their friends accosting them, they took several by the hand, and just before the vehicle drew on, Henfrey said with an audible voice, “Never mind lads.”

 

On the road they frequently conversed with each other, and appeared more concerned for the friends they were leaving behind than themselves. When at the gallows and at the point of being turned off, they kicked off their shoes, doubtless under the idea that they would not verify the old proverb, “rogues generally die with their shoes on.”

 

Henfrey with a smile asked Ryder if he would make a spring, and on being in the affirmative, he immediately jumped out of the cart, saying, “then come along”, and expired almost instantly, but Ryder had not courage to follow his example, and waited till the cart was drawn from under him, he lingered some minutes in great agony.

 

When Henfrey’s fall was suddenly stopped by the rope his neck gave a very loud crack, the noise of which was heard by many of the spectators; and the great weight of his body stretched the rope in such a surprising manner that his feet nearly touched the ground.

 

This article has been reproduced from the website of the Bingham Heritage Trails Association with their permission www.binghamheritage.org.uk