PATRICK M'CARTY
Executed at the bottom of Bow Street, Covent Garden, Westminster, 24th of October, 1760, for Murder
HAD this malefactor's execution been deferred but one single day, he might, in all probability, have survived many years, as the day after, early in the morning, King George II died, and the succeeding monarch, in order that all might with joy hail his accession, according to ancient custom granted a general amnesty and pardon to criminals.
A Marshalsea writ having been issued against M'Carty, an officer of that court, of the name of William Talbot, was employed to execute the warrant granted thereon. He met the defendant near Drury Lane, and told him that he had a warrant against him, to which M'Carty asked: "At whose suit?" Being informed, he requested the officer to step with him into the King's Head public- house, at the corner of Prince's Street. They had not been many minutes in the house when, without any harsh words having passed between them, M'Carty suddenly drew from his pocket a large knife, stabbed the officer to the heart, and then ran off. He was, however, pursued, and taken by a soldier in Vere Street, Clare Market, and carried before Sir John Fielding, who committed him to Newgate.
At the next sessions he was convicted of this wantonmurder, and executed at the time and place above mentioned.