RICHARD HAYWOOD
A Violent and Hardened Sinner, who was executed along with John Tennant, before Newgate, 30th of April, 1805, for Robbery
THIS Richard Haywood, alias Reginald Harwood, was indicted for having stolen two bolsters and two pillows, valued at ten shillings, the property of Richard Crabtree; and for cutting, with a certain sharp instrument, Benjamin Chantry, in order to prevent his lawful apprehension of him for the said felony.
Miss Jenkins, cousin to Mrs Crabtree, deposed that on Saturday evening, the 20th of October, 1804, she and Mrs Wilson, in consequence of some suspicions which they had, sat watching in Mr Williamson's house, which was opposite to Mr Crabtree's, No. 11 Thayer Street, Manchester Square. They saw two men go into Mr Crabtree's house with a key. Thereupon Mrs Wilson went downstairs, and the witness observed her cross over and knock at Mr Crabtree's door. She saw the door open, but nothing else.
Mr Williamson said that he followed Mrs Wilson, and was, when she knocked at Mr Crabtree's door, close to the step of it. He saw two men come out of the house; one ran to the left, who, he believed, made his escape; the other (the prisoner at the bar) made a blow at Mrs Wilson, and ran to the right. The witness cried: "Stop thief!" and he had not got above twenty yards before he was stopped by a gentleman. The prisoner fell down in the middle of the street, but got away from the gentleman. The witness never lost sight of him till he was stopped by several people in Marylebone Lane.
Henry Holford, a merchant, in Crutched Friars, said that as he was passing through Thayer Street, Manchester Square, he saw the prisoner come out of the house, No.11, and make a violent blow at a lady. He immediately ran towards Hind Street, and came so close to the witness that he seized him. He struggled, and made a blow at the witness's head, which he avoided, and the prisoner fell. The witness saw something in his hand, which he afterwards understood to be an iron crow. The witness returned the blow, and the prisoner fell. He got up again, and turned, and escaped for a moment. The witness pursued him down two small streets, and kept sight of him till he saw Chantry at the door of his own house. The witness called out to him: "Stop thief!" Chantry laid hold of him immediately. The witness told Chantry to take care, for he had an iron crow in his hand. Chantry looked round, and a few moments afterwards the prisoner lifted up his hand and made a violent blow at him with the iron. He was then taken to the watch- house, and the iron crow was delivered to the officer.
After conviction he behaved with shocking depravity. His fellow- sufferer was John Tennant, who had been ordered for execution along with Haywood. When the keeper went to warn them of their approaching execution they behaved in so determined and riotous a manner that it was necessary to secure them with irons to the floor. Haywood, who was supposed to have procured a knife from his wife when she was permitted to see him, rushed upon the keeper, during the altercation, and would have stabbed him with it if he had not left the cell. They uttered the most horrid imprecations; and, after declaring in cant terms that they would die game, threatened to murder the ordinary if he attempted to visit them. Their behaviour in other respects was so abandoned that the necessary attendants were deterred from further interference, and left them to the dreadful fate which awaited them.
When told it was time to be conducted to the scaffold, Haywood cheerfully attended the summons; he first ate some bread and cheese, and drank a quantity of coffee. Before he departed, however, he called out in a loud voice to the prisoners, who were looking through the upper windows at him: "Farewell, my lads; I am just going off. God bless you." "We are sorry for you," replied the prisoners. "I want none of your pity," rejoined Haywood; "keep your snivelling till it be your own turn." Immediately he arrived on the scaffold, which he ran upon with great agility, with a loud laugh he gave the mob three cheers, introducing each with a "Hip, ho!" While the cord was being prepared he continued hallooing to the mob: "How are you? Well, here goes!" He then gave another halloo, and kicked off his shoes among the spectators, many of whom were deeply affected at the obduracy of his conduct. Soon afterwards the platform dropped.