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Eckington (Derbyshire) Execution of Robert DOWNE

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August 17.--Execution of Robert DOWNE. This unfortunate man was but one degree from being in a state of idiotcy. He was a native of Eckington, in Derbyshire, and was accustomed to wander about the country from place to place, making melody with a flute as a means of livelihood. To this vagrant life he superadded a habit of indulging in petty depredations, so that, where most known he was least esteemed. He was also very irritable; being one day at Mansfield the sport of some lads, who were annoying him in every possible way, he ran after them with an open knife, and stabbed one of them, who was deaf and dumb, so severely as to occasion his death almost instantly. Downe made no effort to escape, and suffered himself to be taken, scarcely seeming sensible that he had committed a crime. He was executed on Gallows-hill, and his body, after dissection, was hung in chains on Mansfield Forest, near the spot where the murder was perpetrated.

[Editor's note: It is not yet known which year Robert was executed.]

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[Transcribed by Jayne McHugh. Reproduced with kind permission]

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