[Trussell's MSS. are now in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps.--ED.]
* * * * *
Minor Notes.
_Last Suicide buried at a Cross Road._--I have reason to believe that the
_last_ person subjected to this barbarous ceremony was the wretched
parricide and suicide Griffiths, who was buried at the cross road formed by
Eaton Street, Grosvenor Place, and the King's Road, as late as June, 1823.
I subjoin the following account from the _Chronicle_:
"The extreme privacy which the officers observed, as to the hour and
place of interment, increased in a great degree the anxiety of those
that were waiting, and it being suspected that the body would have been
privately carried away, through the back part of the workhouse (St.
George's) into Farm Street Mews, and from thence to its final
destination, different parties stationed themselves at the several
passages through which it must unavoidably pass, in order to prevent
disappointment. All anxiety however, on this account, was ultimately
removed, by preparations being made for the removal of the body through
the principal entry of the workhouse leading into Mount Street, and
about half-past one o'clock the body was brought out in a shell
supported on the shoulders of four men, and followed by a party of
constables and watchmen. The solitary procession, which increased in
numbers as it went along, proceeded up Mount Street, down South Audley
Street into Stanhope Street, from thence into Park Lane through Hyde
Park Corner, and along Grosvenor Place, until its final arrival at the
cross road formed by Eaton Street, Grosvenor Place, and the King's
Road. When the procession arrived at the grave, which had been
previously dug, the constables arranged themselves around it to keep
the crowd off, upon which the shell was laid on the ground, and the
body of the unfortunate deceased taken out. It had on a winding-sheet,
drawers, and stockings, and a quantity of blood was clotted about the
head, and the lining of the shell entirely stained. The body was then
wrapped in a piece of Russia matting, tied round with some cord, and
then instantly dropped into the hole, which was about five feet in
depth: it was then immediately filled up, and it was gratifying to see
that that disgusting part of the ceremony of throwing lime over the
body, and driving a stake through it, was on this occasion dispensed
with. The surrounding spectators, consisting of about two hundred
persons, amongst whom were several persons of respectable appearance,
were much disgusted at this horrid ceremony."
Imagine such scene in the "centre of civilisation" only thirty years ago!