the prisoner by his washerwoman, and by which the brown paper in which
the parcel was wrapped was proved to have been sent to Lord William
Russell, around a framed print of the "Vision of Ezekiel," from the shop
of Mr. Molteno, a printseller in Pall Mall, was then produced, and the
trial was again adjourned to Saturday.
On that morning, Mr. C. Phillips addressed the jury at very great length
on the part of the prisoner, contending with great talent, that the
evidence was that of suspicion only; but Chief Justice Tindal having
summed up, a verdict of "Guilty" was returned.
The learned judge then proceeded to pass upon the prisoner the sentence
of death. He said, that he had been found guilty by an intelligent,
patient, and impartial jury of the crime of wilful murder. His guilt had
been established beyond the possibility of doubt. The circumstances
which surrounded the case were not of an ordinary description. It was
ordered by the holiness of God that this crime should not go unpunished;
and his power was exemplified in no common manner in the course and
progress of the investigation. It was ordained that that which was hid
in darkness should be brought to light, and that an offence of the
greatest magnitude and the most hateful in the sight of God should not
remain concealed. He (the prisoner) had felt no compunction at his
conduct; he entertained no regard for the sacred duties which bound a
servant to his master; but under his own roof he had committed upon him,
aged and unprotected as he was, the awful crime of murder. By this
horrid act, domestic and social society received a shock; and in order
to prevent the perpetration of such offences by others, it was necessary
that the law in this instance should take its course. He could hold out
no hope to him in this world, and he earnestly entreated him to prepare
to undergo the last sentence of the law. It was necessary that he should
receive that punishment, in order that others should take warning, and
abstain from a breach of the law. What had inclined him to commit the
horrid act did not appear. The love of lucre first induced him to break
the law, and that might have led to the commission of this offence. The
learned judge again earnestly entreated him to make the best use of his
time, and endeavour to make his peace with the Almighty; and his
lordship then passed the ordinary sentence of death upon the convict.
Throughout the whole of the three days occupied by this trial, the court
was crowded to excess with persons who most anxiously watched every
change of evidence affecting the prisoner. Courvoisier during the first
day appeared confident, and surveyed the court with much apparent
courage and coolness; but upon the following morning, his altered
position was clearly exhibited by the anxious expression of his
countenance, and the melancholy hopelessness by which his whole conduct
seemed to be characterised. On the last day his demeanour even more
plainly exhibited how little he expected to escape from the punishment
due to his crime; and he received the last sentence pronounced upon him
by the learned judge with little apparent feeling.
Upon his being conveyed from the court to the interior of the jail, he
made no hesitation in at once admitting to the governor, Mr. Cope, that
he had been justly convicted; and he expressed his greatest anxiety,
that the female servants should be relieved from all suspicion. He
subsequently became sullen and reserved, and seizing an opportunity when
the jailer had quitted him for a few moments, he endeavoured to choke
himself by cramming a towel down his throat. This attempt was, however,
frustrated by the vigilance of the turnkey; and he became more
communicative after he had received spiritual consolation from Mr.
Carver, the ordinary of the jail, and from M. Baup, the minister of the
French church in Threadneedle-street.
On the following day, the wretched man made the annexed confession, in
the presence of Mr. Flower, his attorney, and Mr. Cope.
"Newgate, June 22, 1840.
"On the Friday before the murder was committed I began two or three
times not to like my place. I did not know what to do; I thought if
I gave warning none of my friends would take notice of me again,
and I thought by making it appear a kind of robbery he would
discharge me; and on the Saturday before I took this plate to
Leicester-place. I had a mind to rob the house on Monday, and after
I had forced the door down stairs I thought it was not right and
went to bed--nothing further happened on the Monday. On Tuesday
night, when his lordship went to bed (he had been rather cross with
me before about the carriage) he gave me two letters, one for the
post, and told me rather angrily, that he was obliged to write
those letters in consequence of my forgetting the carriage; this
was in the drawing-room, about eleven o'clock at night. I then went
down stairs into the kitchen, and stood reading a book for some
time. About twelve o'clock he rang the bell. I went up to him and
took the lamp out. After that I thought he had gone up stairs to
his bedroom; and when he rung his bedroom bell, I thought it was to
warm his bed, and I took the warming-pan up with coals in just as
usual, and he began to grumble because I did not go up to see what
he wanted, instead of taking up the warming-pan. I told him he
always used to ring the bell for the warming-pan, and that it was
for that purpose he had rung; and he said that I ought always to go
and answer the bell first, to see what he wanted. He took off his
clothes, and I came down stairs again with the warming-pan, and I
waited there until about twenty minutes past twelve. He rang again
for me to warm his bed. He told me, rather crossly, that I should
take more notice of what I was doing, and what he was telling me,
and pay him more attention.
"I did not answer at all, as I was very cross. I went down stairs,
and put everything in the state it was found in the morning. As I
was in the dining-room with a light, he came down stairs to the
water-closet: he had his wax-light. I was in the dining-room, but
as he had his slippers on, I did not hear him come down. He opened
the dining-room door, and saw me. I could not escape his sight. He
was quite struck, and said, 'What are you doing here?--you have no
good intentions in doing this; you must quit my service to-morrow
morning; and I shall acquaint your friends with it.' I made no
answer. He went to the water-closet, and I went out of the
dining-room down stairs. He was about ten minutes in the
water-closet, and I waited to see what he would do after he came
out. While he was in the water-closet I put some of the things to
rights again in the dining-room. When he left the water-closet, he
went into the dining-room, where he staid about a minute or two. I
was on the corner of the stairs that goes from the dining-room to
the kitchen. I watched him up stairs. I stopped perhaps an hour in
the kitchen, not knowing what I should do. As I was coming up
stairs from the kitchen, I thought it was all up with me, my
character was gone, and I thought it was the only way I could cover
my faults by murdering him. This was the first moment of any idea
of the sort entering into my head. I went into the dining-room and
took a knife from the side-board. I do not remember whether it was
a carving-knife or not. I then went up stairs. I opened his
bed-room door and heard him snoring in his sleep; there was a
rushlight in his room burning at this time. I went near the bed by
the side of the window, and then I murdered him; he just moved his
arm a little; he never spoke a word. I took a towel which was on
the back of the chair, and wiped my hand and the knife; after that
I took his key and opened the Russia leather box, and put it in the
state it was found in the morning, and I took all the things that
were found down stairs-- the towel I put over his face; I took a
purse, I also took a 10_l._ note from a note case, which I put in
the purse, and put them in a basket in the back scullery; the day
after I thought it would be better to put it behind the skirting
board. I had, before I went to Richmond, lost a shilling behind the
skirting board, so I thought that would be a good place to put it.
"While at Richmond Lord William's locket dropped from his coat
while I was brushing it. I picked it up, and put it in my trowsers
pocket, but had not the least idea of taking it. I intended to have
returned it to his lordship, while I dressed him in the morning. I
put my hand in my pocket at that time, but found I had changed my
trowsers; this was on the morning we left Richmond for Camden-hill.
I did not put the trowsers on again while we were at Camden-hill. I
did not recollect the trousers being different, and thought I had
lost the locket. I then thought it best to say nothing about it. On
the Friday morning I was looking at some of my old clothes, the
policeman who had cut his chin was watching me, and in taking the
trousers out of the drawer in the pantry the locket fell out of the
pocket; it was wrapped up in a piece of brown paper; the policeman
opened the paper and looked at it, and said, 'What's that?' I said
to him it was a locket; but in the position in which I was, I did
not like to say that it was Lord William's locket, as if I told the
truth I should not be believed; the policeman then returned it to
me, and I put it in my trousers pocket. The watch and seal were in
my jacket pocket, which I had on until the Friday morning; and then
I undid the ribbon, and took the seal off; it was the day the
sweeps were in the house, which was either the Thursday or Friday;
having the watch in my pocket the glass came out; I did not know
what to do with it, as the police were watching me, so I took the
watch from my pocket, and put it in between the lining of my
jacket, and twisted the pocket until I smashed the glass; after
that I dropped some of the pieces about the dining-room; and, at
different times, put the large pieces in my mouth, and afterwards,
having broken them with my teeth, spat them in the fire-place. The
watch I had by me until Friday morning. I then burnt the ribbon,
and put the watch under the lead in the sink. I kept the seal in my
pocket until they came into the dining-room to show me the ring
they had found behind the skirting board. When I was called to go
down to the pantry, I let the seal fall and put my foot upon it,
and afterwards put it behind the water-pipe in the scullery.
Beresford and Cronin, and two masons, were there at the time taking
the drain up, but did not see me do it. The watch, the seal, and
the locket, together with two sovereigns, I had about me until the
Friday, and if they had searched me they must have found them; but
they did not do so until Friday, after I was taken into custody in
my bed-room. The two sovereigns I afterwards (on the Friday, when I
slipped the locket under the hearth stone) also slipped down near
the wall under the flooring. I had scarcely had any beer all the
week, and the ale that I had drunk that night, together with the
wine, and some more I took after the cook went to bed, affected me.
I turned up my coat and shirt sleeve of my right hand when I
committed the murder. I did not use the pillow at all.
"After I had committed the murder I undressed and went to bed as
usual. I made the marks on the door on the outside, none of them
from the inside, for the purpose of having it believed that thieves
had broken in. I never made use of the chisel or the fire-irons. I
placed the things about the house to give the appearance of
robbery. It is not true that the bottom bolt was never used to
secure the door; it was bolted that night. I took the jewellery
after I had committed the deed. All the marks on the door were made
from the outside on the Monday night, for I got out of the pantry
window and broke in at the door, and while getting out of the
pantry window made a little mark on the wall outside, near the
water-pipe, which the witness Young saw, and mentioned in his
evidence. I went to bed about two o'clock. I burned nothing. Sarah
Mancer knew nothing about it. Neither did the cook, or any of the
other servants. I am the only person who is at all guilty.
"FRANÇOIS BENJAMIN COURVOISIER.
"Witness, THOMAS FLOWE.
"WILLIAM WADHAM COPE. "22nd June, 1840."
On the 23rd of the same month, however, he made a short confession, in
which he contradicted the statement of the master having threatened to
discharge him, and which was in the following terms:--
"After I had warmed his lordship's bed, I went down stairs and waited
about an hour, during which time I placed the different articles as they
were found by the police. I afterwards went to the dining-room, and took
one of the knives from the side-board. I then entered the bed-room, and
found him asleep. I went to the side of the bed, and drew the knife
across his throat. He appeared to die instantly."
"Prison of Newgate, June 23.
"This declaration was made before me this 23rd of June, 1840.
"WILLIAM EVANS. Sheriff."
His subsequent admissions tend very materially to show that a
considerable portion of his confession, even as amended, was untrue, and
the frequent alterations which he made in his statements, leave room for
much doubt as to many of the circumstances related by him.
On the 3rd of July he added another document to those which he had
already written. It was headed thus:--"François Benjamin Courvoisier
gives some account of the short duration of his life, which is to
terminate on the 6th day of July, 1840." It was written in French; and
the following is a faithful translation from the original:--
"I was born of very pious parents, who have neglected nothing on their
part for my education and religious instruction, on the contrary, they
have done all in their power; and if I am not so well informed as I
should be, it is my own fault. It has been my evil habit to have always
had a falsehood in my mouth ready to excuse what I did wrong, or what I
omitted to do. I fancied that it was more disgraceful to have a bad
memory than to be a liar. At the age of twelve, when I was very
religious, I loved God and my parents, I was kind to my sisters, and
took pleasure in doing what was good and right before God; but unhappily
the schoolmaster did not remain in my village, and his successor was not
so religiously disposed. I soon forgot all the good I had been taught,
and again became such as I was before. It is true that I was not
immoral, but I had no longer those holy inclinations in my heart. I
confirmed my baptismal vow at the age of sixteen, and afterwards
received for the first time the Holy Communion. I now began to be
righteous in the sight of men only, and I thought that this was the
highest duty of a Christian, and that if I gave satisfaction to men I
did so to God also. My parents had a peculiar affection for me, and
placed much confidence in my good conduct; they thought that I was the
one in their family who was most anxious to reward the pains they had
taken in my youth. I fancied that I loved my parents as myself; but if I
had indeed so loved them, I should not have acted as I have done. It is
true that I considered myself a good Christian. I cannot say that I
often thought of God, for then I should not have sinned as I have done;
all who knew me believed that I acted uprightly, and I thought so too. I
had already acted unjustly towards Mrs. Fector, at the time of leaving
her. I know that I should not have dared to act thus a year before. This
proves that I had already begun to forget God, and that Satan had
already some power over me. After I left Mrs. Fector, and went to my
last unfortunate place, I felt confident in my own strength, and began
to say within myself, 'Next year I will do such and such things,' but
never did I say, 'If it pleases God.' During the first part of the time
I was with Lord William Russell, I was tolerably comfortable until we
went to Richmond, when Lord William always appearing dissatisfied,
especially towards the latter part of the time, I fancied that I should
not be able to remain with him, and having heard the other servants
speak of different scenes (towns, villages, country-houses), I began to
desire an employment which would enable me to travel through England. I
afterwards formed an idea that I should be able to travel on foot from
city to city for six months. I then intended to endeavour to procure a
place or return to Switzerland. I thought I should be able to make my
friends believe that I was in place during these six months. This was
the beginning of my misfortunes, for I soon commenced to harbour still
worse designs. I thought that I could go to a town, take a lodging, and
after remaining five or six days I would depart without payment. I
thought that 10_l._ or 12_l._ would suffice for this excursion, and
began to seek an opportunity for departure. But this was not enough. I
began to premeditate the seizure of what this venerable victim had with
him in gold, bank notes, and his watch; but this did not satisfy me.
Satan, who knew that he had my heart in his power, began to persuade me
that it was not enough only to rob my master, and that if suspicion
rested upon me the world would be ready to believe it: and as during the
time I was at Camden Hill I read a book containing the history of
thieves and murderers, being under the dominion of Satan I read it with
pleasure, I did not think that it would be a great sin to place myself
among them. On the contrary, I admired their skill and their valour. I
was particularly struck with the history of a young man who was born of
very respectable parents, and who had spent his property in gaming and
debauchery, and afterwards went from place to place stealing all he
could. I admired his cunning, instead of feeling horrified at it; and
now I reap but too well the fruit of those papers and books which I had
too long suffered to supplant devotional works; and this book--yes, this
book--was read by me with more attention than the holy Bible. Why so?
Because my heart was under the dominion of Satan, and I had forgotten
for more than a month to pray to God, or to read his word, and perhaps I
had not prayed to this Divine Saviour sincerely and from the bottom of
my heart for twelve months. 'Thou honourest me with thy lips while thy
heart is far from me, wherefore thou honourest me in vain, and thy words
condemn thee instead of justifying thee.' But all I have just said did
not satisfy the wicked desires of my heart. I have not been contented
with robbing my master, having satisfied the devil, whose slave I was.
My master thought me the guardian and the protector of his property. Oh,
what a Judas I have been!--of what sins have I not been guilty? If I ask
myself what commandment have I transgressed? my conscience tells me,
all. Alas, I know well that I have taken Satan as my God; this is
contrary to the 1st commandment. 2nd.--I have adored the riches and the
pleasures of this world, and I have loved them more than God. 3d.--I
have often taken the name of the Lord in vain. 4th.--I have made the day
of the Lord my day of pleasure and amusement. 5th.--I have disobeyed my
parents. 6th.--I have murdered. 7th.--I have been in company with
notorious debauchees. 8th.--I have robbed. 9th.--I have spoken ill of my
neighbour. 10th.--I have desired the wealth of others. God says,
however, that he who transgresses only one of his commands shall be
excluded from the kingdom of heaven. He says that neither hypocrites,
nor liars, nor thieves, nor murderers, shall enter the kingdom of God. I
am, however, guilty of all these; and the good actions that I have done
during my short life will not weigh as much in the balance of the
justice of God as the wicked thoughts of my heart. If the transgression
of a single commandment causes me to be condemned to death by the hand
of man, what do I deserve at the hand of God after having disobeyed all
the law, which is the commandment of God? What punishment do I now
deserve? If, when I enjoyed a good character in the eyes of men, I was
an abomination in the sight of God, what am I now before the Eternal? If
I am the greatest of sinners in the eyes of my fellow-creatures, how
shall I appear in the eyes of Him who knows all my actions, my words,
and my thoughts? Condemnation and eternal sufferings are the portion I
deserve."
During the time which intervened between the conviction and the
execution of the wretched prisoner, he was once or twice visited by his
uncle, a respectable servant in the service of Sir George Beaumont, to
whom he made a statement, the substance of which was afterwards reduced
to writing, and will be found to be subjoined. His general demeanour was
befitting his awful situation, and he received with much attention the
pious exhortations of the clergymen, by whom he was attended.
On Saturday the 4th of July, two days before his execution, he addressed
his final confession to Mr. Carver and M. Baup. It explains several
circumstances upon which the public had hitherto been left in the dark.
"Newgate Prison, July 4th.
"After all the false statements which have been published in the
newspapers, I feel constrained to tell you again all things as I
related them to you when my uncle was here. If there are any
contradictions, it is because I did not rightly understand the
persons who questioned me, or because my answers were not well
understood. It is true that I have not told the truth to Mr.
Flower, but I have stated the reason why I did not. The public
think now I am a liar, and they will not believe me when I say the
truth; therefore I pray you will correct all misunderstanding on
the subject, and I think it is good that I should relate again all
that has passed, and how it passed. The evil dispositions of my
heart began by a strong dislike (hatred) of my situation, and by
the wish for another situation. My next idea was that I could live
at the expense of others. Then I thought that if I were to rob my
master of 30_l._ or 40_l._ it would be so much gained, and I had
afterwards the idea that by killing my master the robbery would be
better concealed, and that I should have done with him all at once,
and be ready for my journey. I took the plate out of the house on
Saturday or Sunday evening. I was waiting for a favourable
opportunity of accomplishing my design.
"Monday evening the 4th of May, I had an evil thought of putting my
hand to the work, but, after I had forced the door, a remnant of
conscience told me that I was doing wrong. I stopped about ten
minutes without knowing what to do. I vanquished the temptation of
the devil, and went to bed, after having put again the door in
order. Oh, if I had but determined so, on Tuesday night, how happy
I should be! I ought at least to have prayed to God, and thanked
him for having preserved me during that temptation, but I went to
bed like a dog, without thinking even that God had seen me. Tuesday
evening, the 5th of May, I had some altercation with my master, but
it was not worth the while to speak of it. When he was in bed I
went down in the kitchen, where I remained about an hour and a
half. During that time I placed all things in the state in which
they were in the morning, in the passage, &c. I went up stairs, and
going by the dining-room, I entered into it, and took a knife, I
believe it was a great knife. I went up in Lord W. Russell's
bed-room. When I opened the door I heard him asleep, and stopped
for a while, thinking of what I was about to do; but the evil
disposition of my heart did not allow me to repent. I turned up my
coat and shirt-sleeve, and came near to the bed on the side of the
window. There I heard a cry of my conscience, telling me, 'Thou art
doing wrong;' but I hardened myself against this voice, and threw
myself on my victim, and murdered him with the knife I was holding
in my right hand. I wiped my hand and the knife with a towel, which
I placed on the face of Lord William. I then took his keys, and
opened the box in which he kept his bank-notes. The double
napoleons which I found were more than I expected; I put them in a
purse with the rings, &c. I took also the watch, and placed them
all together in a basket till the morning. I placed a pair of
shirt-buttons, a pair of spectacles, and ten sovereigns under the
staircase carpet which goes from the drawing-room to Lord William's
bedroom. I went to bed.