Age: unknown

Sex: female

Crime: murder

Date Of Execution: 4 May 1821

Crime Location:

Execution Place: Kilmainham

Method: hanging

Executioner: unknown

Source: http://digital.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/14675

Execution.

An account of the Execution of two Servant Girls, Bridget Butterly

and Bridget Ennis, who suffered at Kilmainham Jail, on Friday the

4th May, 1821, and their bodies given to Surgeon's Hall, for dis-

section, for the murder of Miss Thompson, a young lady, in whose

house they once lived; to which is added, the whole confession they

made of the Murder on the morning of their Execution;

On Friday last, Bridget Butterly and Brid-

get Ennis we're executed at Kilmainham for

the murder of a young lady of the name of

Miss Thomson. An immense number of peo-

ple assembled on the occasion, who murmured

loudly against the inhuman victims had

committed this horrid Bloody deed: When

the awful preparations were completed, the

drop fell, and Butterly died instantaneously —

Ennis appeared to suffer much, her body heav -

ed violently after her limbs had ceased to move.

After hanging the usual time the bodies were

taken down and sent to Surgeon's Hall to be

dissected. A corps of Horse Police, on guard,

amongst whom a poor inoffensive dog unfor-

tunately took refuge, at this awful hour, ex

cited their sport, and whom they cut in pieces,

with their swords, each making a smash at it, as

it ran moaning from the wounds it had receiv-

ed ; pleasant diversion indeed for the hands

of the preservers of peace to be engaged in !

Another scene occurred, owing to the Sheriff

ordering the Police to drive the people back.

The orders were promptly obeyed, and the

cries of old and young were heard in every

direction; fortunately no lives were lost.

About 8 o'clock of the morning of the exe-

cution, the prisoners made a public confession.

Butterly related that, when waiting in Chapel

Street for a young man to whom she was hired

as a servant, Captain Peck came and asked

her to take a glass of wine with him. She

went to a house to evade him, and when go-

ing into the Street next morning, she was, to

her great surprise, accosted by the Captain,

who had been watching her. By means of

money, and promises of protection, she was

prevailed upon to go and live in Capt. Peck's

house, where she had a miscarriage while she

slept in his bed. She left the house in conse-

quence of Captain Peck being informed of her

speaking disrespectfully of Miss Thompson

and another person. Ennis suggested that they

should go to England, and the robbery of the

house of Capt. Peck would procure the means.

She then detailed the following circumstances

of the murder and robbery : —' Biddy,' said I,

laughing, ' what will become of us if we do

any thing with the young lady?' Ennis re-

plied, ' I would sooner kill a dozen than be

taken.'—I then exclaimed, ' Oh, what will

become of my poor father and mother if I

shall do it?' Ennis replied, ' how shall they

find us out, when we are gone to England ?'

Miss - Thompson let me in, Kindly received me,

and shook me by the hand . Ennis desired me

to put the handkerchief about Mrss Thompson's neck or face. I immediately fastened it

about her neck, and dragged her down the

staircase leading to the kitchen—the young

lady called upon Ennis, and implored her to

help her. Ennis cried out ' Biddy, don't injure the young lady ' I replied, I have no in-

tention to hurt Miss Thompson—Ennis left

the house with a trunk—I had dragged Miss

Thompson two or three steps down before

Ennis had left the house; but had not given

her a blow or any other injury at that time—

I pushed her down the stairs, until I got her

into the kitchen—I then seized a poker and

began to beat her, and gave her two blows on

the head with it—Miss Thompson screamed,

and so did I—the blood gushed out in tor-

rents—Miss Thompson then lay quiet- I rais-

ed her up in my arms, (cannot account for this

impulse) by which my clothes became be-

smeared with blood."

Such is an account of this horrible transac-

tion, and which strikes the mind with horror ;

these two young females, in an evil hour, and

with the temptation of gain, murdered the un-

fortunate young lady, who, a few minutes be-

fore, bad shown them the greatest kindness,

and who never dreaded the errand upon which

they entered the house, should operate as a

warning to all young women, especially ser-

vants, to beware of jealousy, and to be clear

of ill-will to the persons whom they sus-

pect of being their foes.

W. Carse, Printer.

Commentary

This execution report begins: 'An account of the Execution of two Servant Girls, Bridget Butterfly and Bridget Ennis, who suffered at Kilmainham Jail, on Friday the 4th of May, 1821, and their bodies given to Surgeon's Hall, for dissection, for the murder of Miss Thompson, a young lady, in whose house they once lived; to which is added, the whole confession they made of the Murder on the morning of their Exceution.' The sheet was published by William Carse, who is listed as working from various addresses in Glasgow between 1820 and 1836.

This broadside describes an execution of two servant girls at Kilmainham Jail, Dublin, who were sentenced to death for murdering their former mistress. With both of the accused poverty-stricken, it seems that the motive for the murder was one of financial gain - with which they would then flee to England. Certainly, the terrible violence of the attack is completely out of proportion to the stated aim of robbery. The report ends with a stern warning to servants, advising them to beware of jealousy and ill-will.

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information such as proclamations as well as ballads and news of the day. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Broadsides offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in, and the National Library of Scotland holds over 250,000 of them.