A Second, For Having Committed
A Petty Theft, Was Sent To A Small Barren Island, And Kept There On Bread
And Water Only, For A Week.
And the third was sentenced to receive
fifty lashes, but was recommended by the court to the Governor, and forgiven.
Hitherto, however, (February) nothing of a very atrocious nature had appeared.
But the day was at hand, on which the violation of public security
could no longer be restrained, by the infliction of temporary punishment.
A set of desperate and hardened villains leagued themselves for the purposes
of depredation, and, as it generally happens, had art enough to persuade
some others, less deeply versed in iniquity, to be the instruments
for carrying it on. Fortunately the progress of these miscreants was not
of long duration. They were detected in stealing a large quantity
of provisions at the time of issuing them. And on being apprehended,
one of the tools of the superiors impeached the rest, and disclosed the scheme.
The trial came on the 28th of the month, and of four who were arraigned
for the offence, three were condemned to die, and the fourth to receive
a very severe corporal punishment. In hopes that his lenity would not be
abused, his Excellency was, however, pleased to order one only for execution,
which took place a little before sun-set the same day. The name
of the unhappy wretch was Thomas Barret, an old and desperate offender,
who died with that hardy spirit, which too often is found in the worst
and most abandoned class of men.
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