I I - American Memory

t42 J
the Fafl. he had committed, and appear'd penitent and
devout during his Confinement.
Mrs. Hayes from the Time of her Sentence, behav'd
herfelf with more Indifference than might have been exefted
from one under her Circumftances, (he frequent-
K
ly expreffed herfelf to be under no Concern at her ap-
proaching Death, only the manner of it feem'd to car-
ry fome Terror with it; fhe Ihew'd more Concern for
Billings than for herfelf, and alfo a furprizing Fondnefs
for him in all her Aftions; when in the Chapel fhe
would fit with her Hand in his, and lean upon his
Breaft and Shoulder, and he on her's; of this Indecency
fhe was reprimanded, as being olFenfive to the Spedla-
tors, both in regard to the Indecency of the Aftion,
and as it fhew'd her Efteem for the Murderer of her
Hufband ; notwithflanding which Reafon fhe would not
defjft, but continu'd the fame until the Minute of her
Death ; one of her laft ExprefTions to the Executioner,
as fhe was going from the Sledge to the Stake, being
an Enquiry if he had hang*d her dear Child.
The Friday Night before her Execution (being afTur'd
file fhould die on the 'Monday following) fhe attempted
to make herfelf away ; to which Purpofe (he had pro-
cur'd a Bottle of ftrong Poifon, defigning to have ta-
ken the f^me j but a Woman who v;as in the Placa
with her, touching the fame with haj; Lips, found it
burn'd them to an extraordinary Degree, and fpillirg a
little on her Handkerchief, it burn'd the fame likewjie,
upon which fufpefting her Intentions fhe broke the
Viol, whereby her Defign was fruftrated.
On the Day of her Execution fhe was at Prayers, and
receiv'd the Sacrament in the Chapel, where (lie iliil
Ihewed her Tendernefs for Billings. About Twelve the
Prifoners were feverally carry'd away for Execution,
Billings with eight others, for various Crimes were put
into three Carts, and Catherine Hayes was drawn upon
a Sledge to the Place of Execution, where being arriv'd.
Billings, with the other Eight, after having had fome
Time for their private Devotions, were turn'd off. Af-
ter