The Trial and Execution of Chas. Butcher for Sheep Stealing

Execution broadside describing 'The Trial and Execution of Chas. Butcher for Sheep Stealing Who Suffered in Front of the Old Bailey this Morning, Wednesday 2nd August 1826'. The broadside, printed with a woodcut engraving of the gallows gives a full account of the crime, trial and execution of Charles Butcher, aged 27, who was found guilty of stealing two sheep and three lambs in Shepherds Bush. Printed by Thomas Birt the broadsheet also includes an advertisement for the publisher noting 'Bills, Cards, & c. Printed on the shortest notice, and cheaper than any House in London. Hope I don't Intrude' in soliciting Support'.

Until 1868 public hangings were a popular form of entertainment for the London crowd. Such occasions provided an opportunity for cheap printers and street vendors to 'turn a penny on the street' by selling accounts of the crimes, trial and 'dying speeches' of executed criminals as souvenirs to the baying spectactors. As soon as the trap fell the street vendors began running amongst the crowd selling the broadsides. Execution broadsides were published by a small number of printers many of whom, such as Thomas Birt, James Catnach and James Pitts were based around the Seven Dials area of London. Spelling and grammar was often poor and the details not always accurate. Although ususally printed between the end of the trial and the date of the execution (usually a gap of a few weeks) they could be quickly changed to accomodate last minute information such as reprieves and dying confessions. The printers often used battered woodcuts, and, for the gallows scene used a stock block with a pierced central section to allow the sex and required number of hanging figures to be changed as required. Female criminals were depicted by using a block for a male figure, cut square at the knee to represent a skirt.