Mr. Jonathon Jewett; How Most Peculiarly He Cheated the Hangman

Good evening. This is Crime Classics. I am Thomas Highland with another true story of crime. Listen. The high sheriff of Hampshire County, Massachusetts and deputies carrying a coffin down the prison corridor. Stopping in front of the cell of Mr. Jonathan Jewett and opening the door.

Brought you something, Mr. Jewett. Brought you your coffin. Sit it down right here men. You'll find your hanging cap inside, Mr. Jewitt. I'd advise you to try it on to see it's not too tight.

There's been trouble on the gallows with a too tight hanging cap. Look in on you later. Tonight, in my report to you on Mr. Jonathan Jewitt, how most peculiarly he cheated the hangman. Crime classics.

A series of true crime stories taken from the records and newspapers of every land from every time. Your host each week, Mr. Thomas Highland, connoisseur of crime, student of violence, and teller of murders. Now, once again, Mr. Thomas Highland.

Nobody thought of rehabilitating criminals in 1815. A catch a man who committed a crime, or didn't pay his debts, or was not well enough like, Throw him into the local lockup and forget him. It was no different in Hampshire County, Massachusetts in this era.

The jail was bleak and consisted of a series of stone pits, of correct moisture content for the growth of a fungus on its surfaces, of good temperature range to permit the flourishing of rats and some invertebrates, of foul nourishment to quicken the descent of man into rot.

And now, in a certain pit in this prison called Cell 4, lived three men together. George Bowen pacing, the Caged Brute pacing. Isaac Mitchell humming, motionless Shaggy Isaac humming. 1819 20. Lee Partridge counting, doing what he most like to do.