Page:Reminiscences of Smugglers and Smuggling.pdf/146

From Historical Hastings
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Two more of the gang were subsequently tried at East Grinstead, for murder, and executed- Henry Sheerman for that of Galley, and John Mills for that of Richard Hawkins of Yapton.

Others of the smugglers were afterwards taken, tried, convicted, and executed, some for being concerned in the murders of Galley, Chater, and Richard Hawkins, and others for being present at the breaking open the Custom-house at Poole. Two among them, Kingsmill and Fairhall, were reckoned the most audacious and wicked amongst the smugglers : they were both tried at Newgate, and both ordered to be hung in chains. They both, Fairhall in particular, behaved most impudently on their trial, and were frequently reprimanded by the court, but to no purpose. Fairhall said "he did not value being hanged," and said before his trial, " Let's have a pipe and tobacco and a bottle of wine, for as I am not to live long, I may as well live well the short time I have to be in this world." When their sentence was known, and one Perin, a member of the gang, ordered to be hanged and then buried, while Kingsmill and Fairhall were ordered to be hung in chains, Fairhall replied, in the presence of many people, to Perin, who was lamenting their cases, " We shall be hanging up in the sweet air, when you are rotting in your grave." They were hung at Tyburn, and the bodies of Kingsmill and Fairhall delivered to the Sheriff of the county of Kent ;-