John Butcher

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 16th July 2026

Assizes Intelligence. At the Essex Assizes, Felix Reynolds was indicted for violating the person of Mary Totham, spinster, at Harwich, and Timothy Quilligan, Francis Fitzpatrick, and John Butcher, were indicted as accessaries to the same fact. the evening of the 26th of Feb. she was walking with her lover on the Esplanade when they were accosted by the prisoners, two of whom laid hold of her and hurried her off towards the barracks, leaving the others to secure Finch, who struggled to follow his sweetheart, and protect her from violence. The prosecutrix spoke with certainty as to the identity of Reynolds, and other evidence was adduced to show, that the remaining prisoners had been absent from the barracks at the time  the transaction took place, and shortly afterwards returned and hurried to bed. The case in its details excited universal horror. The unhappy prosecutrix was deeply affected, and her situation produced general sympathy. The Jury found the prisoners  Guilty—Death. The awful sentence of the law was immediately passed, and they were left for execution; Fitzpatrick and Butcher have, since been reprieved. At the close of the case, a subscription of nearly 100£. was entered into-by the magistracy, and the spectators, on behalf of prosecutrix, it being understood that Finch, her lover, intends to marry her, notwithstanding the dreadful outrages to which she had been subjected. Norfolk Chronicle, 29 March 1823. Execution —On Saturday last Felix Reynolds and Timothy Quilligan, privates belonging to the 58th Regiment of Foot, were executed at Chelmsford, for violating the person of Mary Tatham at Harwich. Norfolk Chronicle, 5 April 1823.