This article was produced by a Newcastle newspaper all  grammar  and spelling are from the original please note the letter "f" was often used in place of the letter "s". it should give the reader a "feel" for old English writing

an account of the trial, condemnation, confeffion and execution of
 J King who was hanged on Monday 16th august 1819 at the front of the new prison in the city of Durham for the wilful murder of James Hamilton at the cabin at the newbottle colliery staith near bishopweremouth on Saturday night the 16th may 1819.

                 At eight o clock on Saturday morning the 14th inft john king alias David Henley aged 19 and William Charlton aged 20 were put to the box to take their trails before Sir George wood, Knight and were severally charged with the murder of James Hamilton on the 16th may 1819. it was diftinctly proved that king had been repeaterly at James Hamilton's cabin, where he had ftopped with him various nights and that Charlton and him lived at Ayres key and had their meat dreffed at  hunters repeaterly, was there on the 16th of may when king wanted a piece of cloth to mend his trowsers when they feemed well acquainted it was alfo proved by two workmen at mefs fenwick and Co's glafs houfe that they were well acquainted and they flept together in the caulk houfe ( a place where poor people refort to when they have no other place to go) it is warm and under cover. They had been there about three weeks and had done nothing but loiter about the place, they  eat together and left there between nine and ten at night, they feemed perfectly acquainted and were not feen there after the 16th.

                king queftion witefs who faid he told him he was about to enter on board a kinks veffel that laid at Peggy's hole, North Shields, Charlton faid he was poor and nither meat or money he acknowledged ha had flept at the glaff houfe, Jobling and his son proved that he faw James Hamilton at the cabin on Monday the 17th that he was bleeding above the eye and was bleeding much. John More knew Hamilton and went to the cabin on Monday the 17 th Hamilton had been removed he faw a jacket a fmall block of wood and his pocket knife and his handkerchief all bloody. he took up the poker it was bloody from head to about three inches towards the end. the poker was produced in court it appeared to weigh above 4 pounds and in length about three feet. two furgeons were called in who proved that his death was occafioned by the r4epeated ftrokes of fome blunt heavy weapon, fuch as the poker produced;  Hamilton through fenfible did not feem to be aware of the danger of his fituation, he died on the following Thurfday following. they examined the body and found extenfive fracture on the right fide of the head, extending to the bafe of the fkull the brain and it's membranes materially injured, and another  wound was the right eye.

public houfe in Pandon Newcaftle they were drinking together and feemed friendly they were at one time in a private room talking together and would not let them in heard Charlton fay that what was between them the world fhould never know, and threw his arms round his neck it was proved that king had fold a great coat and a flick with a dagger in it, and that he alfo had a piftol in his poffeffion which belonged to Hamilton all of which king faid Charlton had given him, and he had left Hamilton a fleep. Charlton charged the conftable on the evidence refpecting the bloody fhirt, and afked him if he not afaid that god almighty would strike him dead, for uttering fuch untruths. Thomas Gledinning proved that Charlton had two pounds of money upon him, which he wanted him to take care of when had before ftated he was without money or clothes.

                The judge after the virdict of the jury was delivered paffed the awful fenence of death upon them king declared his innocence and wifhes that god almighty might fall upon them all, they were a parcel of rogues and villains with the greateft effrontry he claimed some of the articles which had been brought agaft him as belonging to himself when they were removed from the bar into the dock which is below the court where they were tried Charlton ftruck king violently and charged him with his murder as well as Hamilton's they were each put in strong double irons in different cells.

                king when he went to prayers on Sunday morning was strongly dejected the rev mr wheeler preached a excellent sermon after which he adminiftered the sacrament with great difficulty king took feeming more dead then alive he acknowledged his guilt and said Charlton did not participate in nor knew nothing of the murder, that he met Charlton on the road between Newcaftle and sunderland after which he had done the deed, that Charlton on the night before had gone on board the Scottifh veffel to fee for a birth they were  afleep and he took a great coat and a jacket in which he found a pocket book and five pound notes in it. Which was the way he had come by the money, Charlton and he flook hands and certainly forgive him, but it was hard to run a man so near to lofing his life as he was fead from the chapel nearly fenfelefs and continious so he afterwards received a refpite until the opion of the 12 judges is taken.

 At 9' 0 clock King was conducted to the fcaffold before which he stood an immense crowd of fpectaters, the youthful appearance of the unfortunate criminal excited feeling of fypathy and compaffion in their minds as foon as the fatal cord was fixed round his neck and his foul  again recommended to the mercy of god, the bold was ftruck and he was launched into eternity. The body after hanging the ufual time was cut down and given to the furgeons for diffection.

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