John Cowland

John Cowland was convicted of the murder of Andrew Slanning and sentenced to death. He stabbed him in the Rose Tavern near the Drury Lane theatre in early December 1700. John Cowland and some other bonvivants had followed Andrew Slanning after he had left the Drury Lane playhouse with an orange-woman that he had met in the pit there. After they had gone some yards John Cowland put his arm round the woman's neck, causing Andrew Slanning to call on him to desist, stating that she was his wife. However, John Cowland knew that Andrew Slanning, who was a knight of the realm and baronet, was married to a woman of honour, and called him on the lie, after which they both drew swords. However, some gentlemen came up at that point and no immediate ill consequences ensued. They then all adjourn to the Rose Tavern where a captain endeavoured to reconcile the offended parties, with some apparent success. However, as they were going upstairs to drink a glass of wine John Cowland drew his sword and stabbed Andrew Slanning in the belly. Andrew Slanning cried out: xxxqxxx Murder! xxxqxxx Whereupon several people in the house ran up and disarmed John Cowland of his sword, which was bloody to the depth of five inches, and took him into custody. After that, John Cowland desired to see Andrew Slanning, which was granted, however, instead he jumped down the stairs and endeavoured to make his escape, but was pursued and easily retaken. John Cowland was tried at the Old Bailey on 5 December 1700 on three indictments: Common law. The statute of stabbing. Coroner's inquest for murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. It was also heard that Andrew Slanning had possessed an estate of twenty thousand pounds a year and that his family became extinct by his death. It was further heard that he had been a gentleman of great good nature, and by no means disposed to quarrel. Although great efforts were made to obtain a pardon for him, he was executed at Tyburn, on 20 December 1700. Six other men were executed at Tyburn that day, with John Cowland being executed two hours before the others. John Cowland had been the son of reputable parents who had apprenticed him to a goldsmith, but he was described as being of a vicious irascible disposition. It was stated that from the moment of his imprisonment to the day of his death, his behaviour was truly contrite and penitent. He was said to have professed the most unfeigned sorrow for all his sins, and gave the following account of himself, that he was the son of reputable parents, who apprenticed him to a goldsmith, that in the early part of his life he had been sober and religious, studying the scriptures, giving a regular attendance on divine worship, and devoutly reflecting on his duty towards God, but that, abandoning that course of life, he became an easy prey to his own intemperate passions, and proceeded from one degree of vice to another, till at length he committed the horrid crime for which he was justly doomed to fall a sacrifice to the violated laws of God and his Country. It was later noted in the Newgate Calendar, that the dispute had arisen over Andrew Slanning having associated himself with a woman of light character, with whom John Cowland thought he had as much right to make free as Andrew Slanning, but that whist Andrew Slanning was originally to blame, having been a married man, there great impropriety in the connexion he had formed, that that didn't justify the actions of John Cowland, especially after an apparent reconciliation had taken place. In conclusion, the Newgate Calendar, which often attached tales of morality with its cases said: xxxqxxx To sum up our observations in a few words, from this sad tale let married men be taught the danger that may ensue from the slightest criminal connexion, and let young gentlemen learn to govern and moderate their passions, so may all parties live an honour to themselves, and a credit to their families and connexions. xxxqxxx It is not clear where the Rose Tavern was, although it might have been near Holborn Bridge or Oldboorne bridge (Stow), which spanned the Fleet Ditch at Holborn Street. It was located in the ward of Farringdon Without, and was part of a major westward thoroughfare. JOHN COWLAND, GENTLEMAN Who suffered Death on 20th of December, 1700, for stabbing Sir Andrew Slanning, Baronet, near Drury Lane Theatre THE crime for which this man suffered will show the danger ever to be apprehended from indiscriminate connexion with females, and a caution against intemperance. John Cowland was the son of reputable parents, who apprenticed him to a goldsmith, but of a vicious irascible disposition. He and some other bon —- vivants had followed Sir Andrew Slanning, Bart., who had made a temporary acquaintance with an orange-woman, while in the pit at Drury Lane playhouse, and retired with her as soon as the play was ended. They had gone but a few yards before Mr Cowland put his arm round the woman's neck; on which Sir Andrew desired he would desist, as she was his wife. Cowland, knowing that Sir Andrew was married to a woman of honour, gave him the lie, and swords were drawn on both sides; but some gentlemen coming up at this juncture, no immediate ill consequences ensued. They all now agreed to adjourn to the Rose Tavern, and Captain Waggett having there used his utmost endeavours to reconcile the offended parties, it appeared that his mediation was attended with success; but as they were going upstairs to drink a glass of wine, Mr Cowland drew his sword and stabbed Sir Andrew in the belly, who, finding himself wounded, cried out "Murder!" Hereupon one of Lord Warwick's servants and two other persons who were in the house ran up and disarmed Cowland of his sword, which was bloody to the depth of five inches, and took him into custody. Cowland now desired to see Sir Andrew, which being granted, he jumped down the stairs and endeavoured to make his escape, but being pursued he was easily retaken. He was instantly conducted before a Justice of the Peace, who committed him; and on the 5th of December, 1700, he was tried at the Old Bailey on three indictments: the first at common law, the second on the statute of stabbing, and the third on the coroner's inquest for the murder. The facts above mentioned were fully proved on the trial, and among other things it was deposed that the deceased had possessed an estate of twenty thousand pounds a year, that his family became extinct by his death, and that he had been a gentleman of great good nature, and by no means disposed to quarrel. Mr Cowland being found guilty on the clearest evidence received sentence of death, and, though great efforts were made to obtain a pardon for him, he was executed at Tyburn, on the 20th of December, 1700. From the moment of his imprisonment to the day of his death, his behaviour was truly contrite and penitent; he professed the most unfeigned sorrow for all his sins, and gave the following account of himself: that he was the son of reputable parents, who apprenticed him to a goldsmith; that in the early part of his life he was sober and religious, studying the scriptures, giving a regular attendance on divine worship, and devoutly reflecting on his duty towards God; but that, abandoning this course of life, he became an easy prey to his own intemperate passions, and proceeded from one degree of vice to another, till at length he committed the horrid crime for which he was justly doomed to fall a sacrifice to the violated laws of God and his Country. On a retrospect of this melancholy narrative, some reflections will occur, that, if properly attended to, may be of singular use to the reader. The dispute which cost Sir Andrew Slanning his life took its rise from his having associated himself with a woman of light character, with whom Cowland thought he had as much right to make free as the baronet: but Sir Andrew was originally to blame; for, as he was a married man, there was a great impropriety in the connexion he had formed: this, however, was no kind of justification of the conduct of Cowland, who could have no business to interfere; and his crime is greatly enhanced by his having committed the murder after an apparent reconciliation had taken place. To sum up our observations in a few words, from this sad tale let married men be taught the danger that may ensue from the slightest criminal connexion, and let young gentlemen learn to govern and moderate their passions: so may all parties live an honour to themselves, and a credit to their families and connexions.