several of his crew, Nichols Churchill, James How, Gabriel Loiff,
Hugh Parrott, Abel Owens, and Darby Mullins. Three of those indicted
were set free, Richard Barlicorn, Robert Lumley, and William Jenkins,
because they were able to prove themselves to have been bound seamen
apprentices, duly indentured to officers of the ship who were
responsible for their deeds. Before sentence was passed on him, Kidd
said to the Court:

"My Lords, it is a very hard judgment. For my part I am the most
innocent person of them all."

Execution Dock long since vanished from old London, but tradition has
survived along the waterfront of Wapping to fix the spot, and the worn
stone staircase known as the "Pirates' Stairs," still leads down to the
river, and down these same steps walked Captain William Kidd. The
_Gentleman's Magazine_ (London) for 1796 describes the ancient
procedure, just as it had befallen Captain Kidd and his men:

"Feb. 4th. This morning, a little after ten o'clock, Colley, Cole, and
Blanche, the three sailors convicted of the murder of Captain Little,
were brought out of Newgate, and conveyed in solemn procession to
Execution Dock, there to receive the punishment awarded by law. On the
cart on which they rode was an elevated stage; on this were seated
Colley, the principal instigator in the murder, in the middle, and his
two wretched instruments, the Spaniard Blanche, and the Mulatto Cole,
on each side of him; and behind, on another seat, two executioners.

"Colley seemed in a state resembling that of a man stupidly
intoxicated, and scarcely awake, and the two discovered little
sensibility on this occasion, nor to the last moment of their
existence, did they, as we hear, make any confession. They were turned
off about a quarter before twelve in the midst of an immense crowd of
spectators. On the way to the place of execution, they were preceded
by the Marshall of the Admiralty in his carriage, the Deputy Marshall,
bearing the silver oar, and the two City Marshals on horseback,
Sheriff's officers, etc. The whole cavalcade was conducted with great
solemnity."

John Taylor, "the water poet," who lived in the time of Captain Kidd,
wrote these doleful lines, which may serve as a kind of obituary:

"There are inferior Gallowses which bear,
(According to the season) twice a year;
And there's a kind of waterish tree at Wapping
Where sea-thieves or pirates are catched napping."

Kidd's body, covered wit