Salt Lake Herald | 1891-04-05 | Page 7 | George Washington's Fastidious Kinsman

George Washingtons Fastidious Kinsman I Lawrence Earl of Ferrers a distant relative rela-tive of George Wellington had a most tyrannical temper and one day in a fit of passion he cut down with his sword his steward an old gentleman named Johnson John-son The latter had given no provocation for the deed and the crime was an act of brutality inexcusable save that the 1r may not have been well balanced mentally He was brought t trial for killing Johnson John-son and demanded and received the privilege privi-lege of being tried his peers The house of lords was thronged during the hearing The evidence proved t be conclusive and Ferrers was sentenced to be hanged at Tylmrn Appeals were made t the king for clemency but in vain Ferrers met his fate with considerable bravado He was carefully attired for the occasion and insisted on providing a silken cord for the ceremony To this whim the executioner agreed and the earl was mon turned felon off otherwise like any other com It may b worthy of mention that this unfortunate nobleman was not only related re-lated t George Washington but was also a direct descendant of King Edward III of England His motto singularly enough was Honor the reward of virtue Chicago Chi-cago Herald