Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1876 — A Clergyman Who Was Hung for Forgery. [ARTICLE]

A Clergyman Who Was Hung for Forgery.

To tell the story of Dr. Dodd, who was hung for forgery in 1777, may be quite out of time in the beginning of the year 1876. But there is a purpose in it, and perhaps the story and the moral will be timely, though the event occurred just one hundred years ago save one. William Dodd was an English clergyman, born in May, 1729, and educated at the University of Cambridge. He married a woman of extravagant tastes, and in this respect, as in many others, their tastes were alike. After being ordained he was made rector of the parish of West Ham, near London. There he proved to be so eloquent that he was soon called into the city, and became one of its celebrities. With his popularity and prosperity he was more and more extravagant and reckless in his style of living. To meet his expenses he engaged iir literary work outside of his clerical duties; he was made tutor of young Philip Stanhope, afterward Lord Chesterfield, and at length was appointed Chaplain to the King. Chesterfield became his best friend, or worst; got him through many troubles, helped him to money and to his ruin, of course, for when he wanted more than his patron would give him, he committed a forgery upon Lord Chesterfield for $20,000, was tried, convicted and executed. Great efforts were made to save him. The jury recommended him to mercy. Noblemen, clergymen, and 23,000 citizens of London petitioned the King to interfere, but the Government declined to do so, and the reverend criminal, under the law of the times, was hanged at Tyburn, June 27, 1777.— N. Y. Observer.