A TRUE ACCOUNT Of the last Speeches, Confessions, AND EXECUTION OF Christopher Vrats, George Boriskie, and John Stern, who were Tried and found Guilty of the Barbarous Murder of Thomas Thinn Esq on the 12 of February last, and Executed in the Pallmall near the place where they committed the Murder, on the 10th of this instant March. Together with the manner of their behaviours in Newgate after their Condemnations, and at the place of Execution, containing several very remarkable Passages that happened there.  
IT has been observed in most Ages, that offended Heaven seldom suffers Murder to be long concealed, or the Murderers to scape unpunished, for by one means or other they are still brought to light, and Justice most deservedly takes place, as in the fatal Catastrophe of these miserable Villains, we shall more amply demonstrate, viz. of John Sterne, Christopher Urats, and George Boriskie, Executed for the base and Villainous Murder of Thomas Thinn Esq who on the 12th of February last was shot by Boriskie with a Blunderbuss as he was Riding in his Coach, which was charged with four Bullets, and they being shot into his Body at four several places, he died of the wounds within Ten hours after, and although at that time the Murderers by the swiftness of their Horses, made their escape, and got to their Lodgings, yet such was Heaven's pleasure, that they should not escape unpunished, though not one of their Faces were seen at the time the Murder was committed, so as to be known again. But Justice, as we most truly may affirm, discovered them almost by Miracle; for not only a Pistol which one of them had with them, was found upon the place, but likewise a Chairman that having carried Captain Urats to the Bull-Inne in Holbourn the Morning before the Murder was committed, going accidentally in to ask him whether he would discharge him, found him charging Pistols, and upon hearing of the Murder, directed such as sought for the Murderers to that House, where after a short time they found Amens Berge the Captain's man, who owned the Pistol so found to be his Masters, and also upon Examination disclosed the place where he Lay, who upon his being taken, discovered the rest; who all being apprehended, upon Examination confessed the Murder, for which being committed to Newgate, after 16 days continuance there, they were brought to their Trials at the Old-Baily, (where a Jury of half English and half Strangers being Sworn) they Pleaded not Guilty, but the Evidence being Sworn against them, and their Examinations produced, they confessed the Murder, though in a different manner; Urats the Captain declared, That he having heard that the Deceased had put some affronts upon Count Coningsmark, he (as having been a Servant to his Uncle and Father) thought himself bound in point of Honour to take the Quarrel upon himself, and that he only took Boriskie and Stern as his seconds, he being minded to Challonge the Deceased. Boriskie confessed, That Captain Urats bid him fire into whatsoever Coach he stopped. And as for Stern, he confessed, That he knew not the Design, but only went for Company: Upon this they received sentence of Death, and were remanded to Newgate, there to continue until their Execution; since their Sentence they have been for the most part kept a sunder, and several Persons of Quality have been to visit them, and by many Arguments persuaded them to confess the real cause of the Murder, and what induced them to undertake so base and villainous an Erterprises but especially the Captain stood obstinately (as it were) in vindicating what he had done, alleging, That it was the Custom in their Country to Pistol any one that refuses a Challenge: And notwithstanding the earnest Exhortations of many Pious Divines, to prepare himself for another world, he seemed very careless of their Instructions, which some persons imputed to the hopes he conceived of obtaining his Majesty's Pardon, but as for the other two, viz. Boriskie and Sterne, they seemed much more concerned, especially the latter, who often retired himself from the company that came to visit them, being often seen in private at his Devotion, and much bewailing himself for the Innocent Blood he had shed, wishing that he had not lived to have seen the day wherein the cause of his Death was effected, declaring, that he had never any Malice against the Deceased, but that he was drawn into the wicked Enterprise through the persuasions of the Captain, with whom he had first taken acquaintance in the French Kings Service. As for Boriskie that Bloody Assassinate who discharged the Peice, he had little convers with any person, by reason he was not so well versed in the English Tongue, so as to understand what was said unto him, but being asked whether he knew the Blunderbus to be charged, by reason that upon his Trial he pleaded Ignorance, he replied, That notwithstanding what he had there said (when there was some hopes of saving his Life) he well knew it to be Charged with Powder and Bullet, but with how many Bullets he was not certain, and that the Captain delivered it to him under pretence to defend him against the Esquires Footmen, in case the Esquire should come out and fight as Urats at first pretended he believed he would, but that afterwards he bid him (when he stopped the Coach) Fire into the same, or to that effect, whose unfortunate directions he followed to his own undoing; And further, that he came over in hopes of Preferment, but that now he was like to meet with such as would spoil his return. He and Sterne were very attentive at any time when Ministers came to pray with them, as past doubt not being unsensible that they had but a small remainder of life left, and that it was high time to prepare themselves for another world: Dr. Burnet not only Preached to them on Sunday last, but likewise was with them six or seven times to exhort them to a free Confession, and to show them how they stood (as it were) upon the brink of Eternity, just ready to be pushed off, their time being limited to a certain day, and that they could not reasonably hope or expect any prolongation of their lives, who had bereft a worthy Gentleman of his so suddenly, and to him unexpected, one from whom some of them had confessed they never received any prejudice, nor had cause of conceiving any hatred, and to this effect were they daily exhorted by Pious men, who, notwithstanding their Villainous act, had a regard to their Souls. They likewise made great profession that they had been brought up in Protestant Countries, and that they had served against the Papists, but that was but a small excuse to mitigate the heinous Crime they were convicted of. The day appointed for their Execution, according to the Warrant directed to the Sheriffs, was to be on the 8th of this Instant, but at their humble request, for a longer time to prepare themselves for another world, they were reprieved till this day, when about Nine in the Morning the Sheriff's Officers came to demand them; after having had some conference with such as came to pay their last visits, were brought down by Captain Richardsons' Servants, and delivered at the door of the Prison to the Sheriff's Officers, as is usual in such Cases. The Captain at his first coming down looked very brisk, but he perceiving there was no way but that he must go to his long home, his countenance greatly altered, and he many times in the way to the place of Execution, hung down his head, the other two looked like Men whom the fear of Death had altogether stupefied, so that we may perceive that such as are bold and daring to commit Murders and bereave others of their Lives are most timorous when Death gins to stare them in the face, all along as they passed there were Crowds of People, not only in the Street, but in the Windows and Balconeys, that the like has not been seen since the Execution of their fellow Murderers, those detested Wretches that as Inhumanly and basely Murdered that Worthy Knight Sir Edmundbury Godfrey. They being come to the place of Execution, where the Gibbets were placed as near as could be guessed on the spot where the Coach stood, when the Deceased was shot, the Carts drawing under them, stood still, and being enclosed round with the Guards that went to see Execution done, the Murderers being unbound, stood up with dejected looks, several Ministers being with them, the Captain often looking wishfully about him, (as some thought) in hopes of a Reprieve; when after an hours space, having received several Exhortations, and said some Prayers in their own Language, Urats being a German, Boriskie a Polander and Sterne a Sweed, the two last often lifted up their Hands, and bewailed their unhappy ends, not in the least denying the Murder, nor that they deserved to die for the same: the Captain likewise spoke several words in French, and after they had thus done, the Executioner did his Office, where after they had Hanged about three Quarters of an hour, they were taken down and conveyed thence.   

London, Printed for E. Brooks.