John Austin

Who was John Austin?

John Austin the highwayman has the distinction of being the last man hanged at Tyburn Tree in Tyburn, a village in the county of Middlesex, before the gallows were disassembled.

He was convicted "for robbery with violence," on the person of John Spicer, and "cutting and wounding him in a cruel manner."

His last words were:

As the cart was being driven away the noose slipped on his neck causing him to choke to death instead of his neck being snapped.

Future hangings were carried out at Newgate.