A convicted killer in 1712 in Dublin tried everything he could to save his life. There was even a signed statement by his father-in-law concerning his morals; Thomas Pullman of Capel Street wrote: ‘… ever since the said Charles was married to the deponent’s daughter he never assaulted, beat or abused this deponent or this deponent’s wife, as has been scandalously reported. This deponent further deposeth that since the said Charles has been confined in Newgate, he never was unthankful for any victuals sent to him from this deponent’s house..’ It would be difficult to find anything more desperate than that, from a condemned man. His luck never changed for the better, either, and it does look as though he had enemies who wanted him gone, maybe people with scores to settle, for the man in question lived a life of violence and antagonism.
Charles Donnell was born in Ballymena, Antrim, but after going his own way in life and running into all kinds of trouble, his father decided that the best idea for the wayward son was to send him off to sea, so he was bound apprentice to a Dublin seaman, Captain Robert Macarroll. But after a trip to Virginia which was full of difficulties, he drifted home. He married Mrs Esther Pullman in Dublin, after cutting himself off from his family. From that point, he had grand plans, mainly the notion of going back home, but fate stepped in. He took the life of another man.
We know from his last dying speech spoken near Stephen’s Green on 8 November 1712, that he was, as expected, contrite and bursting with regret and self-reproach: