The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-09 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF THE EX-POLICEMAN LUEt
CHAELSII.-(TOTS DAY.)

To-day, at noon, the ex-policeman Luke Charlt,,
who war eentenced to death at the recent Livorno
mixes for the murder of his wife, suffered the extreme
penalty of the law at Kirkdale Gaol, in the presence
of a very large amocoures of spectators. The prisoner,
previous to 1854, we. a member of the Irish police force
stationed at Heath, near Emo, County Wicklow. In the
Okristansa of that year he married the unfortunate d,.
ceased, but they did not live together. In Ireland
the police an amenable to military and very rigid
discipline, and, as they live in barracks, they al,
not allowed to marry without leave ; and it unfortunately
happened that Charles did not obtain permission when 1.,
made the deceased his wife. He lived in barracks, she re.
mainiog with her friends. After Charles had been married
two or three years he formed the acquaintance at Eiuo 4 .
girl named Ellen Font, to whom he proposed marriage, and
Fotd thinking him a single men accepted him. The prl,or,
did not fax any time for marrying Ford, telling her he would
do sou soon as be could procure a situation in some polke
force in England. The prisoner left Ireland in 1861, and o_
the 2nd of April in that year he called at the honor
of a sister of his wife's, named Julia Dunn, who
lived at Pendleton. He remained for some time
Pendleton, and after reporting himself to the police autho-
rities at Preston he was sent to Bury, where his wife joined
him in lodgings at the house of Mrs. Porritt, a widow,
Mrs. Porritt had a &righter, Amelia Farrar, and on the
evening of the 13th February both Farrar and her mother
law Charles and his wife going (though not together) in the
direction of Busy station, whence trains left for Manchester,
Mrs. Charles told Mrs. Porritt that she was going to Pendleton
to us her sister Dunn, and that she would return about nine
o'clock the same evening. Shedid not return, but the prisoner
returned to Mrs. Porritt'a, and when asked what had become
of his wife he gave a variety of evasive and noontide:tory re-
plies, which excited suspicion and uneasiness. At one time ton
stated that she was in county Wicklow, at another in Lao;,.
lin, and no on. On the rooming of the 14th. the body of a
woman was found in the canal near Pendleton. but ac it
was not identified at the time it was buried. This body.
however, was that of Mrs. Charles, though the discovery
did not take place until August last. In the meentimel'harles
had been over to Ireland, and bad seen Ellen Ford, and
though he could not obtain the priest's sanction to their mar-
riage, he induced Ford to come over with him to England,
and after staying with him (though notes his wile) for a short
time in Bury, she afterwards went to the north of
England to stay with' a sister until the arrangements
for her marriage with Charles could be completed. But
the anxieties and suspicions which had never ceased :a
haunt Julia Dunn as to her sister's fate prompted her to
seek counsel and aid from the polio, authorities; and the
malt was that the body found in the canal on the 14th of
February was clearly proved to be that of Mrs. Charles,
and, by a chain of circumstantial evidence which the jury
could not resist, the guilt of murdering his wife wee brought
bane to her husband, who war accordingly at the recent
swim condemned to death.

A telegram from Liverpool informs us that about 13,m)
penance were present at the execution. The wretched MAD
died firmly, and made no confession. On appealing at the
drop his face was very pale, and his eyes were closed. The
crowd were quiet.

SPEZCHES OP MR. PORNS!, M.P., AND
MR. MANS); M.P.

THE DANISH DIFFICULTY.

Mr. Forster, the member for Bradford, made his
annual opeech to hie constituents last night. The boo.
gentleman gave a fresh exposition of hie well-kaown views
on the American war ; he denounced the destruction of
Kagoeima ; and coming to the Schleswig-Holstola question,
he urged a policy of nonintervention. He believed tout
no government would remain in power • week that engaged
in a unless and absurd intervention then. It could not
for • moment be thought that they who felt the interests of
England were too precious to go to wax with Austria to save
Hungary or Yantis, or with Russia for Poland, should go
to war to make Schleswig or Holstein submit to Denmark.
(Applause.)
Mr. Mouser also addressed a meeting of his constituents
in Salford last night. The bon. gentleman spoke chiefly on
questions of foreign policy. He did not believe that the
American union could be reestablished ; he sympathised
with the Poles, but was of opinion that they were unequal
to the contest upon which they had entered; and with
regard to the quarrel' between Denmark sad Germany,
he !could not see that it was the duty of England to
interfere either on one side or the other, unless, indeed,
on the outbreak of • war, fresh complications ran.
dewed • policy of nonintervention on oar pert impossible.
All that we and our coadjutors had done was to recognise
the title of the premet King of Denmark to be also Duke of
the Duchies; they bad not guaranteed to maintain that title,
and they AM under no obligation whatever to sand him by
military means. If throe obscure provinces preferred to be
ruled by petty princes of their own, though he thought petty
princes wens peat aninnakirtead of uniting their fathers
with their brave and hardy neighbours, and so constituting
a powerful and respectable monarchy, that was their affair.
He aertainlythought they would do better if they would join
Denmark. Unfortunately that question was complicated with
the whole question of German independence, and it seemed
that all the people of Germany were to • man on the side
of the Holsteiners, and against the King of Denmark.
The difficulty we had to encounter was that the great Ger-
man powers might find themselves impelled by public
opinion into • war for the protection of the independence
of Salamis and Holstein, and that those peat powers being
so engaged might drag tie ether powers into the wanted.
(Cheers sad a votes, " How '!") He would tell them. They
bad heard that it was a favourite object of French policy to
advance the frontier of Francs to the Rhine. If it was not
for that old and cherished policy of France, which this un-
fortunate complication seemed to offer an opportunity of
carrying into effect, England might be contact to regard
with indifference the quarrels of the two *beam provinces.
There was the danger we bad to encounter, sad it was
against it that the skill and caution of our rulers had to
protect as. Austria and Prussia, as representing the great
German people, might be forced into war ; and other novels
having views of ambition might make it • pretext foe break-
ing the pane of Europe, and so involving as in that queer-
tire. (Hear, bear. "Then is no reason for involving u•")
He agreed with that remark ; and if we were involved, we
should expect those who involved us to give a satisfactory
proof dint war was inevitable. He did act aspen any such
eateeteepbe. HA believed the determination of this
cannery and its government would be to maintain peace ; and
he believed that that determination would have its ant on
. . .