The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-27 00:00:00

APRIL 27, 1863.

and Solferino for them ;" and it goes on to men-
tion, as an "unfortunate coincidence," that another
Italian journal, which reported the false news of
the French having been beaten before Puebla, ap-
pended the reflection—" Has the hour of justice at
length struck r This attempt to establish a soli-
darity to the disparagement of the Italian govern-
ment between two incidents having no connexion
with each other, argues a disposition to pick a
quarrel.
The Cuss states that hL Roland, a writer in the
Progras of Lyons, and another Frenchman were
arrested at Cracow on April 21 by the Austrian
authorities. Their books and papers were seized,
and it is thought they will be expelled the country.

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.-SIR GEORGE

THE ACTON MURDER.-EIECUTIOS.
(THIS DAY)

The culprit, Joseph Brookes, who was convicte4
at the last seesions of the Central Criminal Court of
murder of a police-mutable by shooting him with a gs;
was executed this morning in front of the gaol of Henan.
The offense for which this wretched man forfeited
life wan, as our readers will remember, of a very aggins,g4
character. Although the fact, according to the rules
evidenee, could not positively be brought to the knowledo
of the jury who tried the prisoner, there was Do dcr.t;
that the only motive for the commission of the crime vu
that the unfortunate constable, acting in the pro)v
discharge of his duty, had detected the prisoner in the ,
of committing some petty felony, and that, having smooth(
in getting away at the time, the prisoner deliberately 04.
wired the project to murder the constable in order to put
a stop to any further proceedinp. lie carried this coat
in the most cruel manner by going to the house where tee
unfortunate man was living, and baring expressed a wish is
see him, fired a gun at him and blew his head almost 10
atoms.

Although the evidence was most conclusive against iss
prisoner it appears that be for a long tints persiasi
in denying his guilt, and he endeavoured to this,
the blame upon his brother, who, it will be noon.
bend, was tried with him and acquitted. He, kowtows
made so many false statements in reference Wry
affair, and many of which he himself admitted to be is,
after having made them, that very little reliance was plassig
upon what be did say, but it is satisfactory to be enabled to
state that almost at the last moment ;he
culprit admitted that his was the hand that fired the
fatal shot, and be entirely exonerated his brother free
the crime. The culprit was visited on Friday by kis
mother and one of his 'listen, but it appears that even
on this trying occasion be persisted in declaring his isso.
mace ; and although he did not appear to dewy that is,
knew what was done, be seemed evidently to be under tss
impression that if he could induce the authorities to believe
that he was not the man who actually fired the shot, his Lie
would be spared. With this view he prepared • stateraeut
which was transmitted to the Home Secretary, in which he
endeavoured to establish the fact mentioned, but the evi.
dance so completely contradicted the suggestions male by
the prisoner, that an answer was 'returned almost irons;
diately to the effect that Sir G. Grey could not find an,
circumstance.' is the cam that would justify him iii
tering with the execution of the sentence.
Until within • day or two of the time fixed for his exe-
cution, the culprit appeared to entertain some hope that lu
life would be spared, but as the fatal moment approsebel
more closely this hope forsook him. His conduct and de
meanour became macesubdued, and he appeared template
attention to the exhortations of the Rev. Mr. Davis, the ordi
nary of the prison, who has been unremitting in his mortice
to bring him to a proper setae of his °antitheft. Mr. Dan
was with the culprit soon after six o'clock this manias
and he continued with him until the arrival of Kr. ALM
man and Sheriff Lawrence, and Mr. Sheriff Jones, wk
were accomppaanied by Messrs. Mackrell and Faner,
under ehevifs, The prisoner was brought from the col
where he had been confined to the room appropriated a
the proem' of preparing criminals for execution ; is
walked with a firm step and did not exhibit the slights
of trepidation. After he had been Maio*
1177 r::: the governor of Newscast, asked the culprit eke
titer he had anything he wished to say to the auntie, sit
be replied in a sullen tone, " No, I have nothing is
say." He was then asked whether he would like to e
doers for • short time, and be inquired bow long he shoag
have to wait ; and on being told that he would be icier:el
when the hour had arrived for carrying out the intim
be sat down upon the bench that was in the all, and sp
in deep thought. At eight o'clock the prise:obi
to toll, and the usual procession was formai
At this terrible moment the firmness of the culprit did se
appear to give way in the slightest degree, and it son
not until the rope had been placed round his neck, al
the cap drawn over his eyes, that he awoke to • sem d
his dreadful position. He then made a sign to the Re.
Mr. Davis to approach closer to him, and when that
gentleman had done so, the prisoner said, in so emplooc
manner, "I am guilty. It was me who fired the mi."
An instant afterwards the drop fell, and the calprtt,
after giving a few convulsive struggles, ceased to exist
The prisoner was a very fine muscular moo, aid
at the time be met big untimely end ins
in his terentyaigth year. He had *creed in no
army is the Crimen, and also in Chiba, and had rectal
good conduct medals as • soldier. He last served in the
Itotal Artillery. bat bad deserted from that regimeest
and a portion of his regimentals was found in kin pones
sion when be was taken into custody upon the chugs
of murdering the policeman. There we a very
large crowd assembled to witness the execution, sad smog
the persons assembled were • cossiderable number of the
metropolitan police. It was remarked as a satistacto
circumstance that there were very few women among
crowd. The body was cot down after hangiog au boor.
it will be buried this afternooe within the prison, actor
to the terms of the senteem

Yesterday afternoon the Bishop of LOOllO
preached in the parish church of St. James's. Piccadilly, •
aid of the finds of the Diorama Church Building Son*
He selected far his text the 4th chapter of the Boot c
Jonah, 11th verse.
The Halifax election will take place in the Pie*
hall at 11 o'clock to morrow morning. Up to the pram
time Mr. Stansfeld has been threatened with no eimesitia
nor is any expected.
PREVALENCI OF SMALL-rOY.—At a specc•
meeting, bold at Whitehall. of Saturday evening. of n
Metropolitan Association of Medical Officers of Beall
Dr. Thomson. of Marylebone. in the chair, it is
unanimously resolved—" That in consequence of the
MUD of mortality from small-pox, the associatioc der
it their duty to the attention of guardians of the pe
sad other looal authorities of the metropolis thug
The association, recognising the total neglect or met
dent performance of vaccination as the great muse
the mortality in question, they yet consider it not n
less apparent that the prolonged residence of We*
persons in rooms occupied by others, the exp.:nom:
such persons in the streets, in public conveyances, oc:
the waiting-rooms of hospitals, and the absence i
adequate meths of isolation, have beee the immedis
agents in bringing about the recent rapid diffusion of se
pox to a degree unexampled in the epidemic of I,Y.
Persons were deity applyiog to the mend hoepitah:
eoceequence of refusal at the Small m x Hospital : nil en
applications were necemacily rejected, the sufferers rent is
to their homes, and thus became the means of away=
the evil. It was therefore necessary that, dining the e
demic, temporary buildings should be erected or opeeer
such situations as were beet suited for the purpose no
double ground of distance from inhabited houses sod fc
lit of approach. Also that public attention be camil
the importance of vaminstion and the law thereon a
powering guardians to take proceedings under the Vacs,
lion Amendment Act of lsfl, in case of neglect of nee
nation."
" AROUR " AT NEWIIARKM. —Anil now with r-
pmd to me visit to the Heath on the Two Thousand Pm I
had seen the Two Thousand, and after the racing was me.
was walking into the town on the Heath, instead of to
road on account of the dolt. when Lord Coventry mese sal
told, me I could not be allowed to remain, end added. it not
his unpleasant duty to communicate the fact to me•
plied it was equally unpleasant for myself, and, had I no
rutted my own feelings, I should not have been there.
ba
I was acting under instructions to try • public right :
as I concluded my letter was not deemed satid
the beat plan was to leave the matter in the bands of
respective solicitors. We then parted, and on Thunder
repeated my visit to the Heath, in order to meet the toe
Club witness to identify me, sod spare hoed Corson:,
Pain of appearing as he informer. Tdo mare thee the
think your readers will agree with me oiniposoiblet
as the action is commenced it would not he decorous in
to appeal further to the public, as, within a mouth or '
weeks at !start, we shall know whether the Jocks., -
have the power to pick and choose the company oe -
Heath at Newmarket ; and to say " Nothing shall be sci'l
of us that we do Dot saxctioo." The information oil!'
cameos and well worth the cost of the experiment :
whatever the result may he, I think I can claim foe no'
the credit of having used every means of econctliotioo::
to have borne myself with temper.—Letter of " Arge.
the Past.
CLastwaL Ria ate. —A singular collision lietwe
the clergy of the rival churches occurred west of the
DOD a few days ago. A Mr. Smith. stationmaster.
consumption, having been attended during his Meer
the Rev. Mr. Fleming. the rector of the parish.
Western Star states that the deceased was born a
teatime, and never expressed any desire to
religion. His wife was a Boman catholic, add she
the same testimony. It appears that when her b
band had become insensible he was visited he
parish priest, who first baptised and then anointed
bt
Having thus transferred him to his own church, be
premed his intention of attending hie funeral led real'
the Roman catholic burial service over his remise.
Fleming expressed his firm determination to patrol
and read the aervios of the protestant church. Th-
f td
was attended by 22 ears mod a small conmrs
foot. On its arrival in the streets the oari.b Tr.
stepped forth, robed in his vestments, and vin.moM
reciting the service for the dead. 1 mmel,os
after the rector took up his pen in the
duet, robed in his surplices. Thus sub Perfrr''
the rewire re the procession moved slowly on. The ref
behaved very well under such exciting circumstance,
.1
Fleming was rudely jostled once or twice, and it:lth" net:
sprinkling of holy water the rev. gentleman gnt mom ti•
his share of it, bat he remained last upon the Cee`"e"l,
it is stated that though the priest onlered his rel.
put on their hate when he retired, many of them I.• 1110
uncovered tin the protestant service was over. The!
sensible remark made there that day was by an old won'
who, u the funeral passed, exclaimed. " Did I ever :01'
like!—two clergy at one grave, and only me
heaven r