The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-09 00:00:00

THE CONVICT WILLIAM DOVE

(FROINI OUR OWN REPORTER.)

YORK, FRIDAY NIGHT

All doubt as to the execution of this wretched criminal
having been removed, by the final determination of Sir
George Grey, not to interfere with the due course of the
law, the rel itives and friends of the culprit have
visited him to•day and yesterday, for the purpose of
taking a last farewell.

The final decision of the Home Secretary was com-
municated to Dove yesterday morning, by Mr. Noble,
the governor of the jail, and on it being intimated to
the prisoner, that there was no longer the slightest hope
of his life being saved, the prisoner appeared qui'e
unmoved and unconcerned, remarking that he vas not at
all surprised at Sir George Grey's decision. lie con-
versed with the governor very freely about it, and
observed that he was sorry his friends should have given
themselves such an amount of unnecessary trouble on
his behalf. He addei, "it is just what I have expected
for the last few days. I never looked for anything but
an unfavourable reply from him " Yesterday forenoon,
the chaplain of the jail preached the usual week-day
.rmon before the prisoners in the jail, and l)ove was
The reverend gentleman's subject was
not in direct reference to the unhappy criminal, but

present

practically, it may be said that it was the condemned
sermon,,as it very frequently touched upon the peculiar
nature of Dove's crime. The prisoner appeared to listen
to the sermon very attentively, and on several occasions
during its delivery he wept bitterly. He hid his face in
his hands, and seemed to be suffering intense mental

anguish

Between eleven and twelve o'clock yesterday forenoon
a carriage, containing Mrs. Dove, the prisoner's mother,
his two sisters, and his late wife's brother, the Rev.
Mr. Jenkins, drove up to the gates of the castle.
The parties had come to pay a sad farewell to their
miserable relative. They were informed that the
prisoner was at that time attending divine service in
the chapel, and on this information being conveyed to
them they retired, and went again shortly after one
o'clock, when the painful interview took place. The
prisoner, who had written for them the day before, was
apprised by the governor of their approach, and expressed
his gratitude for the visit. On the afflicted family
entering the prisoner's cell, the scene was most heart-
rending and agonising. The aged mother threw her
arms round her wretched son's neck, and unable, in
words, to give expression to her grief, she sobbed
convulsively for several minutes. The sisters kneeling
at her feet were equally overpowered, whilst
the Rev. Mr. Jenkins, the prisoner's brother-
in-law, offered up a fervent and appropriate prayer%
Several minutes elapsed after Mr. Jenkins had
finished praying, before a word was exchanged botwee
the prisoner and his relatives. At length, his mother
threw herself at her son's feet, begged of him fully to
confess his crime, if he was guilty of it, and entreated
him, by fervent and unceasing prayer during the few
remaining hours he had to live, to prepare for the awful
change that awaited him, and make his peace with Got.
The prisoner was deeply moved by his distracted
parent's affectionate appeal. He fell down on his knees,
and with uplifted hands earnestly prayed for forgiveness
of his sins, but he avoided making any direct confession
of the murder. His relatives then all knelt round him
and the Rev. Mr. Jenkins again engaged in prayer. This.
done, an interval of several minutes' silence followed-
At length the last farewell was taken, the mother, sisters,
and Mr. Jenkins again embracing the prisoner, and the
former was so overpowered that she had to be led from
the cell. All reference to the murder that his relative s
could obtain from the prisoner was, that " all would b e
made right after his deith," and it is said that he has
confessed to the chaplain, on condition that the confes-
sion is not to be made public until after hi; execution.
How far this maybe true, a few hours will determine
The prisoner's spiritual adviser is the Rev.
Hartley, Wesleyan minister, formerly of Leeds, but now
resident in York, This gentleman was well acquainted:
with the prisoner's family during his residence in Leeds,.
and it is owing to this circumstance that he now visits=
the prisoner. It is, however, due to the chaplain of the
gaol, as well as to the prisoner, to state that the chapliau
has frequently visited and prayed with the prisoner, and
that the latter has always received his visits with thank-
fulness. Mr. Wright, the prison philanthropist, is also
in constant attendance upon the prisoner.

To-day, the Rev. Mr. Hartley had a lengthened inter-
view with the prisoner in the forenoon. He remained'
with him from ten o'clock until twelve, and again saw-
him this afternoon. In a conversation which I have.
just had with the rev. gentlsrnan, he represents the,
prisoner as deeply penitent, and, from all I can lertr-a,
think it is not at all improbable that he will r,:fake a
full confession before the execution. Mr. Wright has
been with the prisoner several hours t4-day. The
execution is fixed for to-morrow, at twelve o'clock.
Contrary to expectation, Calcraft not officiate on the
occasion, but a man from Rotht'rhatn.

LONPJON GAZETTE

BANKRUPTS.----IVILLIAn.,
`Dapping, Rosa, Ilill-street,
WA
ow of Sydenham, Bent, shipsmith. JOSEPH
WALTER D n late of
AY LOCKWOOD, Threadneedle-.
street, Stock broker and dealer C
in shares. rown-court,
DAVID THOMAS,
Plymouth, grocer.

A claim against the King Consort of Spain for eight
millions of francs, under a written agreement made by him
in 1840, when he was Don Francisco de Bourbon, with M.
de Tastet, a French merchant in London, to pay that sum
in consideration of certain services, is likely (says Le Nord),
to be litigated at Paris, and to lead to some very curious,
disclosures.

INSPECTOR FIELD AT A LtsoP'S WAX-WORK EXHIBITION.
—Every one who had seen Palmer, declared that his like-
ness at this establishment is the best that is extant, and a
day or two since, Mr. Field, the celebrated London officer,
on visiting the exhibition, was at once struck with the exact
likeness of that notorious person, and declared it to be the•
most perfect he had ever beheld.—Adv.
An action has been brought, at Paris, by M Jules,
Decomte, a correspondent of the Indepoviance against several of his brother journalists, for defatnition of his character, in a controversy originally provoked by
some very harsh and disparaging criticisms which he heal
written upon the great Italian tragedian Ristori. The tad
has been going on for two days before the Correeti-onal
Court of the Seine, and is not yet concluded.
The extensive farm premises of Mr. Warner, r:f Steeple
Court, Botley, one of the wealthiest farmers in 'Hampshire,
were burnt down on Tuesday last. Sixteen r,;igs, thirty-six
sacks of wheat, a large quantity of harue,ss, and several
carts and wheel vehicles were destroyed. Fortunwely the
dwelling-house, which was near the farm, escaped. All
the property was insured. The tire, is supposed to have
originated in a labouring man a cidentally throwing a
lucifer match, or the ashes of his pipe, amongst some straw
littered about in the farm yard.

VEGETARIANISM.—The ninth annual banquet of the
Vegetarian Society took plane on Thursday evening, 24th
Glasgow, and was numerously and
respectably
slpe in thectably Cityattc‘nd llaedib
.The chair was occupied by Jas.
Simpson, Esq., of Fc,xhill Bank, Accrington. The com-
pany were served with a most sumptuous repast, con-
sisting of a great variety of savoury dishes, all prepared
without the flesh or fat of any animal, followed by a,
service of coffee and fancy breads, and concluding' with a,
dessert of the most delicious fruits of the season. Several:
gentlemen from various parts of Great Britain, Irelan.
and America, aderessed the meeting. Some of the
speakers had not tasted animal food for upwards of forty
years.
STATUE OP THE LATE GENERAL SIR CHARLES NAPIER.--
Yesterday morning operations were commenced in Trafalgar
square for preparing the foundation for the erection of a
granite slab, on which is to be placed a statue of the late
General Sir Charles Napier. The statue which will be erected at the south-wost corner of the square, exactly
opposite the Union Club House, is executed in brotizct,
fro.n the designs of Mr. G. G. Adams, sculptor, of
sioane_street, it is rather more than, twelve feet
in height, and will stand on a pedestal sixteen
feet high. The gallant general is represented in a
military undress, with a sword in his left hand,
his right hand, which is extended, there is a scroll indica-
tive of his Governor-Generalship of India. The likeness
of the general is well preserved, and there is a boldness ag,
well as an accuracy about the work which will render the
statue no inconsiderable ornament to the metropolis. The
site is a good one, and when another statue is erected at the
south eastern corner, which, it may he hoped, will soon be
i
the case, the appearance of the Fquare will he much
in,
proved. We understand that the expense of the statue has
been borne by private subscription, government having
given the site.

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