Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-14 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The Emperor of Russia arrived at Warsaw on
the 6th inst.

The Emperor will celebrate the first anniversary
of his accession at the Polish capital.
His Majesty was expected to leave Warsaw on
the 13th for Germany.

SPAIN.

THE MORALITY OF PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.

ROBBERY UNDER THE GALLOWS.

The scene of Saturday at Kirkdale—the strangulation
of Henry Rogers, cannot be better illustrated than by the
following, which took place at the Police-court subsequent
to that event. We should say it ought to weigh consider-
ably against the shocking and revolting spectacles of
public hanging. Only think of the scene—in one spot a
human being hinging in the air—in another some persons
preaching and singing psalms—in a' third place a lady
distribuling religious tracts and quotations from scripture
—and in a fourth, almost under the quivering limbs of the
strangled man, a lot of ruffians engaged robbing their
neighbours of their property ! We repeat what we
stated on Saturday, that. publics executions create ten
times more crime than they are calculated to stop. Seve-
ral crimes were committed at Kirkdale on Saturday
morning that would not have:, been:committed had there
been no execution.
Edward Smith, a well-dressed fellow—in fact what the
world would call a gentleman—(about 24 years' old), was
placed in the police-dock, before Mr. Mansfield, charged
with having stolen .a watch from Alexander Martin. The
complainant said he was standing in the crowd in front of
the drop at Kirkdale ; the prisoner was close against him,
and at the instant the drop fell, he felt a tug at his watch
and found it was !gone. The prisoner's hand was being
drawn from the direction of the pocket, but he did not see
it at or in his pocket ; the prisoner passed something to
another person, who got away, and tried to escape him-
self, but was held by the complainant ; the ring of his
watch was got under the prisoner's feet. Mr. Bluck
appeared for the prisoner, and contended that the evidence
was not sufficient to convict; and his worship agreeing
with him, discharged the prisoner.
The next cake put forward was another fellow, dressed
up to the fashion of the last prisoner, and also answering
to the name of Edward Smith. Mr. Black also defended
him. He was charged for having stolen two watches, one
from John Connor, and another from John Taylor, and
also for picking the pocket of Adelaide Clarke, of a silk
handkerchief. This scoundrel also took the moment of
the drop falling to practice his villany. The male
prosecutors were wedged up in the crowd near the
gallows, the prisoner being between them. He kept
asking them what time it was ? and being told every now
and then, would exclaim—" poor fellow (Meaning Rogers)
he has only so long to live." In this way he went on
until the bolt was drawn, an .1 then he seized both watches
and darted through the crowd as well as he could. Seeing,
on his way, the female, who was very well dressed (it
was a shame to find her in such company) he
made a dive into her
,pocket and took out the silk
handkerchief, when he was seiz id by a bay. Mr.
Bluck was addressing his worship, when the
latter asked him how he could get over the boy's evidence?
Mr. Black said it was strong, certainly. Mr. Mansfield
It is so strong, that if you were Cicero himself, you could
not convince me of his innocence. Mr. Bluck: Well, sir,
after that, I will not offer another word. The 'prisoner
was sent for trial.