The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-24 00:00:00

EXECUYIONS.

EXECUTION OF EDWARD AMOR AND JOHN
GOODMAN, AT DEVIZES.
Freon the Devizes Gazelle"
On Tuesday last thew two unfortunate men, convicted of robbing
and brutally assaulting Mr. Thomas Alexander, of Allcanninr,
were executed in front of the Penitential v, near this town. 'I he
number of people assembled to witness the awful scene, we should
think, amounted to from 20 to 30,000 ; indeed, it appeared as if
the whole county had poured forth its contents. lung before the
hour appointed, the large yard before the prison, and the adjoining
road, for a long space, was entirely
.filled. Being the first execu-
tion that has taken place in this neighbourhood, its occurring on
Easter Tuesday, and Devises Green fin being held on that day,
all tended to increase the number of spectator
Within a few minutes after twelve the unhappy creatures were
relieved of their irons; and shortly afterwards they were brought
from their cells, preceded by Mr. Bush (the Under-Sheriff,) Mr.
Dowding, (the Governor of the County Gaol,) Mr. Cocks, (the
Governor of the Penitentiary,) and the Rev. Mr. Mayo, (the
Chaplain.) The latter gentleman very impressively reading parts
of the funeral service as he proceeded to the place of execution.
Amor, on entering the prison yard, gave a vacant stare around him,
and then fixed his eyes intently on the ground. This poor fellow, we
understand, was extremely illiterate; and his countenance would in-
dicate that he was equally devoid of feeling as of undentandinr ; ail-
though strongly built, his legs, as he walked. seemed to sink under
him, and on the drop they could scarcely support him. Goodman's
countenance, on the contrary, betrayed an intensity of feeling ; yet
he wa!ked firm and erect. We occasionally saw a tear trickle down
his check, but he struggled hard to suppress it. This man had
teen a serjeant in the 3d, or Prince of Wales's dragoon guards ;
and to the last ',hewed the eLtire mien of a soldier. Ile had been
in various battles during t!te Peninsular war, and lost an eye in
Egypt • in consequence of which he obtained his discharge in
November, DNB, after being in the enr.y nineteen years end seven
days, having entered at the early age of twenty. He received •
pension of Isd. a day ; aril as a proof of his good character while
in the army, he was entitled to the benefit of a fund, called
St. George's Fund, to winch all the non-comniissioned officers,
drummers, and privates, contribute, and which is divided amongst
those discharged from the regiment without ever having been dis-
graced. Goodman also kept an evening school at Allaumings, and
had formerly worked at the trade of a sawyer. Cy to the period
of committing the crime for which he was to suffer, he bore the
character of an honest want but was sadly addicted to drinking.
Amor first ascended the drop, and as soon as the ropes were ad.
jutted Goodman followed. A breathless anxiety now prevailed
among the spectators, from the knowledge that both the prisoners
had hitherto denied their guilt ; and the doubt whether they would
petal. in that denial to the last. There was a deathlike stillness
—not a sound was to be heard ! The number of unhappy wretches
confined within the prison walls, and who were placid in situations
to witness the sad spectacle, served to increase the awfulness of the
scene !
The Rev. Chaplain now, with a solemnity that we arc incapable
of describing, thus aeldaysed Goodman and Amor:— John
Goodman and Edward Amor, I non require of you, and each of
von, as you will in a few moments have to answer at the dreadful
bar of the Almighty, are you guilty of the crime of which you
have been charged, or are you not guilty ?" Goodman immedi-
ately replied, in a voice that could be heard throughout the im.
mense crowd, `• Not Guilty !" Amor faintly said, " I say so too"
—on which Goodman urged him to speak out. He then said in a
louder tone, •• I say so too—Not Guilty, Gentlemen, Sir" (as if
confused). Goodman afterwards addressed the spectators in the fol-
lowing words Good people, before I leave this world I wish to
say a taw words to you. I shall not tell a lie, nor do 1 wish to
smother the truth, but for the last time I declare that I never beat
Mr. Thomas Alexander, nor did I rob him, on the 24th of De-
cember; our do I ktrotv who did." Ile then, with uplifted eyes,
repeated in a firm voice the Lord's prayer after the Rev. Chaplain ;
he also joined fervently in other prayers; and even when the cap
was over his face, we could perceive the motion of his lips. Amor,
too, prayed that God would be merciful to hint. The Chaplain pro-
ceeded reading the burial service, and as lie uttered the words, " In
the midst of life we are in death," the fatal signal was given, and
their earthly career was in an instant closed for ever !
The bodies, after hanging an hour, were cut down, and in the
evening delivered to their friends.
The assault for which the above malefactors suffered was proved
to be most barbarous ; and there is very little doubt that the inten-
tion of those who committed it was murder. The guilt of the pri-
soners was established by a chain of evidence that they themselves
have since admitted was sufficient to prevent any Jury from return-
ing • different verdict. Since the trial the witnesses have confirmed,
in every minute point, the evidence they gave.
Mr. Alexander, we are sorry to state, is still extremely unwell ;
and, it is thought, will never entirely recover from the effects of the
wounds he received. Independent of his evidence at the trial, it is
the opinion of many legal gentlemen that there was sufficient to
convict the prisoners.

EXECUTION OF DALE AT CHESTER,
FOR THE MURDER OF MR. WOOD.
'From the Chester Guardian.]
Yesterday (Thursday) morning, at about five o'clock, this un-
fortunate young man was delivered up by the Sheriff of the county
to the Sheriff's of the city, to be executed according to his sentence.
During the previous night he enjoyed sound repose for about an
hour and a half; Mr. Keeling sat up with him. Before he slept
he was particularly anxious to be awake again at three o'clock,
" becattse, you know," said he to Mr. Keeling, "we should de-
vote as much as possible of our time to devotion." Early as was
his removal from the county gaol to the city, many persons were
there to witness his transit, and with as many as came within his
reach he cordially shook hands, bidding them an affectionate fare-
well. He did not appear so badly in health as was generally ex-
pected. Arrived at the city gaol, the whole morning was spent in
conversation and devotional exercises with Mr. Keeling, in which
Dale gave Mr. Keeling well grounded assurances of his hope in
death, and expressed his surprise that death could be met with so
much happiness as he then felt in its contemplation. As the time
fur the execution began to approach, Dale expressed an anxiety
almost amounting to impatience for the arrival of the officers, and
as soon as they arrived he begged to be immediately led out to the
place of execution, which request was complied with, by which
means the execution was over earlier than usual, nothwithstanding
which, a great crowd of spectators was present.
According to the declarations of Dale, made at the time when
he could have had no earthly motive for concealing the truth or
uttering a falsehood, he was not the actual murderer of Mr. II ood.
He says that he had little or no previous acquaintance with the
I two men he met with on the road, Taylor and Platt (the latter
'name he says should be Pratt, a person who was discharged tidal
the castle of Chester only a few days before), and he believes that
when they overtook Mr. Wood, none of them contemplated mug,
der, and if robbery was contemplated by the others, it was un-
known to him. When he saw them use Wood roughly, he begged
of them to desist, and was answered by a threat that they would
serve him in the same way. He then attempted to leave them but
' was threatened again, au4 by threats and ridicule was induced to
remain in their company, partake of their booty, and be, as it ap-
peared upon the trial, their servant. The sum of four shillings and
sixpence is all the other two allowed him of the spoil. Ile says he
was not aware that Wood was killed for some time after. Wood
had engaged him as a workman.
Thus terminated the short career of this (we have reason to be-
lieve) amiable young man. Without criminal dispositions or
habits (as it appears), through a brief and casual association with
persons of an opposite description, he has been brought to utter
rum—to end his days upon the gallows, when he had scarcely com-
pleted his eighteenth year. We may probably, if time and spocc
permit, revert to this subject again. It is replete with instruction
to youth generally, and a lessan by no meats uucalled for in this
city.