The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-10 00:00:00

ADMISSION OF GUILT.

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It was not at any time expected, either befbre or after Cite'
conviction, that hurtell would hare made a direct con-
fession of his guilt. since his conviction, however, a
marked change has taken place in his manner, deport-
ment, and conversation, which atfbrd evidence as powerfully
inferential of a confession of his guilt, as if he had made
a positive and direct one. It is not indeed much to be
wondered at, that he should wish to make the worl.l 1).:-
lieve that he was innocent of a murder to which The

records of human wickedness can produce no parallel.
Since his conviction, however, he has not renewed his
protestations of innocence even once. When it was at
one time intimated to him that a desire existed to
obtain a confession from him, he simply replied,
That is between God and me." The most import-
ant and decisive communication which he made upon
this subject was made yesterday morning to the gaoler,
at'ti r prayers. His kind and humane attention, and his
desire to afford him every accommodation, hail greatly won
f,.r him the esieetti and gratitude of Thurtell. It was
therefore thought that he would he a likely rrson to whom
a confession of his guilt would be made, should it be his
intention to con!Cm it. With this view it was designed
that he should be left alone with him. Accordingly,
after prayers, Dant was conducted back to his cell, Mr.
Franklin and the Clatter-Sheriff retired to another part of
the gaol, and Mr. Wilson remained alone with Thurtell
in the chapel. Mr. 'Wllson then said to him (having first I
delira:t ly excused himself for the subject he was about to
introduce), " You are now alone with me ; no eye but that
of the Almighty sees what passes between us, and, if you
intend to make a confession, you cannot have a better op-
portunity than is now afforded you." Thurtell did not asern
to expect the mention of this subject.. On btaritig
the observations of the gaoler, he paused ; and after
considerable hesitation, said, with great earnestness, " I
sin quite satisfied—that is all I wish to go forth to the
world." Ile appeared desirous that no further allusion
,should be made to this point. and hecordingly the conver-
sation was not resumed. This is quite equivalent to a
confession. Not the slightest murmur at his sentence has
escaped his lips; and indegd, after conviction, front his
resignation and satisfaction, it would appear that no per-
son thought it more just than himself. He ha; freely for-
given all parsons jive Nutlet whfik, in his life-time, he
may have sustained at their holds; and has repeatedly
said, that he " wished to ilk in ' and charity with all
mankind." Even toPrgbert bas extended a full and
cee
sincere forgiveness. Tir Imre the expression of for-
giventes of this despicable than c accompanied it with
ertl the following obsereettalie , bitter and cutting as it
ile
was, yet was not too meta chaps, as applicable to
an individual, the baseness o whose conduct would
justify any expression of contempt and detestation. On
the mention of I'robert's name, he freely forgave him ;
but, said he, " awful OP is my present situation, 1 would
not change it for that of l'robcrt, though I were to be
placed in his situation on the condition of having 20,0001.,
, and of living fur a hundred years." This comment of a
confederate in guilt gives rise toother reflections than that
of the contempt in which he held the man • and it is easy
to suppose, that if Thurtell had made a full confession of
the murder, circumstances would transpire which would
inculcate some persons to a greater extent than the pub-
lic are at present aware of. On 'Thurtell's return from
chapel, he continued perfectly calm and resigned. He
spoke but little: his mind appeared occupied with the
awful fate that awaited him, anti the consideration of
" that something after death, " had manifestly full
possession of his mind. Be conversed with Mr. Frank-
lin, who continued to the last moment to administer
spiritual consolation to him, and appeared more gratified
with his pri•sence than with that of any other of his at-
tendants. Ile requested that a letter should be written to his
father, expressive of the composure, resignation, and peni-
tence with which he died. As to his execution, the only
1 directions he gave were, that it was not his hitention to
speak to the people, and that therefore he might be des-
patched as soon as le ascended the platform. He further
wished that lie might not bepinioned (as is usually the
case at executions in this county , and that there might be
a sufficient length of fall, in ort.
that he might be sooner
out of agony. He received the assurance that these requests
should be complied with, for which he expressed himself
grateful. Indeed, the Under-Sheriff, and humane per-
sons entrusted with the superintendence of the execution,
not only complied with these requests, but afforded every
other species of accommodation that was not incompatible
with his situation. At a minute or two before twelve, the
door of the gaol that conimunicated with the place where ,
the drop was erected was opened, and Thurtell appeared,
aecompanied by the Rev. Mr. Franklin, Mr. Webb, and
Mr. Wilson. 'Fberishe shook hands with them gentlemen.
He was quite self-possessed, and the manner of his taking
farewell of Mr: Inaba (whom binning be received),
Mop marked by oppression pf affectionate gratitude.
I ,
414111.111411/111PU1DI4' ..
From a very early hour the assemblage of persons of
every description began to collect in front of the gaol. By
every road an influx of strangers arrived. From London a
considerable number of " the Fancy" ware in attendance,
and strong detachtnents of the " flash" world came to wit-
ness the unhappy termination of their friend. Amongst
the most eminent of the visitors of this class, was
Mr. l'ierce Egan, who arrived from Worcester on his
return from the great fight between Spring and Lan-
gan. Every kind of vehicle was in requisition for
the conveyance of every variety of visitors. Among
the multitude were Many whose appearance indicated.
that they belonged to a superior station in life. On time
right of the drop a line of horsemen assisted the constables
in preventing an invasion of the space which it was neces-
sary to keep round the drop. Though there were some
manifestations of indecent merriment before the commence-
ment of the execution, yet, afterwards, no body of men
could have behaved with more propriety. The number
assembled must have exceeded 13,000 persons: their pro-
found silence and respectful deportment could not have
been excelled.

About an hour before the execution, a shed belonging
to Mr. Wilson, the gaoler, and occupied by him for his
pigs and poultry, was broken down by the weight of about
fifty persons who bad seated themselves on its roof. It was
in the field opposite to the goal ; and Mr. Wilson had for-
tunately anticipated that it would he covered by rash spec-
tators; he had therefore providentially tilled it with straw,
which broke the effects of the fall, and doubtless saved the
lives of several. The only harm was the breaking of one
boy's thigh, and the dislocation of another's knee. This
was the only accident we heard of, though the pressure of
the multitude must have been exceedingly great, as in
spite of the strong barrier and mutual support of the con-
stables, their line was broken through several times. The
high constable, who attended on horseback, exerted him-
self with great zeal and activity. The Sheriff's javelin-
men were stationed within the wooden palings which im-
mediately surrounded the drop.
The orderly disposition of' the multitude in general was
strongly manifested by the simultaneous uncovering that
followed the appearance of Thurtt.ll on the platform.
No expression of feeling was attempted, and the respect
due to the administration of justice was as much preserved
at this sad enforcement of ler highest penalty as in her
most sacred sanctuary.