The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-27 00:00:00

EXECUTION' OF THE MATERS.

liFrom the Cloemel .4rhortiser, Aug. 211
The two unhappy men underwent the awful termination of their
existence on this earth on Thundsy last, at the villager Cloneen,'
which place was selected, on the application of the Grand Jury to,
the Lord Chief Justice, as the most suitable spot, from its conti.i
guity to the place where so many human beings, were sacrificed to
the deplorable system which at one time existed m that part of the
runny.
Throughout the whole of Wedntstlav the two exemplary cler.
gyman, the Rey. Mr. Brennan and the Rev. Mr. Fogarty, were
engaged in acts of devotion with the unhappy culprits, who seemed
deeply impressed with the awful change which they were about to
make, and paid the most marked attention to the adinonitior.s of
their spiritual instructors, both of whom remained with them until
eleven o'clock on that right. Early next morning (Tltunday)
crowds collected round the gaol, a report having gone abroad that
the convicts would be led out at eight o'clock, prevines to which
time strong detachments of police had arrived in town from Thurles
and Cashel, and about eight o'clock, fifty men of the 3d Drat:nun
I Guards, under Captain Weldon, marched in front Cahn, all in.
tended as an escort for the men to the place of execution. By
this time it was ascertnined that ten o'clock was the hour fixed
for the cavalcade to commence its journey : and at a quarter
past that hour—the CUrrilg.tll being drawn up in front of the
prison—the unfortunate criminals were led out. William Ma-
her, whose countenance appeased lively and animated, walked
wish a firm step, and required little or no assistance to be
placed in the lint carriage-1n which he was accompanied by
the Rev. Mr. Forgarty. Darby 'Maher, the other prisoner. ed-
vanced, labouring under considerable wealowes, and was pl :n
the second carnage, in which the Rev. Mr. lirenan took his scat;
next followed in 'mother carriage the eeecutioner and constable;
and the Snb.Sheritf, Nicholas Saelleir, Esq, accompanied by Capt.
Wilson, Chief Magistrate, and John Maher, Esq., el Tullumaine,
in a fourth carriage, closed the procession. escorted by an advanced
guard of the 3.1 Dragoons; preceding anti around the carriages
were strong detachments of titmice; and in the rem was another
squadron of Dragoons, under an officer's three ion. All the mere-
sary arrangements having been comploed, the whole began to ]
move down Gaol-lane and Kilsheelan-street. The scene was truly
imposing; under any circumstances the sight of two human being,
on their way to suffer for their crimes could not fail to excite deep
emotion ; but in the present instance it was doubly so, from the
recollection, that the two men in question were convicted of a crime
which never can be effaced from our country's annals, on most in-
disputable evidence. During the progress of the journey to Fethard,
where the cavalcade arrived at twenty minutes before one o'reock,
the prisoners were engaged in acts of devotion, in which they were
assisted with pious fervour by the clergymen into whose bands their
spiritual concerns were entrusted.
William alahey's courage never forsook him; he looked at the
crowds which assembled on the road with some earnestness, and on
his arrival at Fethard, where the crowds of spectators we•e con.
siderable, and where the procession halted by the sound of trum-
pet, he asked for a glass of wine, which was immediately handed
hint. just r he put the glass to his mouth he recognised a person
in the crowd, to whom he nodded in the most familiar manner, aid
smikd. A tumbler of water, at his own request, was handed to
the other prisoner. After a few inintites delay, the cavalcade
moved on slowly, oral strived at Cloneen, three miles from Fethard,
at half-past two o'ulock. Some time having been occupied in erect-
ing the gallows (the materials for which arrived on the ground
about twelve o'clock, under a strong escort of the bllth regiment,
commanded by Captain Rowley), it was announced that all was
ready. The unhappy men were then led on to the scaffold, Wm. I
Maher advancing first; he seemed to require no assistance, and,
ascended the ladder with extraordinary firmness. Ills countenance
was still most animated, and he looked at the surrounding multi-
tude_, while yet the executioner was tying his arms and adjusting
the knot, with amazing fortitude. During this period the Rev.
Mr. Fogarty had been assiduously employed in administering. to
him all the consolations which religion is so well calculated to tot-
part ; and, taking advantage of so favourable an opportunity, the
Rev. Gentleman addressed an admonition to the assembled multi-
tude. As the great body of the people attending were best ac-
quainted whit the Irish language, the Rev. Gentleman addressed
them in that tongue.
The Rev. Gentleman afterwards addressed tome of the leading
heads in English to those around him, and particularly stated that.
William Maher had expressed a most ardent desire that his sunrise.
lag friends should not entertain the a:ightest spirit of hatred tit
those who contributed to bring him to so untimely an end, however
remotely concerned.
Darby Maher, whose strength by this time nearly forsook him, I
and who covered his face with his handkerchief while the gallows
was erecting, was assisted by Mr. Brenan at one aide, and a
constable et the other. His responses to the worthy Clergy-
man, of " Lord have mercy upon the !" " Christ Jesus have
mercy upon mc!" were most affecting, and delivered in aloud ping-
ing tune. Eis eyes were directed to the heavens, and he seemed
quite indifferent to the scene which presented itself to his view. Os
ascending the scaffold he cast one wishful look at his residence, then
In his view, (a small cabin on the side of the opposite mountain,
with a white-washed front, and scarcely visible to the naked eye),
but he no sooner did so than he turned quickly around; the exe-
cutioner then ascended to adjust the fatal knot, previous to which
the prisoner addressed a few observations to those around him, 1$
substance, that he was perfectly resigned to die; that he forgave
the world, and all those who contributed to his conviction dad
his friends should not at any future time visit them with injurt;
and that he resigned his spirit to his Maker with pleasure. Ho
then implored the prayers of the multitude, and in a short time
after, the cars on which the two men stood were drawn away, when
this world and all its cares clewed on them for ever ! They died
without a struggle. William Maker's face pointed to the residence
of the unfortunate beings whose lives he contributed to send to
their final account, in the lilessom of their lives. It is situated
upwards of a mile from Cloneen, in a North.east direction, sod
appeared as if recently repaired.
`lt is due to the Rev. Gentlemen who attended the unhappy earl.'
pries to say, that their exertions to prepare them for eternity were
most irdefatigable, and that all present seemed grateful for their
pious and Christian labours.
Their bodies, after hanoing the usual time, were cut down, and
conveyed to the Cashel Infirmary, cruder a strong escort of Police,
where they arrived the same evening. The two Mahers were young
unmarried men, decently clad in blue costs, buff waistcoats, and
crissimere smallelothes, and were cousins. It rained heavily dur-
ing the execution.
We had almost forenoon to observe, that there was no declara-
tion by the 31ribers of their main—neither was there any thing to
show the most distant insinuation of innocence on their part. Be-
fore they left the gaol, Mr. Sathleir, the acting Sheriff, in presence
of the two Roman Catholic Clergymen, and at their request, asked',
them if they had any communication to make, admonishing them
to adhere strictly to the truth in any thing they might say.
then declared in the moat solemn manner that neither P;1=1
Al'alsh, Thomas Ryan. nor James Henncsy, then in custody for'
this offence, had any concern whatever in the transaction, directly
or indirectly—that there were only ten men of the party—and other
particulars, which none but persons immediately concerned fe the,
treniendous viulation could know ; and they offered to depose to
the facts on oath if permitted. This, however, was quite none-
cessary, from men in their deplorable situation ; and though there
was no actual declaration of guilt, yet it was fully admitted by
inference.
Mr. elheriffSailleir's conduct en this trying occasion drew the
attention of many ; it was marked by the most genuine humanity
an.! regard to the wants and feelings of the poor men who were
goino, to their grand account.
EXECUTION OF KENNEDY.

CLonstet., ant to sentence, John
Kennedy underwent the sentence of the law. Precisely at one
o'clock he made his appearance on the platform, attended by the
Rev. Mr. Baldwin, *dose exertions to bring the unfortunce man
to a sen►e cf Isis awful state, were unremitting from the sentence to
exiscutiun—and immediately addressed, to the following effect,
the vast concourse assembled to witness the melancoly exhibition :
" I ant guilty of the crime fur which I an: now about to suffer
I killed the man in a tit of drunkenness, and no one else had haul,
act, or pats in it. I an: heartily sorry for it, and hope that my en.
staple will warn you all to avoid bad company and drunkenness
those vices that have brought me to this untimely end. /I tvwa
stupidly drunk when I committed the murder, and therefore LeM
tied will have mercy on my soul. May he bless you all,
beg your p for my soul."
The rope being adjusted, and the cap drawn over his face, the
unhappy man's soul was launched into eternity. After hanging
the usual time, the body was cut down, and conveyed to the
County Infirmary, to he anatomized, according to his sentence.—
Cloamei Mould.

A SLEEP Witzaza.--On Thursday, the 19th, at eleven
o'clock at night, a man without a coat or waistcoat, and
with a night-cap, but no hat, was observed by the patrol of
Banksitie to walk along the hank very sedately, through a
small passage between two piles of large stone, where there
is only room for a middle-sized person, and then to ascend
the steps of the new Southwark-bridge, above forty in
nutuluT. Ile then went to the toll-gate, paid the toll, and
went through the piece of machinery called a tell-tale;
thence over the Southwark-bridge. Not long afterwards
the same person returned over the bridge, and was accosted
by the patrol in the following manner :—" My friend, you
are soon returned ?" " Yes; after a long walk, sleep, mid
.dream; and, if 1 had not fallen over some stones up in
Queen-street, Cheapside, I dare say 1 should have gone to
riloorfields, for I dreamt u friend of mine was very ill, and
had sent for me to come directly to their house in Moor-
cells, to which I was on my journey." lle did not seem
irritated, and informed the patrol that he had done so once,
before. lle then went home to his house in floss-ahoy,
Bankable. Ilia name is W. Simonds.
To I ELVENT BEER AND CIDER FROM SOURINO:H
Malt liquors and cider may be prevented from bt coming
sour by adding about 41bs. of toasted bread to each hugs-
head.
So mime DEATOS.-4 nptances of sudden death have born
frequent of late. Peter Graham went to bed on the night of iSun-
day week, and Lay down between two brothers; ene of whom
awoke at an early hour, and found hint dead at his side.—On the
same crating, Mr. A. Bisset, lately a coachmaker In Perth, par-
took of supper, and retired to rest in apparent goal health, but
by one o clock next morning he was found s.corpse.—A see.
rant maid went to bed on Friday evening without comphint ; she
was taken suddenly ill, and early next forenoon her dead body war
carried on a bard to the house of her afflicted parent.—Path
Paper.