The National Register.
London, England, 1818-08-17 00:00:00

made a pause, and .a.etiu in a most solemn manner, 111-
th-owl the prisoners on the subject of confession _
He described to them the nature and of of the
Holy Communion, and conjured them not to risk their
sal vetieu by participating in it unworthily ; infimming
them. tied they could not taste the sacred uliments with
true dispositions, unless they were prepared to go inn
the presence of their God, which they could not de
safely with earepeented .slaa and ueroafeam,l crimes.
The question being again put to them, they severally
p areteced their innocence : their lierteaed atrertel
the two Rev. Gentlemen to tears. They pnemeded, how-
ever, to adminis:er the aliments, met the two prisonera
communicated with every typearence of rever-
ence and awe. When the service was con•
eluded, the two clergy mea formerly mentioned, toge-
ther with °than w:ao attended, left the cell, end the
Rev. John West, of Stotes, went to converse %vett Own
By addressing them on their awful situation. -,re ui'
served, for the first time, that they were la.
tears; bet still they refused to confess; Chennet seyeee
that, whatever crimes he might have committed, ha
was not guilty of that for which he was übeut to cif-
fer ; and Chalentft echoing the words without variutiou.
—At nine o'clock the Under Sheriff arrive:!, the mg-
Son or caravan which was to convey the eliminate to
the place of execution was brought to the prison door,
the various officers were at their posts, and the prison
bell tolled the hour of departure. The two prisoners
were then brought with irons on their feet, and their
hands pinioned, having the rope around, with which
they were to be hung. Chennel was dressed as on his
trial, in a black jockey coat, a striped waistcoat, and
grey cotton pantaloons. Chaleratt had on a new smock
frock. The back part of the caravan was occupied
with a platform, provided with steps on which they
were to emend to be tied to the gallows. The execu-
tioner, with a drawn sword, sat in front of the plat-
form, with the two turnkeys on each tide of hint; the
Rev. Mr. West sat with his back to the parses, with
Chalcraft on his right haul and Chennel on his lett.
The cavalcade then proceeded towards Godalming.
The crowd.; that were assembled from Guililforl,
Godalming, the neighbourhoed, and even parts of the
country more remote, were immense, nod lined the
road as far as the eye could sm. During the whole of
the mournful procession, the two pi:Jotters seemed to
be very attsntive to the Reverend Gentlemen who eat
between theM, and directed their minds to suitable to-
pics of reflection and consolation. 'I he prisoners mill
refused to confess, though several times pressed to do so
both by the clergyman and one of the turnkeys. The
procession set out at 9 o'clock, and arrived at the place
of execution about 11. Here the crowd was greater
than we imagined could have been collected on se
mournful an occasion. The gallows was erected on nla
exteaeive meadow to the north of Godahning,
together with the neighbouring heights, was covered
with people of all conditions. It was surrounded midi
a ring made of rope, within which only the caravan
and the officers were admitted. The prisoner Chid-
craft seemed a good deal shaken, and hung his heed on
one side. He bad urged, we were told, Chennel t
confess if guilty, by which he perhaps alluded to °thee
crimes, but no confession cculd be obtained. When the
caravan stopt under the gallows, the Revercud Mr.
Mann came out of the Sheriff's marriage and ascended
it. Ile again repeated his questions whether the
prisoners had any thing to communicate, and was an-
swered in the negative. An °Meer, who knew Cha: •
craft, and to whom he said, that on arriving at tan
place of execution he would " tell the whole pedigree
of it," now came up, and asked if he was reedy to per-
form his promise and make confession. He new re-
fused and protested his innocence. Chennel ices first..
taken up on the platform, probably to allow time and op.
portunity,while the rope was adjusting, fir his fisllew
prisoner to make disclosures ; but still nothing could
be gained front him. Seeing all opportunity vein, the
ceccutioner proceeded to his work, and tied both to the
gallows. Chennel, as soon as he ascended, requested
that the .cap might be drawn over his eyes, to pruvca:
his thee from being seen by the spectators, many ta'
whom had known Lim in other days. He then sta.:l
firm and upright without the least motion . Chaicraft
trembled aunt bad nearly required support. Mr. Minn
ascended the platform, and addressed to lit-semi!' their
bell:L.ll'mi excellent and affeeing prayer, at which Cita:-
craft became very much agitated, and his fellow pri-
senor somewhat moved. No appearance of a deign e,
confess Laing mode, the plst!inen wes drawn -free,
under them, and they were launched into eternity.—
They both seemed to strtergle a little wl.en threeea
over, but the execetioner wee terminated On su!-ferings by drawing
After the bodies of Cheneei and Gaideraft haul lee a
cut down, they were received iato the waggon which
cenveved them
to the place of examation, end c,rri, d
!gh the town of Godel-
miii show andiago,matil a
they wuf l
asri:lnievle th
etuattmhe' incase of the lute c.
Channel. The Imitate were then taken in o the lee ee
and one of them placed on the neat where Kits. Wilson,
was cm,,a murdered. The sareemas n preamded
al:eseet the landiee, alter whee, then w rd left for putter
i• . spa c . t-N-on tut

le 1 ii:•1