The National Register.
London, England, 1818-08-16 00:00:00

AUG. 14)_

PdIRRICIDE.

EKF•CUTION OF CIIENNEL AND CHALCRAFr FOR
THE MURDER OF MR.CHENNEL'S FAMILY.

ClovALmiso, Act:LIT I

To-day Chennel, convicted on Wedneslty last of:
parricide, and CitaTem% of the murder of his master
and fellow-servant, were executed at this place. It had
been thought due to public justice and public feeling,
that the neighbourhood which had been alarmed and
horror-struck at the atrocity of their crime, should
likewise witness their punishment, and hear their
suaression, if disposed to make any. General conve-
mimeo happily agreed with this arrangement, as
Godalining. where the murder was committed, is only
-4 miles distant front Guildford, where the trial took
place : and there was no danger, as in the case of
Hussey, (if he had been brought to Greenwich), that
'an overwhelming crowd would create any confusion.
The expected confession, however, has not been made.
Ever since they were taken into custody for their
horrible crime (which is more than nine months ago),
they seemed to have entertained hopes of an acquittal,
and, therefore, avoided any serious thoughts of their
eltuation. Chennel, we were told, both in Horsernonger-
lane gaol, and at Kingston, during the Spring assizes,
seemed as fearless and inditibrent as if his conscience.
had been at case; and though art apt to assert his in-
nocence, unless when questioned on the subject, op-
licared to make no douitt of his getting off, -es he ex-
pressed it, I:y the iusullicieney of the evidence, or the
ability of his counsel. fle, therefore, smoked his pipe,
and drank his 'beer, when it was procured him, with as
much apparert relish us if his mind were clear from
.guilt, his -lila free from punishment, and his confine-
ment only temporary. Though he showed no contempt
for the truths. or 'the exercises of religion, admitting
implicitly the one, and joining without reluctince in
the other, his conduct plainly evinced that his mind was
not impressed, and his -Reverend instructors had to L-
atent that his devotions were languid and formal. His
temperament, naturally phlegmatic, was never excited
•to any spiritual et ssiderations. There seemed no con-
fii .t his mind between the aezret consciousness of
guilt and a desire to reveal it. He appeared taciturn,
sullen, and incommunicative, more from native apathy
than Rom premeditated design ; sod a kind of stupor
er'sottishnesa, contracted by long habits of idleness and
intemperance, prevented him from being interested
about any thing but the supply of his present wants, or
the gratifications of his appetites. His fellow prisoner
and coadjutorin murder was of a very different charac•
ter. -His education had been entirely neglected, .as it
appeared he could not reedit and he had likewise run
through a-long -course of iniquity.; but his intellects
were t cute, and his feeling strong. He was always
more communicative, and seemed at times, by some ex.
pressions which lie used, disposed to relent into a 'con-
fe- sion, when,
.probably, the remembrance of an oath of
secrecy milk)* .they had mutually taken before the com-
mission of their crimes prevented him from making a
disclosure of them. Ho seemed to wait for the .com-
mencement of coafesSion on the part of Chennel, and,
as we have been told, soineti nes desired him to confess.
(a phrase which, we are aware, may admit of different
meanings); but as the latter revealed nothing, he re-
solved also to keep .his oath and the horrible secret, par-
taking probably to the last in the hopes of un acquittal.
They were led back to their cells on 'Wednesday night,
determined to persist in their denial of guilt, and re-
it-lived rather to take the chance of pardon for -uncon-
fased crimes in another world, of which they bad no
habitual or vivid impressions, than to brave the horrors
of their fellow men in this by admitting the monstrous
atrocity of their crimes. They, however, allowed that
appearances were all :Against them, that the Judge was
merciful in his direction to the jury, that the jury were
attentive to the evidence, and just in a mistaken verdict,
and that if they had been in the situation of either
they must have behaved as they-bad done. At the
same time they declared their innocence—Clem:n:l,
with less vehemence, and only when questioned; Clial-
craft repeatedly, and with stronger asseverations. They
joined that night • ith more earnestness in religiuus
r'ccreises, with the Rev. Mr. Cole, the ordinary of
Guildford gaol, and, ors we are told, slept -afterwards
four or five hours. When the Rev. Gentleman was
about to leave Chennel, he asked him when he would
wish to see him again, to which the latter replied,
with seeming earnestaesa, " The sooner the better."
The Rev. Mr. Mann, the ordinary of lirnvernonger-
lane gaol, who had been -.very attentive to them when
confined there previous to their trial, was sent for ex-
press atter their conviction, and arrived on Thursday
forenoon He immediately visited the prisoner% and
after joining with them in religious exercises. offered to
hear any thing they haul to say respecting the crime for
which they were to suffer, endeavouring to impress
their minds by a suitable address, with the obligation
antler which they lay to the offended laws of their coun-
try, to society to their neighbourhood, and their fa-
milies, to make a full ditelost.re ; hut telling them at
the wile time their confes,iona must be voluntary, end
that be did not wish to extort from them more than
th.c ivt:s .I:.;yaicd to te:4,el. To tE:a address they