The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

EXECUTIO:

(THIS PAY.)

This morning Samuel Wright, who was convicted at the
last session of the Central Criminal Court for the murder
of Maria Green on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 13, in s
house in which they lived together in the Waterloo-road,
was executed in front of Horsemonger-lane Gaol. Much
sympathy has been evinced in favour- of the convict in
various quarters, and accordingly, on Jan. 7, the visiting
justices of Horsemonger-lane Gaol presented a memorial to
Sir G. Grey, expressing their opinion, that had all the facte
been known on his trial, a verdict of manslaughter would
have been returned instead of that of murder. The appeal
was unsuccessful, as were also those of certain medical noes
and of several public meetings which have recently been
held in Lambeth and Southwark.
At an early hour 'last evening a considerable number of
persons congregated in front of the gaol, but they were of
the lowest class, who disregarded appeals which were a.
tensively circulated, that people would stay away from the
execution. There seem to have been some fears of
"scene," as 600 picked policeman, mostly of the reserves of
the different divisions, under Superintendents Branford,
Gibbs, Payne, White, Garnon, and Bray, were stationed on
the ground ; but, as it turned out, there was no occasion for
this strong force, as comparatively few persons were present
at the time appointed for the execution, and those who Were
there were perfectly decorous in their conduct; The
houses opposite to the gaol which, when the Mannings,
the Frimley murderers, and Youngman were hanged, were
crowded with people who had paid heavily for their seats',
were to-day to all appearance tenantless, and in most 01
them the blinds were drawn down. Not a seat was let in
single one of the houses, and during the time of the execs"
tion the publichouses were closed. In the vast open space in
front of the gaol there were not more than 1,500 persoaa

present.
Up to the last moment an impression prevailed amongst,
the concourse of people that a reprieve would come ; 011'
accordingly, when at nine o'clock the sheriffs and the
executioner, followed by the convict, appeared cal the
scaffold, a general feeling of disappointment was express'
in a low, deep murmur. Wright bowed to the crowd two ot
three times, and while he was doing so Calcraft slipped the,
cap over his face and drew the bolt. The unhappy motif°
and died after a very short struggle.
In two or three minutes after this a loud yell of exenriv
tion broke from the crowd, accompanied by repeated cries °1
"Murder." This demonstration did not long continue, and
the people moved quietly away without staying to witness
the ceremony of cutting down, which took place at ten
o'clock.
Since his conviction Wright has been much depressed;
and has persisted in his statement that he never intends'
to kill the woman, and that he was defending himself ir°n!
her violence when the fatal wound was given. He walltes
quietly to the scaffold this morning evidently convinesti
that there was no chance of his life being spared.
The following document was extensively circulatt4
amongst the crowd :
" Men of London, will you pa rticipate in the blood °C
the unfortunate Wright by sanctioning his death py 913t1
presence at the scaffold ? Working men and women, go n°
near the avenging scone ; but demonstrate to your Govern'
ment, with the dignity of Englishmen, your abhorrence;
by avoiding this execution. Men of Southwark, close lert
houses and shops—persuade your friends and neighbour°
to stay away from the bloody scene."

---
The memorial, praying for a reprieve of Wright, 11°
yesterday presented at the Home-office, by a deputatical
consisting of Mr. Doulton and some others, who were Pll-
i;
lowed by a procession of more than 200 working men. )3
the efforts of the memorialists proved fruitless.
The decision come to by Sir George Grey was reporli
by Mr. Murphy to the members of the committee, who et
up the memorial in his favour, at their sitting yesterdo994
the Lambeth Baths. By them it was made known to t't,
large meeting of working men waiting to hear the reso
Immediately afterwards Mr. Murphy, deputed 11 ,°,4
meeting, left by the 1,30 train for Windsor, to meraori%'"
the Queen. He had an interview with Sir Charles Phil/rto
who, after reading the memorial, stated that her Die.i66"ti
although deeply regretting the position or the unfortolitb%
man Wright, could not, constitutionally, interfere with
decision come to by Sir:G. Grey. He couldtherefore bold°4
no hope of commutation of the sentence. Mr. Murphy
the
left the Castle. In the meantime a meeting had been cony AG
by the committee at the Lambeth Baths to hear the rePtio
The doors were opened at six o'clock, and in a few 1311111 d
the building was densely filled by about 3,000 peoplot;•
long before seven o'clock, the appointed time of comb the
ing, the thoroughfares of the New-cut, the Marsh, and the
Westminster-bridge-road were rendered impassable hi
immense crowds which had assembled,
The Rev. ROBERT SPEARS took the chair at seven o'o
and announced that Mr. Murphy's mission to her g6i )
had failed. (Shame). One more effort must be mac"'
memorial had been drawn up, which would be taken
"t°6
George Grey that evening, Writing out to him the ei
public feeling against the execution of Wright, and Prscill
if not for a reprieve, at least for a respite. (Hear.) 'tee'l
this suggestion was being discussed, Mr. Murphy ell' 9
the building, and was received with immense cheering' t,t•
detailed the particulars of his visit to Windsor. HO /Id
rative was received with shouts of indignation old "-je
cries of " Shame 1" In accordance with his motion, a'.ll,
putation, consisting of Mr F. Doulton, M.P., Mr.
member of the Lambeth Vestry, and Mr. Appleger67ep
working men, left with the memorial to Sir George .(7.801'l
On making their appearance outside the Baths in the
"
minster-road they were received by the assembled tholOrio
with great cheering and wishes for their success. Pid
the absence of the deputation the meeting was addressweio
several working men, all expressing the opinion, io otei
the meeting cordially concurred, that if Wright was sae
11
a judicial murder would take place. 1, dote!
On the return of the deputation, a few minutes ut),, to;
o'clock, Mr. Murphy reported the result. He 041`heref'
first proceeded to the private residence of Sir Georg°4oo64,
and having sent in a note stating their business, Sir —re
Grey-appointed to meet them at the Home-office, 0°
e' joir
conference lasted for three-quarters of an hour. litis
ever, was inflexible in his determination to earl f.eci
sentence. He said his sympathy was with the 1010
the deputation, but he could not override the ha. 000
decided upon the case of Townley according to lavirf
ill° gat°
decision with respect to Wright was based on
d°'
principle. The law must, therefore, take its cotu°'
W
Murphy then sat down, deeply affected. co- 4
Mr. D vrorr, M.P., said he deeply regretted t•P'' to 0°
pursued by Sir George Grey. It would do raucli
ill-will between classes. • e
l
A collection was then made foY the two chi' ntoo
Wright, and the meeting separated with every 8515ir
sorrow and indignation. „Ingo ot
The following bill, bordered with deep war— if
°
circulated at the meeting last night :—" A solereo °
against the Execution of Wright- Men and W,
pw 1
London, abstain from witnessing this sad spectacle ;0
113 t
tice. Let C.Acraft and Co. do their work at this time I'°c
none but the eye of Heaven to look upon their criroei:m
all window shutters be up, and window blinds be d°
an hour on Tuesday morning in Southwark."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This 94'

I-STREET. 0;
MARLBOROUGE
OMNIBUS TMIEYES.—Two alias Mar
well dressed women 0
Catherine Kelly, alias Marga"ret ICelly,
the water," °toils,?
10
Sarah Williams, both from over
latter having a child in her arms, were charged,/
Mr. Tyrwhitt with being in Regent-street for the P
10
of committing a felony. k OA,
Sergeant Charles Cole, of the C division, said 00,,-,peir&
previous afternoon he saw the two prisoners in a ‘" tlle-ii
omnibus, and about half an hour afterwards he en Om
in Regent-street, one a little in advance of the a'tl'''
strangers. After watching them a short time he 11°
feeling a lady's dress about the pocket. 1
Kelly—Oh dear, Cole, how can you say so ?. 00 .(4
Cole said he then lost sight of them, but aftero ,1A.0',1
bthe prisoners together again,, and observed 101124. to)
y the side of a lady near Argyle-place with "'",i. rd
down by the lady's aide. He afterwards toolt ti°)-i l'P°
custody, when he found upon one a the prisoner° -il P,401
bag containing money which he had no doubt 13- d
taken from some person in the omnibus. Kelly Otii"l t
God's sake don't take me Mr. Cole."
Mr. Tyrwhitt—Then they are known to you. ,4 it °lel
Cole said they were. The last time he had ii.°l"ol iiji
for robbing a lady in an omnibus, but as the 143:0 fiol3,o'
attend the second time, Kelly was discharged. The
0v i
iwho was with Kelly then was now undergoing sis,,ail°o ill)/
last
trisonment for an omnibus robbery, lielly tolu'' id
time that she could earn as much in a 'Dill° I
01
of
could in a week.
Mr. Tyrwhitt remanded the prisoners—Kelly beilVi
to be anion of a notorious the companionthief named
week. PI" ci
a
,ri tos,t' e
GROSS CRUELTY TO A PONY.--SSIBeS .I.'"eidl3.r. '1?
James-street, Notting-dale, was charged before ''":„ft° 0
whitt, at the instance of Mr. Love, chief officer of I'l3 0"
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Aniiii7-0,;. bll
cruelty to a pony in working it while in an unfit s-,0 ,00
Guest and Rutherford, two of the society's 00°,0'0?
in Regent-street yesterday afternoon, had dieiciadeo 4100
drawn to the pony, which was attached ton cart - lee r4O
laundress's linen, by seeing it going only three it' gji
a itote 0, .
examiningff the pony the officers found it in
suffering from a windgall, in very poor condition) ° to
altogether past work. ti°oo
Defendant said the pony's leg was rather stiff, t' iii 000
had been so for three years, and that it had a' svie cill3
its leg all the time, There was nothing the
mat vie
i 0
1110
pony, but he would have it killed. cater i'oli
Mr. Tyrwhitt said if there was nothing 010 °;1013°
the pony the defendant could not want it killed. hro of 01
fine the defendant lOs or a month. The oftille °
AO°
society would look sharply after him, and f be c-
court again he would go for three months. i (10°
The defendant said he would have the poh9 iii'c
40
------........----77-_-_r_.,
.. Id,
TUE POLISII REVOLUTION, it is be..
awake in the spring like a giant refreshed.
-