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

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,,—The exemption of Townley from the punishment
due by law for the atrocious cold-blooded murder he com-
mitted when perfectly sane is norhing less than a premium
and a bounty held out for the shedding of human blood and
destroying of human life. If the wilful murderer is to
escape on the same terms as Townley, the life of every
man, woman, and child in the country is imperilled, There
is not a tittle of evidence pretended to be adduced that
Townley was not in his rignt senses when he committed
the crime. Whatever evidence there might have been
that he was much given to wild and extravagant conduct,
such as collecting a number of white hats, was, apparently,
held back at the trial, because it was known to be utterly
worthless, and would turn out, upon cross-examination, to
prove nothing more than a mere " larkish" disposition, and
a tendency to freaks and practical jokes. Townley is no
descendant of his great aunt, who was said to be insane,
and who, for anything that appears, may have been made
insane by artificial means, without any hereditary taint. If
Townley had been a poor man, without any rich influential
friends, he would have been hung, and most justly and
righteously, for the safety of society—for the protection of
human life. As it is, any man who meditates murder has
only to perpetrate it in a sufficiently melodramatic way to
excite the morbid maudlin sentimentalism of the abnormal
minds who sympathise with the murderer instead of the
murdered, and he is safe. It may be safely said that those
who have got Townley off, and shown such an unnatural
sympathy with him, are much madder than he. The Act
under which Townley was respited says "it sball he law-
ful" for the authorities to place a convicted and sentenced'
murderer in a lunatic asylum; but this is merely permissive
and the law ought in Townley's case to have been suffered
to take its course, because, as he was confessedly sane when
he murdered Miss Goodwin in cold blood, he was well
aware of the punishment to which he rendered himself
liable, and therefore the infliction of such punishment would
necessarily have the effect it is intended to have—namely,
to deter would-be murderers from committing the crime
they contemplate. What will be the effect of Townley's
escape on the minds of those who may be meditating mur-
der P Evidently that there is a good chance of escape by
shamming madness after they have taken the victim's life.
It is said that a murderer who becomes mad after he has
committed the murder, and is sentenced to death, ought
not to be hung, because he cannot make his peace with
Heaven. Answer—let. When he hurried his victim out
of life without a moment's notice, did he think of this ?
and what right has he (the murderer) to ask that mercy
which he did not show to his innocent victim ? 2d.
Will two or three days, or even weeks, of that
sort of dubious repentance produced by fear of
being hung, bring forth anything profitable ? 3d.
Is it not for society to do its duty, and leave the rest to
God, who, surely, is capable of making any allowance that
ought to be made ? 4th. Considering that hanging a man
mad when hung, but sane when he committed the murder,
must be less cruel to him, though equally efficient as a
preventive for deterring others—upon what rational grounds
should a murderer bo exempted from death merely because
his coolly planned and deliberately executed crime may have
been of so monstrous and terrible a caracter as to drive
him mad from the very thoughts of having done it? To
exempt a convicted murderer from the death which is his
due, is nothing less than to hold out the grant of life as a
reward and encouragement for murder. What society has
to do is to protect the lives of its members. It says, in the
well-known words of Scripture, " Whose sheddeth man's
blood, by man shall his blood be shed.'' Let it once get to
be believed among the criminal classes that death on the
scaffold will not be the sure, speedy, inevitable consequence
of destroying human life, and human life will' be at every
ruffian's mercy, It was but last year that Sir Geo. Grey's
ill-advised leniency to garroters and robbers with violence,
made it unsafe to walk the streets after daylight. Nay, such
crimes were done in broad day. This year he seems going
a step further, and taking the most efficacious means to
render human life unsafe. In England we do not try cri•
minals by a judge alone—we have a judge and a jury. But
a tribunal is now set up consisting neither of judge nor
jury, but of a couple of magistrates, and a couple of doctors,
who have in their power to set asido the verdict of a jury
and the sentence of the judge, and that without hearing
evidence on both sides,but sitting in secret, like the Spanish
Inquisition. It is an exaggerated version of the Jessy
M`Lachlan case over again. Nothing can well be more
ridiculous, as well as more contrary to public policy. The
notion of a few inferior doctors and magistrates with no-
thing but ex parte evidence before them,and that not tested
by cross•exatuination, setting aside the decision of a judge
and jury, arrived at after hearing counsel and witnesses on
both sides, is perfectly outrageous. Nobody, at least no
sensible person who understands the true theory of crime
and punishment, wants to make criminals suffer unnecessa-
rily and vindictively, but what every person of common
sense demands is that human life shall bo protected by mur-
derers being hung with all convenient speed after tho mur-
der is proved against them. It is in the certainty of punish-
ment and the speed with which it follows crime that great
i part of its real terror consists.

COMMON SENSE.

EXECUTION OF SAMUEL WRIGHT.

(THIS DAY.)

This morning Samuel Wright, who was convicted at flie
last session of the Central Criminal Court for the murder
of Maria Green on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 13, ,11
house in which they lived together in the Waterloo-resat
was executek in front of Horsemonger-lane Gaol. Mild 2,
sympathy has been evinced in favour of the convict
various quarters, and accordingly, on Jan. 7, the visiting
justices of Horsemonger-lane Gaol presented a memorial t°
Sir G. Grey, expressing their opinion, that had all thefec,
been known on his trial, a verdict, of manslaughter Nvoul'
have been returned instead of that of murder. The appeal
was unsuccessful, as were also those of certain medical men
and of several public meetings which have recently been
held in Lambeth and Southwark.
At an early hour last evening a considerable numbs! °E,
persons congregated in front of the gaol, but they were 0
the lowest class, who disregarded appeals which were e%'
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 reservee
of
the different divisions, under Superintendents Branford,
Gibbs, Payne, White, Garnon, and Bray, were stationed on
the ground ; bur, as it turned out, there was no occasion Rif
this strong force, as comparatively few persons were present
at the time appointed for the execution, and those who Well
there were perfectly decorous in their conduct. The
houses opposite to the gaol which, when the Mannino
the Frimley murderers, and Youngman were hanged, well
crowded with people who had paid heavily for their seats
were to-day to all appearance tenantless, and in most °
them the blinds were drawn down. Not a seat was let ins
single one of the houses, and during the time of the exec"
tion the publichouses were closed. In the vast open spece!
front of the gaol there were not more than 1,500 persew
present.
Up to the last moment an impression prevailed among
the concourse of people that a reprieve would come ; an
accordingly, when at nine o'clock the sheriffs and the
executioner, followed by the convict, appeared on tb:
scaffold, a general feeling of disappointment was expressed
in a low, deep murmur. Wright bowed to the crowd twoct
three times, and while he was doing so Calcraft slipped tbje
cap over his face and drew the bolt. The unhappy rasa°.
and died after a very short struggle.
In two or three minutes after this a loud yell of evert
tion broke from the crowd, accompanied by repeated cries °,
"Murder." This demonstration did not long continue, fib.
the people moved quietly away without staying to will!,
the ceremony of cutting down, which took place at tev
o'clock.
Since his conviction Wright has been much depressed'
and has persisted in his statement that he never intend
to kill the woman, and that he was defending himself fret
her violence when the fatal wound was given. He v7511;i
quietly to the scaffold this morning evidently convinc'
that there was no chance of his life being spared.
The following document was extensively circulated
amongst the crowd :
" Men of London, will you pa rticipate in the blood °I
the unfortunate Wright by sanctioning his death by 9°l/rot
presence at the scaffold ? Working men and women, go
near the avenging scans ; but demonstrate to your Govellr
ment, with the dignity of Englishmen, your abhorrence'
by avoiding this execution. Men of Southwark, close 10
houses and shops—persuade your friends and neighbors'
to stay away from the bloody scene."

---
The memorial, praying for a reprieve of Wright, S
yesterday presented at the Home-office, by a deputation
consisting of Mr. Doulton and some others, who were f° fit
lowed by a procession of more than 200 working men. 331 i
the efforts of the memorialists proved fruitless.
The decision come to by Sir George Grey was report
by Mr. Murphy to the members of the committee, who °Ol
up the memorial in his favour, at their sitting yesterdake
the Lambeth Baths. By them it was made known to Oil,
large meeting of working men waiting to hear the relit,
Immediately afterwards Mr. Murphy, deputed by
meeting, left by the 1.30 train for Windsor, to memorial"-
the Queen. He had an interview with Sir Charles PhiPL*
who, after reading the memorial, stated that her MajeP),l
although deeply regretting the position of the nnfortuor
man Wright, could not, constitutionally, interfere with °lot
decision come to by Sir:G. Grey. He couldtherefore hold e
no hope of commutation of the sentence. Mr. Murphy tSi
left the Castle. In the meantime a meeting had been eonvon,
by the committee at the Lambeth Baths to hear the rest
The doors were opened at six o'clock, and in a few mina
the building was densely filled by about 3,000 people, B'l3o,
long before seven o'clock, the appointed time of cowmentio
ing, the thoroughfares, of the New-cut, the Marsh, and
,to
Westminster-bridge-road were rendered impassable by

immense crowds which had assembled,
The Rev. ROBERT SPEARS took the chair at seven o
'
01
and announced that Mr. Murphy's mission to her 318.0 j
had failed. (Shame). One more effort must be made• w
memorial had been drawn up, which would be taken t°
George Grey that eveniug, po,nting out to him the eAtrcsg,
public feeling against the execution of Wright, and ereht'le
if not for a reprieve, at least for a respite. (Hear.)
this suggestion was being discussed, Mr. Murphy eno'46
the building, and was received with immense cheering. Ye
detailed the particulars of his visit to Windsor. His PA A
rative was received with shouts of indignation and Ile
cries of " Shame I" In accordance with his motion, a
putation, consisting of Mr. F. Doulton, M.P., Mr. gill'
member of the Lambeth Vestry, and Mr. Applegartb/ 0
i
working men, left with the memorial to Sir George Gro:
On making their appearance outside the Baths in the IPde
minster-road they were received by the assembled thouseCl,o%
with great cheering and wishes for their success. nti,,riti
the absence of the deputation the meeting was addresse'.o
several working men, all expressing the opinion, in W 131161
the meeting cordially concurred, that if Wright was Well
a judicial murder would take place. 11
befor°

On the return of the deputation, a few minutes -
o'clock, Mr. Murphy reported the result. He said
first proceeded to the private residence of Sir George G'ile
and having sent in a note stating their business, Sir Gre°ool
Grey appointed to meet them at the Home-office, where ir
conference lasted for three-quarters of an hour. get IS)ty
ever, was inflexible in his determination to carry citt!,t of
sentence. He said his sympathy was with the obje"oti
the deputation, but he could not override the law. 1)00
decided upon the case of Townley accotcling to law., taloole
decision with respect to Wright was based on t V-gr•
principle. The law must, therefore, take its course.
Murphy then sat down, deeply affected. 030
Mr. Doc LTON, M.P., said he deeply regretted the °-
pursued by Sir George Grey. It would do much, t°
ill-will between classes.
A collection was then made lot the two chibire:ol
Wright, and the meeting separated with every syral/t°
sorrow and indignation.
-ith d -turnink

The following bill, bordere wig .eep mo
rom,
circulated at the meeting last night :—" A solemn
against the Execution of Wright- Men and worccf
London, abstain from witnessing this sad spectacle of in' it
Lice. Let C.dcraft and Co. do their work at this time 1,0
none but the eye of Heaven to look upon their crime• for
all window shutters be up, and window blinds be deal'
an hour on Tuesday morning in Southwark."