The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-14 00:00:00

GREENACRE'S CONFESSION.

We are happy to say ,that the doubts created in the
mind of many perions as to the guilt of the above con—
vict, by the specious line of defence adopted by him at
his first examination, and in which he persisted up to the
moment of sentence being passed on him, will we doubt not
be dispelled when we announce that he has at length con-
fessed his guilt.

After the able and affecting address of the Recorder,
when passing sentence on the afternoon of Wednesdav
last, the convict Greenacre appeared very depressed, and
shortly after being removed to his cell he begged the
turnkey would inform the Sheriffs that he desired an in-
terview with them. Information of the requea was
stantly conveyctl to them, when Sir James Duke and 1n14.,
colleague immediately left the Court and proceeded to Ili;
cell. On seeing them Greenacre addressed them
a clear and firm voice, and said that,, matters havirlig
now arrived at the worst, it might perhaps be as we.ll
for him to acknowledge that the statement he him!
previously made was not founded on truth, the fact beillg
that after his arrival with his unfortunate victim at Carpe o -
ter's-place on the afternoon of Saturday, the 24th of Decer n -
her last (Christmas-eve), a quarrel arose between them fen
the subject of the propel ty each had represented themselv
to possess, when the deceased (Mrs. Brown), using stro►i
language towards him for deceiving her, so exasperated hi nt
that he took up a piece of wood resembling the roller f 3 r
ajack-towel or for a piece of silk, which at the moment w a
lying near him, and struck her violently on the right e 3 +e,
which blow inflicted the injury that has been so ably dk-
scribed by Mr. Girdwood and the other surgeons at the d
ferent examinations and at the trial. The blow instantly
stunned her ; but he prevented her falling to the ground •
seizing hold of the chair. He then placed a pail which wa:
standing in the room by the side of the chair, and, holdiniv
her neck over it, he with a common table•knife, cut 11,s:-
throat, and held her in that position until the blood hi id
ceased to flow. He then sat himself down for a short tin at:
for the purpose of reflecting what he was to do with tls:
body. Various modes suggested themselves to his mint,
but at length (within an hour after he had committed thin
horrid deed) he determined on its dismemberment in tli4i
revolting manner which has been so often described. After
dissevering the head and limbs from the trunk, be put the;
former in a bag, and, placing it under hisarm, he proceedesi
with it to the house of Mr. Evan Davis, in Bartholomew.--
close, Smithfield, and made the statement relative to I,
having quarrelled with Mrs. Brown, and the marriage ha r—
ing been broken off, which has been described in the el i-
dence of that individual and his wife. After leaving tht it
house, which was about eleven o'clock on the night at
Christmas-eve, he proceeded on to Stepney, when takit
the head out of the bag, he threw it into the Regent' a -
canal, not far from the spot (Ben Jonson's lock) where it
was on the Gth of January discovered. He then inquir.*l
whether the privy of the house, No. 6, in Carpenter's-plat 0 ,
in which the horrible tragedy was committed, had bets I
searched, and on being answered in the affirmative, but th
nothing of a suspicious nature had been found there, he e:
pressed his surprise at the circumstance, declaring that pr
vious to the blood coagulating he threw the contents of tt.tic
pail. down it.
__

The Sheriffs then questioned him as to the time. carte
manner in which he disposed of the remaining portic,as of
the body of the unfortunate woman, but he sudden ly be-
came very taciturn, merely declaring in the most solemn
manner tint the female prisoner, Gale, had atot the
slightest knowledge he had committed the horeid crime
until after he was taken into custody.
It will be seen that his statement of having the lead
in his possession when he called on Mr. Davis is r;orro-
horated by the evidence of that person's wife, she 'naving,
deposed at the' examinations and trial that he ha ill a bag
with him, containing what, in her opinion, appea'red to be
a quartern loaf.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF HUMAN LIFE. BY 'THE
AUTHOR OF "THEMAINE."—fhese illustrations have thoe e di-
visions ; or we should rather say that there are three se p arate
stories, or sources of interest. The first of these, called ••' At-
ticus," is pre-eminently entitled to our respect and admi rt.tion,
being the life and opinions of a statesman, retired for 1.1 so pur-
pow of cultivating his quieter tastes and a philosophic gist os:_
don. The letters of which this portion of the work is; eGn)..
posed. arc addressed to a Noble Lord, and describe th
.0 eon_
versation and mode of life of Atticus. Each letter is .an
cic-
gant essay, more or less pointed, upon human char toter and *
action—upon life in the world, And life out of it-- -upon Turn
and books—upon nature and art—the present e.xisteque, er
that to come. Altogether, this work deserves to •be read. 4again
and again. We are persuaded it will take n y aemonclit: place
among the very few sterling works of the age we jive in._

A fire broke out in aThouse at Bomx Hinton,. -near
Matlock, on Saturday, which was the means of de, triv'm g 21
families of their homes ; we have heard bait ofone :teal it from
the melancholy event, which was produced by frigir t. L. poor
old man, on seeing his house on fire, fell clown and 'Kea im-
mediately. We regret to state that of the propm
v destroyed,
only two of the houses arc insured; the two limo
.es adjoining
the one in which the fire happened are saved. The fire was
occasioned by a foul chimney, and the whole of the buildings
being thatched, were speedily destroyed.— Tatti
•.• ton Courier.