The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-13 00:00:00

IfORNCASTLE AND KIRKSTEAD JUNCTION.

Sir J. DUCKWORTH reported from the sub-committee
that the proposed capital of the company is 48,0001.,
and the amount of loan 16,0001. The length of the line
is 7 miles 28 chains, and the steepest gradient is 1 in
132. It is intended to cross six roads on the level. The
estimated cost of the railway is 45,0001., and the quan-
tity of land required 41i acres.
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE (LIVERPOOL DOCK

MUNCHES).
Lord JOCELYN reported from the sub-committee thak
the proposed additional capital to be raised by the com-
pany for the proposed branches is 280,0001., which sum
is authorised to be raised by the creation of new shales
or by mortgage. The aggregate length of the five
branches to the Stanley, Wellington, London and Nel-
son Docks and Regent-road is 1 mile 6 furlongs and S
chains. Nine public streets are to be crossed on the
level, subject to certain regulations. The estimated cost
of the branches is 280,0001., and the quantity of land
required is 22i acres.
LONDON, TILBURY, AND SOUTHEND,
Sir J. DUCKWORTH reported from the sub-committee
that the bill gives power to the Eastern Counties and
the London and Blackwall Railway Companies, the
owners of the above railway, to make two deviations in
the line already authorised between Tilbury and South-
end. The bill authorises the company to issue addi-
tional shares to the amount of 52,600 L, for the purchase
of a branch line of railway belonging to the Thames
Haven Dock and Railway Company. The aggregate
length of the proposed deviations is two miles and a
half, the steepest gradient 1 in 80, and the estimated
cost 43,0001.

LIVERPOOL, CROSBY, AND SOUTHPORT, LANCASHIRE AND
YORKSHIRE, EAST LANCASHIRE, AND MANCHESTER
AND SOUTHPORT.

Viscount JOCELYN reported from the snb•committee
that they had examined the allegations contained in the
preamble of the bill, but the same had not been proved
to their satisfaction.

EXECUTION OF RIBBONMEN FOR THE
MURDER OF MR. BATESON.

Neal Quin, Bryan Grant, and Patrick Coomey, con-
victed at the late assizes of the murder of Mr. T. D.
Bateson, J.P., suffered the extreme penalty of the law
in front of Monaghan Gaol, on Monday. The scene,
which was a most remarkable one, is thus described in
the Banner of Ulster :
A rumour got abroad that the sentence in the case of
Coomey would be mitigated. Towards the latter part
of last month, however, the death warrants were deli-
vered to the Sheriff, and on the 30th ult, they ware
banded to Mr. Temple, the governor of the gaol. The
unhappy men wisely gave up all hopes as to the present
world, and, aided by their chaplains, devoted all their
thoughts and aspirations to another. They ate, drank.
talked, and slept well during the last weeks of their ex-
istence; and Coomey, who was •an inveterate smoker,
was not asked to give up his habitual practice. Quin
and Grant became much attenuated—the latter particu-
larly so—during the past fortnight. Grant's wife took
farewell of him a week ago. His four little girls were
prudently kept away by their mother. Coomey, who
had a wife and seven children, was considerably affected
in parting with his children. Quin's wife, a young
woman, saw her husband for the last time on Sabbath
last. The stoical indifference manifested by the men
themselves. and by the relatives who visited them, was
much remarked' by the officers of the prison. Ceomey's
children alone evinced any tender emotion on separating
from their father. Quin's wife left her young and
wretched husband tranquilly, and almost listlessly.
On. Sabbath evening last. Quin and Coomey gave some
intimation that they would address the people on the
following morning. Previous to the locking up of the
prisoners, Coomey, whiffing his pipe as usual, inquired,
" What time the morrow will that be ?" in a tone and
manner from which no one could have discovered to
what he referred. Quin desired to know if they could
all "go at once," and being informed in the negative,
as the gallows contained provision for only two, sail,
in reply to the governor, that he and Bryan would like
"to go together "--a request which was at once acceded
to. They then walked firmly for the last time, to their
cells, and were afterwards waited upon for some hours
by their respective chaplains. Those in the cell with
them reported that they had slept soundly during the
night. Early in the morning they were visited by the
clergy, and haring partaken of the communion and en-
gaged in devotional exercises, they breakfasted with
their ordinary heartiness. About two hours before their
last moments, Quin and Coomey were quite cheerful.
The former declared that he had never known such hap-
piness as during the last week ; that he could not have
been persuaded that death was so sweet, and that he
would not then accept his pardon if it were offered to
him. He chatted, smiled, smoked and sauntered about
the yard, at times pirouetting on his heel, and manifest-
ing the most reckless indifference as to his fate. Coomey
also was in good spirits, and was quite disposed to enter
upon a polemic controversy. He boasted that he had
never known a day's sickness during nearly the two
years he had been in prison. Grant alone looked de-
jected, and preserved his customary taciturnity. His
appearance was very ghastly.
From 10 o'clock in the morning the people began to
assemble in front of the gaol ; it is right, however, to state
here that there was little in the appearance of the
town or neighbourhood to indicate that an awful spec-
tacle was about to be exhibited, and that the entire as-
sembly did not, although it was market day in Mona-
ghan, appear at any time to be beyond two, or, at most
three, thousand persons. This latter circumstance is to
be attributed, in all probability, to an injuction which,
it was stated, had been given by the Roman Catholic
clergy from their altars on the previous day, that their
people should remain away from the scene. At half-
past ten a large body of the county constabulary, under
Charles M'Kelvey, Eq., 5.1., and Head-Constable
Devlin, took their station in front of the gael, and shortly
afterwards a troop of the 2d Dragoon Guards were drawn
up in a line to the right of the drop, under Captain
Briscoe,
The deputy-sheriff was then present, and remained
till the termination of the business.
At twenty minutes before twelve o'clock Mr. Temple,
the governor of the gaol—who went through his respei-
sible duties with precision, and without any unnecessary
stringency—informed the chaplains as to the precise
time they had at their disposal. The time allotte i having
expired, Quin and Grant, having been arrayed in their
last dress, were conducted from the chapel to the press-
room. Quin, in the Passage, ran —literally jumped—
and embraced his chaplain, like a boy. The utter disre-
gard of death apparent in his conduct and appearance at
this moment, arrayed as he was in his shroud was ex-
traordinary. Grant held his hands clasped, with his
eyes fixed upon a little crucifix that was carried before
him. Having arrived in the press-loom, they knelt
and received absolution according to the Romish
ritual, the unhappy men expressing their full
belief that their sins were forgiven, and, that
they were about to experience the blessings of hea-
ven. They were then placed on a form, and the ewe-
cutioneer was called. As the executioner took Quin's
left arm to pinion it, some one said. "Be steady."
Quin exclaimed, "Oh, he is doing me the beet job that
ever was done in this world." His chapl in told him
not to speak of that now. Quin said, " I return you
many thanks for all your kindness ; we commit ourselves,
O Lord Jesus, to you. Jesus Christ receive us, God be
merciful to us." Stu. Grant was then also p nioned, be-
traying, in the operation, however, no apparent tremor
or alarm. Quin, eho inclined to speak greatly, while
Grant spoke little or nothing, then said, "Now, we ask
your blessing, gentlemen, before we go." The priests,
putting their hands over the kneeling man, said, "We
extend it cheerfully." Quin continued, "Now we go
in the true faith and confidence of our Redeemer."
Priest—"ln Mary, too, and in one moment you will
be in heaven." The ropes were then adjusted round
their necks, and Quin, who appeared inclined to say
something to the people assembled, as he had intimated
on the previous day, was stopped by his clergyman, who
told him that it was not necessary. A public confession
of guilt need not, however, have, been expected, as the
miserable man, in a feeble ambiguous way, endeavoured
to convey the impression of his innocence up till the
last. As he was being moved to the drop by the execu-
tioner, his pastor said, "He that would have pardoned
Judas himself, if he had asked for it, will pardon you
when you ask. Now you have eternal happiness in
ynurißedeemer and Mary." Quin then kissed the cru-
cifix, bade farewell to the chaplain, and exclaimed,
"Mary, mother of God, have mercy on us ;" " Lord
Jesus Christ, have mercy and receive us," &c. Grant used
similar expressions, and said to his clergyman. " Farewell
to this world." The doors having been thrown open,
and the unfortunate men having appeared dressed
in their shrouds, and having white caps on their
heads, a fearful shout was raised by the male portion of
the spectators, the women assembled shrieked bitterly,
and the murmuring wail throughout the entire crowd
was of the most agonising description. The bolts were
then drawn instantly, and the men fell about eight feet.
Grant died almost instantly, without a struggle. Quid,
however, who had several times expressed his wish "t
suffer more for his Saviour," did not die for fourteen m

nutes after he dropped. In pulling down the cap over
his face, it was said that the executioner had shifted the
rope, and that it was bearing on his jaw bone. To this
circumstance was attributed his protracted death. The
priests, at this moment, stepped to the press-room door,
and, putting their hands through the iron bars, bums-
chattily behind the drop, delivered a number of prayers,
in Latin. Quin, on his fall, struggled convulsively with
his hands and feet, and his chest heaved repeatedly se-
veral minutes, and stiil there was life in him —the te•
diousness of his death was harrowing. Minutes again
puse I, and still he was not dead. At the earnest soli.
citation of the Rev. Mr. Hughes, who appeared in mental
agony, as he looked down on the dying man, messages
were repeatedly conveyed to the hangman that Quin
was not dying, and the reply returned was that he was
a strong man and that all did not die alike. Tile strug-
gles eventually got weaker, the chest at last ceased to
heave, and the wretched man was declared to have expired.
Three-quarters of an hour having elapsed, the sub-
. ..._

eheritl directed the bodies to be taken down, and the
bodies having been examined by Doctor Temple, were
placed in their felon coffins.
Coomey was then brought from his cell, !verity/5 a cru-
cifix, and attended by the Rev. Mr, Birtninghain. At this
..?ecoed scene in the press-roam the work became sickening
—the very hangman looking a good deal alfe.:ted and
frightened by the practice of his awful calling. The
atm: ceremony as before having been performed he the
clergy, who held in their hands the " Rituale Roma-
ourn," " Theologies Moralis." and other banks, the
executioner proceeded to put the cord mend Cootuey's
arms. As he did ,o, Mr. llneh,..s slid, " Remember.He
WAS nailed." Coomey said, " Eh," with a strong, un-
faltering voice. The expression was repeated. Coomey,
putting his other hand behind him, as a man would who
was being helped on with his great coat, said, " Oh,
your reverence, I am quite content to go the journey I
am going." He kept repeating to himself what were
understood to be prayers, calling upon his " Saviour
and Mary," the priest at the same time informing him
that he would soon see both. The crucifix, which was
held up before him, he kissed repeatedly, the priest say-
ing, " Embrace the image of your Saviour again." The
rope was then put round his neck, the doors were
thrown open, and he walked firmly on the drop, praying
to his Savour for mercy, and calling on the assistance of
St. Joseph and Mary." The screaming of the females,
some of whom fainted, on the third white figure appear-
ing on the gallows, was heart-rending; and the lamen-
tations of the masculine portion of the assemblage were,
for the moment, more painful than any other incident in
the terrible transaction. Coomey had not expressed,
during the morning, any intention of speaking, and was
at once launched into eternity, having died without a
struggle. His body having been suspended the pre-
scribed time, was taken down, and delivered to his
friends. It may be stated, as not the least singular fact
in this extraordinary history, that his children areliving
in the house of the usurer, Barney Brennan, his brother-
in-law, and the principal instrument in his death. The
fearful scene which we have just described, and which
terminates the eventful Bateson tragedy, occupied less
than two hours. In a short time after the removal of

the body
of Coomey the crowd had dispersed, and the
town had resumed its wonted quiet appearance.
There are five men still in cust Aly, charged as conspi-
rators to the murder of Mr. Bateson—the offence for

which Coomey was hanged.

THE PACKET SERVICE OF THE POBT•OFFICE.—A return
to the House of Commons shows that, in the year ended
January last, the amount paid on account of the packet
service was 895,2751. The amount chargeable to the
packet service was 801,4551., and 81,1001. "otherwise
chargeable," in addition to which 12,7201. was paid as
salaries of Admiralty agents on board the several con-
tract packets.