The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-31 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT PERTH.

The execution of John Kellocher, who was convicted
at la. t Circuit Court of the murder of Janet Anderson,
an old woman residing at Buttergask, near Blackford,
took place yesterday morning at a few minutes past
eight o'clock. The erection of the scaffold was com-
menced at an early hour on Monday, and throughout
the day vas an object of much interest to the inhabit-
ants, who, up to a late hour, continued to throng the
open space at the south end of the gaol, and wa'ched with
much patience the progress of the work. Next morning
by 7 o'clock a large crowd had again assembled, and at
a quarter past that hour the company of the 93d Regi-
ment, now stationed in the barracks, took up a position
within a semicircular line of palisades in front of the
drop: and at the same time the high constables, the city
police, and a strong body of the county constabulary,
likewise arrived on the ground. By eight o'clock the
crowd at greatly increased, although not to the extent
anticipated, as there could not have been more than 5,000
present at the most. At exactly five minutes past eight
the prisoner, accompanied by two priests, the Rev.
Messrs. M'Cory and M'Kay, one on each side, made
his appearance above the wall of the gaol, followed by
the magistrates of the city, the Dean of Guild, the
chaplain of the prison, and one or two others. On com-
ing forward on the platform, the prisoner and his spiri-
tual guides knelt down and engaged in a brief prayer.
On rising the Rev. Mr. M'Kay read the service for the
dying, and immediately retiring, the executioner stepped
forward and pulled the cap over Kellocher's face. On
coming upon the scaffold, the prisoner walked forward
with a firm step, and with the exception of the ashy
paleness of his features, gave no indication of fear.
During the reading of the service he repeatedly lifted
his hand as if in the act of earnest devotion. On being
left alone, however, he trembled slightly, and continued
to hold the signal for about two minutes ere he allowed
it to drop. At last it fell, and the strong man, after
a few convulsive struggles, hung a motionless corpse.
At nine o'clock the body was taken down and put into
a coffin, and soon afterwards interred. Kellocher
was a native of Ireland, and from the county of
Clare. He was a stout man, twenty-seven years of
age. After his sentence, and up to only a few days ago,
his mind appeared to be little under the influence of re-
ligious impres,dons. It is true, indeed, that he joined
with Mr. M'Cory in religious exercises with much ap-
parent devotion, but all that time he freely gave way to
sudden bursts of passion directed against the jury and
judges who tried and condemned him, insisting bitterly
on justice not having been done to him. At last, how-
ever, on being convinced that his sentence would cer-
tainly be carried into effect, a marked change in his con-
duct took place. Throughout he took his meals regu-
larly, and slept well, and on Monday night he gratified
the authorities by making au ample confession of his
guilt, exonerating the witnesses in reference to all that
they had said on his trial, acknowledging the justice of
his sentence, and expressing his contrition for his awful
crime. On the morning of his execution, Messrs.
Al'Cory and M'Kay were in attendance in his cell by
five o'clock, but early as the hour was they were antic(
pated by Mr. Milner, civil engineer, and of the same
faith, who had been unremitting in his attentions to the
prisoner all along—Scotsman of Wednesday.

A VIEW OF EPSOM DOWNS ON

THE DERBY DAY.

(From Punch.)
MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1849. (Derby Day).—
To Epsom Downs to the Races, this being the Day
of the Great Derby Race, for takes to the Value of
6,7001.—1 n a Barouche, with a Party of four Friends,
over Vauxhall- bridge, and through Clapham, Tooting,
Mitcham, Sutton, and Banstead, and so on to the
Downs, and very merry we were, the Day being
glorious, and we carrying Hampers with store of cold
Meats and every other Thing needful for a brave Lunch,
whereof the Forethought do always raise a Company's
Spirits. The Windows and House Fronts crowded
all the Way with young and old, and School boys
mounted on Walls and Gates, and they and the Ur-
chins in the Street cheering with all their Might, as
though we were going to the Races for their Amuse-
ment. But what did most delight me was the Number
of pretty Damsels, with their smart Dresses and smil-
ing Faces come out to look at us, or peeping behind
Blinds and Curtains, all in high Glee, as if they were
glad that we were taking our Pleasure, and very
happy they looked, and it is certain that good Hu-
mour do wonderfully heighten Beauty. The Road
very beautiful too, through Trees and Orchards, and
the Sun shining through the tender Leaves and on
the Horse-Chestnut Blossoms, and could not tell
whether they looked brighter or the Lasses. So
we on, with Mirth and pleasant Discourse, till into
the Ruck, which is the Jam of Carriages caused
by the Stoppage at the Turnpike, but less tedious
than formerly by Reason of the. Railway. Across
the Course to the Hill, the Admission cost us 14, and
there took our Stand to behold the Race. Good lack !
what a Crowd of People collected to see which out of
six-and-twenty Horses should run the fastest, and
what a Medley of Vans, Omnibuses, and Taxed Carts
on either Side of the Course, with the People in front
of them, and the Grand Stand crowded with Heads,
plenty as Blackberries, and seeming, indeed, with
their Hats on, lige a huge Mass of them. A Throng
of Carriages about us, mostly four-in-hand Coaches,
whereon young handsome rakish-looking Gallants with
Moustaches and Cigars. Here and there, in open
vehicles, Ladies in lilac and blue Dresses, and pink
Bonnets, and gay Ribbons, all Manner of Colours,
which with the parti-coloured Flags flying over the
Booths did look mighty lively. Presently a Bell
rung and the Course cleared, but then to see
en unlucky Dog running to get out, and the Mob
yelling at him, and the poor Dog in his Fright
rushing straight on like mad ! Then the Horses
with the Jockies on them in their brave
Colours prancing up and down before the Grand
Stand, to show their Paces to the folks in the Betting
Ring. At last, they taken to the Post, and so
started with much Cheering, and came round Tat-
tenham Corner, seeming to take the Thing quite
easy ; but presently away in good earnest, and then
to see at what a Rate they flew. The chief Struggle
between the Flying Dutchman and Hotspur, and I
could hardly tell whether Yellow-Cap or Purple-Cap
was the foremost, but Yellow-Cap did win by half a
Length, albeit Hotspur did battle it with him bravely.
The Winner declared by his Number, hung out in Front
of the Grand Stand, and it did surprise me to behold
the Flock of. Carrier Pigeons sent up to bear away
the News. The run in three Minutes, and all the
Attraction over, but to think of the Money lost
and won in that little Time. My Lord Eglington
and the Public, as I hear, do gain much, and the
Ring do lose, which I am glad of, for I do
esteem true Sportsmen ; but those Knaves with
their Cant Language and roguish Tricks are a
Disgrace to the Turf. After the 'Race, to Lunch,
which did greatly relish ; but the Gipsy Women and
Children did come and beg Morsels out of our Plates,
as
in
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al
Midst
about tst
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all
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s the Luxury
ttheyos
egeot thei
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in
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sightt
et.
flinging at Snuff-boxes, and the 'Thimble-Rig, but of
the last I saw none, only some playing at Roulette and
Hazard, but the Police did seize and break several
of the Tables, and take away the Stakes. Great
Sport returning Home, with the Shouting for the
Winner, and trumpetting on Horns, and bandying
Jokes, but all in the best Humour ; and methinks I
do spy Improvement in the People's Manners. See-
ing all Sorts and Conditions of Persons, great and
small, joining in Sport and Frolic, made me com-
pare our own Country with foreign Nations, and as
much as some of them may talk of their Fraternity,
I doubt me if any of them could show such a Case of
it as the Derby.

MURDERERS IN EMBRYO.—A female of anything
but prepossessing appearance, and who gave the name
of Ann Christian, was yesterday brought before Mr.
Maude, at the Borough Court, charged with stabbing a
boatman named Thomas Brierley with a knife, thereby
disabling him and inflicting other injuries. The parties, we
ought to state, cohabit together, and on Monday eveni▪
ng
had a quarrel, when the woman caught hold of a table-
knife, and stabbed her paramour in the chest. A
struggle then ensued, the wounded man tryi▪
ng
to deprive the woman of her weapon, when she
drew it through his hand, and nearly severed his wrist.
Mr. Beswick reminded Mr. Maude that the prisoner
was the same woman whose depositions he (the m
gistrate) had had occasion to take some short time
ago at the Royal Infirmary, in consequence of
tha. dangerous state in which she lay from wounds
inflicted upon her by the very man whom she
had stabbed, so that it appeared the tables were
turned, and sire bad been the aggressor. Mr. Maude
read both parties a lecture on th: ir savage brutality,
which he intimated would probably have a bloody
ter-
mination one time or another, and he fined the female
405., committing her in default of payment for two
mouths,--Manchester Courier.