The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-05 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION.

This being the day appointed for the execution of two of
the unhappy men convicted for the murder of the Italian
boy, every precaution was taken by the civil authorities to
prevent accid, sits, anticipating an immense assemblage of
persons to witness the dreadful scene. At midnight the
workmen were employed in placing the drop opposite the
Debtors'-door of Newgate, and a large space around it was
barricaded to keep off the crowd ; the inside of that place
was subsequently nearly filled with constables and marshal-
men. Barricades were also fixed at stated distances across
the road from from Ludgate-hill to the place of execution,
and from thence to Smithfield.
The most intense anxiety was evinced by the more re-
spectable portion of the public to witness the execution,
and every window in the houses that could command even
a partial view was let at exorbitant prices.
During yesterday afternoon large groups of persons were
congregated in various parts of the Old Bailey, discussing
the offence of the culprits ; towards night they increased,
and at midnight a considerable number of persons ap •
peared evidently intent upon remaining until the execution
was over. As the morning advanced the crowd increased,
and at four o'clock many thousand persons had assembled.
From that time it appeared as if half the inhabitants of the
metropolis were winding their way :coward the scene of
death, and at the time of the executon the numbers ex-
ceeded all calculation. Every spot of ground, every nook
was occupied ; and the houses inside and out were crowded
even to a dangerous extent.
When the fatal drop was stationed in its usual place it
was observed that three chains were suspended from it.
As soon as Mr. Wontner, the Governor of Newgate, heard of
it he ordered an officer to remove one of them, May hav-
ing been respited. This was done, and although it was
then dark, it was instantly communicated throughout the
vast assemblage, and a general cry of " May is respited"
was uttered. The announcement did not seem to excite
much surprise, although a few individuals expressed their
disapprobation by yelling and hooting.
A strong body of the police, who were to be stationed
near the drop, were unable to make their way through the
crowd, and they were obliged to be admitted by passing
through the gates leading to the Old Bailey Courts, and
through the private passages, to their station.
It had been previously arranged by the Sheriffs (Messrs.
Cowan and Pirie), that in order to afford every possible
accommodatie&t for the reporters to the public Press, very
few individuals besides were to be admitted within the
prison : the reporters were admitted at a very early hour,
and are happy to have this opportunity of expressing their
thanks to the Sheriffs, as well as to Mr. Wontner, the
Governor of Newgate, for the preference given to them.
The Sheriffs, and Under-Sheriffs, arrived at about half-
past seven o'clock, when they immediately proceeded to
the cells in which the unhappy men were confined. After
spending some time with them and the Clergymen, the
Rev. Dr. Cotton, the Rev. Mr. Russell, and the Rev.
Theodore William., one of the culprits, Bishop, was
brought into the press-room, attended by sonic of those
gentlemen. Ile walked with a firm step, but seemed to
be nearly insensible to every thing about him; during the
process of pinioning, and taking off his neckcloth by the
Sheriffs' officers, he never spoke or moved a muscle, ex-
cept once or twice he heaved heavily. Afterwards be was
handed to a seat at one side of the room, and the
Rev. Mr. Williams, who has been unremitting in
his attendance upon the unhappy men since their con-
demnation, sat down beside him and engaged him
earnestly in prayer. Bishop appeared to pay great atten-
tion to the pious exhortations of the worthy Clergyman.
All we could hear him say was, " I have told all.'
Ilia fellow-culprit, Williams, was then introduced by
some of the Sheriffs' officers. This young man, who we
believe was only 30 years of age, and appeared even
iotuTer than that, had evidently undergone a great al-

teration since his trial. Ilis countenance, which was very
fair, and denoting any thing but a cruel disposition, was
now exceedingly pale, and at times suddenly flushed. lie
appeared to suffer much mental agony, and the tears %vete
standing in his eyes; indeed he seemed so weak that he
was partially supported by an officer, while lie walked to
the end of the press-room, and his whole frame seemed
to be much convulsed. His sufferings seemed much in-
creased while he was being pinioned, and during the
process he turned to Mr. Sheriff Pirie and said, " I
have made my peace with God—l deserve all I have got."
Then to one of the Under-Sheriffs he said, " All I have

told you, Jir, is true, every word of it." He then
looked sadly towards his companion, Bishop, with tears
streaming down his cheeks, exclaimed, " I have made
my peace with God." He also spoke to the Rev. Mr.
Williams, but in so low a tone of voice we could not
collect what it was, but we heard him request the Rev.
Gentleman to remember him to -- (we did not hear
the name). Mr. Williams implored him to tell all he
knew ;he replied that he had told all. Mr. W. asked
him if there was any other murder with which be was con-
nected, and he replied, " I have told you all, Sir ;
none whatever." The fervency with which he spoke these
words induced the Rev. Gentleman to refrain from asking
any more questions at that time. The melancholy pro-
cession then moved forward towards the Debtors'-door
where the drop was placed, and melancholy indeed it
seemed as it paced the long dreary and narrow passages of
that vast building. On the way one of the culprits not
seeing the Rev. Mr. Russell near him, expressed an anxious
wish to Pee that gentleman again, and he was quickly by
the side of the prisoners, and assisted in engaging them in
prayer. Bishop ascended the drop first, with a faltering
step, and the moment he was visible to the immense as-
semblage, the most astounding yells, hootings, and cheers,
that we ever beard resounded through the immense crowd,
and the uproar continued until the drop fell. The exe-
cutioner placed the cap over his face, and fastened the
fatal cord, the Rev. Mr. Cotton, the Rev. Mr. Russell,
and Mr. Baker engaged him in prayer. Williams was
next handed up, and the noise was if possible augmented
until the drop fell, which very soon took place upon the
signal of the Rev. Mr. Cotton, when the world closed
upon them for ever. Bishop died without a struggle, but
Williams was much convulsed for a few minutes.
We understand that Bishop, who was much disturbed in
his sleep on Friday and Saturday nights, slept very soundly
last night ; he awoke but two or three times, and upon
being asked by the officer in attendance whether be
wanted any thing, he replied, " No," and went to sleep
again. They were both often questioned respecting the poor
Italian boy, but they strongly protested their innocence
of his murder.
The unhappy men appeared ever since their condemna-
tion to pay the most devout attention to the religious in-
struction of the Rev. Gentlemen who attended them,
and from the moment of making their confessions, they
appeared more resigned to their dreadful fate, and con-
sidered that they had unburthened their consciences of a
heavy load of guilt.
Among the few gentlemen who were admitted within
the prison, were Sir Charles Paget, and two sons of
Earl Grey.

(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
The Sheriffs are in possession of very important parti-
culars relative to the conduct of the two culprits, which
we understand it to be their intention immediately to pub-
lish. Among the murders which they have confessed to
we understand is one of a little child, whom they found
in a destitute condition in the street, and covered with
filth and vermin. This poor child they inveigled to
Bishop's house, and destroyed in a similar manner to that
of the other unfortunate victims.
This morning Williams stated that there was one cir-
cumstance which he had forgotten to mention before, and
th it was that they had got two men into Bishop's bowie,
whom they plied with rum and laudanum, intending to
murder them; but the liquor did not effectually operate,
and they were obliged to permit the men to depart ; an
exceedingly happy and narrow escape for them.
The respite in favour of May was communicated to
him about five o'clock yesterday afternoon by Mr. Wontner,
and the effect it produced upon him was almost indesrib-
able, he became nearly lifeless, and it was a considerable
time before, by the operation of restoratives, he could
be restored to animation. He then became at one time
frantic with joy, and at others sobbed aloud ; when he be-
came somewhat calm, he returned his gratitude to the Al-
mighty for his deliverance, as well as his thanks to those
who had been instrumental in obtaining the respite. He
added also; that it was no more than an act of justice to-
wards him, for he sz,l4 innocent of the crime for which
he was condemned, and wholly innocent of participating in
any murder whatever, although be acknowledged that he
was guilty of many ,tfences.
Bishop and 'Williams yesterday afternoon parted with
their wives for ever ! The scene was truly affecting. We
believe Bishop's children have not been permitted to visit
him in prison.
Bishop, it will be recollected, was married to his step-
mother, after the death of his father. Among the contri-
butors to the fund for the relief of the widow, we under-
stand was the Duchess of St.'Alban's, who, besides giving a
large donation settled a small annuity upon her, which we
are informed she has hitherto received.
During the severe pressure of the crowd in the early part
of the morning, some of the barricades which bad been
• erected across the street, broke down, and we learn that a
man and boy were killed, and nine others so severely in-

jurcd, that it was deemed necessary to take them to the
hospital.
The writer of this was on Ludgate-hill as St. Paul's
clock struck the hour of eight—the fog was then too
thick to admit a view of the scaffold ; but the solemn
tones of the bell were recognized as a signal that, at that
instant, in all probability, the murderers were paying the
forfeit of their horrid crimes. It is a disgusting fact, that
this really awful moment was seized by a gang of thieves
at the above spot, for the purpose of taking advantage of
the excitement of the moment to commit depredations—a
strong rush was made, that caused much alarm and confu
sion, and there can be little doubt that the callous ruffians
succeeded in obtaining a considerable booty.
Some of the manufacturers of "last dying speeches and
confessions" had, as usual, provided a plentiful supply of
those veracious sheets for the gratification of peripatetic
curiosity, and, as usual, some of them were sold even be-
fore the execution took place ; but, unfortunately, the spe-
culative typo not being aware that May had received a
respite, included him among the dying penitents, and an
elegant wood-cut at the head of the paper represented
three culprits dangling from the gallows.

THE EXTERIOR OF NEWGATE.
To endeavour to form any calculation as to the num-
bers of the populace that were congregated in front of
Newgate and its neighbourhood would be a fruitless task.
From one end of the Old Bailey to the other was densely
crowded, and the streets in the neighbourhood, although
not a glance could be had of the platform or the proceed-
ings, were, from an early hour, rendered impassable by
the throng of persons that were hurrying towards the
scene of execution. Notwithstanding the many precau-
tions that were taken by the City authorities to pre-
vent accidents, we are sorry to say that many occurred ;
but fortunately no lives were lost. At the end of Giltspur-
street, immediately opposite the Compter, a very heavy
barrier was erected across the road for the purpose of
counteracting the immense pressure of the mob, which in
that direction extended to Smithfield. This barrier was
fastened to two uprights that were placed two feet in the
ground, by iron hopping, which was by no means
of sufficient strength for the immense weight of the
timber to which it was attached. The consequence
was, that at the moment the culprits were visible
on the gallows, the barrier was forced down, and a
number of persons of both sexes fell with it. The screams
of the females, and the confusion that ensued, was truly
alarming. One female, of very respectable appearance,
with her husband, were most dreadfully injured, the bar-
rier having fallen upon their chests, and a number of
others of the mob pressing upon them. A city constable
was also under the barrier, which rested on his abdomen,
and his cries were most deplorable. In this dreadful situa-
tion did the sufferers remain for some minutes. A cry
of " Stand back ; for God's sake, stand back !" was
raised, but all to no avail, and people in all directions
were trampling upon each other.
At length some of the officers from the Compter came
out, and with the assistance of several other officers, a
space of ground was obtained, and the individuals were
rescued from their perilous situation, and carried to St.
l3artho'omew's Hospital, where they were promptly at-
tended to by Mr. Birkett, the dresser to Mr. Vincent, the
principal surgeon, who had been in attendance all night to
recieve any accident that might be brought in. Before
nine o'clock every bed in Colston-ward was occupied by
persons who had been injured at the moment the barrier
gave way, and many of them more seriously so. The fol-
lowing are the names of the wounded :
Patrick, Crandy, a lad, very severely injured in the knee and his

arm broken.' _
John Lloyd, dislocation of the ann.
Peter Murphy, a city constable, letter K, severely injured in the

abdomen..
Richard Hitchings, extensively contused by being trampled on.
John Drewell, leg broken and much contused by being trampled on.
William French, with an asphyxia from an injury to the chest.
John Rosindale, very severely injured by being trampled on.
Mary Guest, shoulder dislocated.
Solomon Hyams, very badly bruised.
Joseph Parker, leg broken, and otherwise severely bruised.
Richard Gee, very badly contused from being trampled on.
A number of others were brought in much hurt, by
being crushed under the feet of the mob, who, after being
bled, were enabled to proceed to their homes ; but the
above named persons are now in the hospital.
According to law the bodies of the miserable men were
left suspended til/ nine o'clock, when they were cut down.
The moment the executioner presented himself on the
scaffold for that purpose, the mob, which was still very
great, set up a continued yelling and other noises, in tes-
timony of disgust and abhorrence of the miserable
wretches. Immediately after a small cart, that had been
in waiting in the neighbourhood, drove up to the plat-
form, and the bodies of the culprits were placed in it,
covered with two sacks. The cart then moved on at a

slow pace, followed by the Sheriffs and City Marshal,
along Giltspur-street, to the house of Mr. Stone, No. 33,
Hosier-lane,—the vast crowd yelling and making other
discordant sounds as they proceeded. On reaching Mr.
Stones' house it was with great difficulty the bodies cou'd
be removed from the cart, the mob appearing anxious to
get possession of them. The bodies were placed on a
table, and in the presence of the Sheriffs (in conformity
with their duty) an incision was made in their chests, after
which they withdrew.
The bodies will be removed to night—Bishop to the
King's College, and Williams to St. Bartholomew's, to be
anatomised.