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

CURIOUS PARTICULARS OF MAY.

James May, who is ordered to be executed to-morrow
morning, for being concerned in the murder of the poor
Italian boy, is the natural son of a barrister, who formerly
had chambers in the New Inn. His mother was a very
good- looking woman, and was a laundress in the chambers ;
she was particularly fond of her son, and when he was
about twelve years of age she used to lead him about, fearful
that any harm should come to him. He was educated at
a boarding-school, and received a tolerable education ; he
wrote an excellent hand, and at the age of fourteen he was
employed in a professional gentleman's office, at No. 10,
in the New lnn ; but he was always of a wild roving dis-
position, and whenever he could get away from his duties
he was associating with the worst of characters about Clare-
market. This appeared to be his sole delight until he
neglected the office altogether, and was consequently dis-
charged. He had at the time some good friends,
who felt an interest in his welfare, but nothing could
induce him to break off with his a,sociates ; and in-
stead of remaining a clerk, which be was well adapted
for, he took a liking to be a butcher. The first place
_ _ . .

be got was at Mr. Roberts's, in Clare-market, with
whom be lived some time; he afterwards lived
with Mr. Price, in the same market, hut he never
remained long in one place. At last he took up the
trade of a " body-snatcher," and in order to carry on
the business with the greatest facility, took a lodging in
one of the houses in Clement's-lane, Strand, the back of
which looks into the burying ground, situated in Portugal-
street, at the rear of St. Clement Danes' workhouse. Here
he commenced business, and was very successful, but like
many others, flushed by success, he could not keep his own
secret, and would brag of the number of bodies he had got
out of the burying-ground, at the back of his lodgings, of
a night, and what sums he had sold them for. He at first
made no secret of his profession, and considered it merito-
rious, till at last he found that he was detested and despised
by every person. He then left that part of the town, and
got acquainted with Bishop, and his associates. May was
always considered a lively, interesting fellow, fond of jokes,
and ready for any mischief, but his disposition was not
naturally cruel, and no person who knew him a few years
ago could believe that he would be the accessary to take
away the life of the humblest individual. May's mother
is dead, but we believe his father is still living.

FURTHER DISCLOSURES--RESPITE OF MAY-
AWFUL SCENE IN NEWGATE.
On Saturday morning Williams addressed a note to Mr
Wontner, stating that be wished particularly to see him
Mr. Wontner immediately went to the prisoner, and ob-
tained from him a long and detailed confession of his
guilt as to three murders. Mr. Wontner, in presence of
the prisoner, committed the confession to writing. The
Rev. Mr. Williams was at the same time engaged in taking
a similar written statement from Bishop, who confessed
that be had been engaged in the same three murders with
Williams, and was proceeding to detail the particulars of
a _fourth, in which " a black man" (the negro already re-
ferred to in this paper) was the victim. Bishop was
about to give the names of the other parties who were im-
plicated with him in the last-mentioned murder, when he
was interrupted by the entrance of Dr. Cotton, the Ordi-
nary. Mr. Williams could net in the course of that inter-
view induce the convict to resume the thread of his
narrative. Both these confessions exculpated May alto-
gether from being a party in any of the murders.
Bishop and Williams declared that May did not see
the body of the boy—supposed to be the Italian's—
till the Friday evening the day after the murder.
They denied that their next-door neighbour, William
Woodcock, could have heard any footsteps or scuffling,
as he had described in his evidence; and they asserted
that after " hocussing" the boy with laudanum, in rum,
he became "as dead as a log 1" In that state they car-
ried him to the well in the yard, and held his head under
the water till they were sure that he was completely suf-
focated. Previous to going into the yard for the above
horrid purpose, they both took off their shoes. They
added, that during the whole affair there was no person in
the lower part of the house but themselves (Bishop and
Williams): they had, sometime previously, sent their
wives to bed. The prisoners also denied the correctness
of the medical testimony given on the trial. It will be
remembered that the death of the boy was described in
evidence as having been occasioned by a blow inflicted
during life, on the back of the neck ; wheicas the prisoners
assert, that this appearance of a supposed deadly injury
was occasioned by the twisting of the neck to force the
corpse into the trunk, immediately after it was brought
from the well. They also say that extravasation of
blood—such as that described by the surgeons—al-
ways occurs when a body is thus " doubled up while
it is warm." Having received the confession, of which
the above is a bare outline, and having heard the
most solemn declarations from May of his innocence, the
Rev. Mr. Williams and Mr. Wontner immediately waited
upon Mr. Justice Littledale and Baron Vaughan, who bad
been present on the bench, while the prisoners were tried
by Lord Chief Justice Tindal, and were still engaged in
trying cases at the Old Bailey. On hearing the state-
ments made by Mr. Wontner and the Rev. Mr. Williams,
Baron Vaughan felt inclined to suggest to Chief Justice
Tindal the propriety of recommending that a respite should
be granted to May. Air. Justice Littledale believed, on
the contrary, that the verdict was correct in the case of
May, as well as in those of Bishop and Williams, and
that the law ought to take its course. The Rev. Mr.
Williams raid Mr. Wontner then waited upon Mr. Chief
Justice Tindal at his residence, and upon communicating
to him the statements which they had previously laid
hafore Baron Vaughan and Mr. Justice Littledale, the
Chief Justice said he would, as early as possible, see the
Home Secretary on the subject. This Learned Judge ap-
peared to concur in opinion with Baron Vaughan. It was
next ascertained that Lord Melbourne was not in town,
but as a Cabinet Council was to be held at two o'clock
yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, no doubt was entertained
that his Lordship would attend officially, and that shortly
previous to that hour the Chief Justice would have an
opportunity of conferring with him on the facts of this
extraordinary case.
During the whole of Saturday the Sheriffs, Under-
Sheriffs, and several other official persons were decidedly
opposed to any mitigation of the punishment of May, and
indeed to any delay of his execution ; and it was expected
that the applications that were being made in his behalf,
would be frustrated by the positive opinions and predilec-
tions of some influential individuals. But yesterday (Sun-
day) morning the Sheriffs visited all three of the prisoners
in succession, and the Under-Sheriffs, who are very inte.l-
I ligent men, were engaged between three and four hours in

taking down the statements of the convicts; the conse-
quence was, we understand, that the opinions of both
Sheriffs and Under •Sheriffs underwent a decided change,
as to May being implicated in the crime of murder.—
They were consequently desirous that his sentence should
be mitigated• The result of all these investigations was
that yesterday afternoon, at ball-past four o'clock, a
respite during his Majesty's pleasure arrived at Newgate
for May, and his sentence will be commuted to transporta-
tion for life.

Shortly after the arrival of the respite at Newgate, Dr.
Cotton and Mr. Wontner went to the room in which the
three prisoners were confined for the day. The Rev.
Gentleman opened the paper and began to read it aloud :
—the most anxious attention was paid to its contents by
all the prisoners, but the interest manifested by May, who
must have known that the fate of his miserable com-
panions was sealed, but had felt that there was still hope
for him, was quite painful to witness—his agitation was
dreadful ; but no sooner had Dr. Cotton repeated the
words that the execution of the sentence upon John
May shall he respited during his Majesty's most gracious
pleasure," than the poor wretch fell to the earth as if
struck by lightning. His arms worked with the most
frightful contortions, and four of the officers of the prison
could with difficulty hold him ; his countenance assumed
a livid paleness—the blood forsook his lips—his eyes ap-
peared set, and pulsation at the heart could not be distin-
guished. All persons present thought that he could not
possibly survive—it was believed, indeed, that the warrant
of mercy bad proved his death-blow. Mr. Wontner and
Dr. Cotton, who have of course witnessed many scenes of
dreadful agitation during their experience among capital con-
victs, declare that they never before beheld any human being
so fearfully affected. It was nearly a quarter of an hour before
May was restored to the use of his faculties. At last,
when recollection returned, he attempted to clasp his hands
in the attitude of thanksgiving, but his limbs shook so
violently that he found even that was impossible. His
lips moved, but nothing but inarticulate sounds came from
his tongue. The parties present soothed him with assu-
rances that they knew what he meant to say, and with
earnest entreaties that he would calm himself, and not at-
tempt to speak. When restored to something like com-
posure, May poured forth his gratitude to God, and his
thanks to the humane gentlemen who had interested them-
selves
in his behalf. He then explained, that when the
Rev. Ordinary commenced reading the warrant, he
thought that all hope was at an end—that the ceremony
was to signify to him that he must die—the sudden re-
vulsion of feeling when he beard the words we have
quoted, caused him to swoon. He added, that on learning
he was to be spared, he felt as if his heart had burst in
his bosom. Ile declared most solemnly, now that he was
out of jeopardy, as he had done before, that he had nothing
to do with the murder for which he had been condemned
to die. He had never been concerned—either directly or
indirectly—in any murder, but he acknowledged that he
had committed many sins for which the Almighty might
have justly left him to suffer on this occasion. He hoped
now to lead a better life, and to evince his gratitude to
God by sincere repentance.
It will hardly be credited that Bishop and Williams be-

field this awful scene with an indifference approaching
. . . .

to apathy. The dreaful agitation of their less guilty asso-
ciate seemed to have no effect upon them, though it was
remarked that the contortions of May must have brought
to their recollection the struggles of some of their mur-
dered victims.

Mr. Wontner now asked Bishop and Williams whether,
as their companion was spared from death, they would
still adhere to their previous declarations that he was an

innocent man. They both replied decidedly in the affir-
mative. Mr. Wontner, in his efforts to ascertain the

truth with regard to May, appeared at first to be daring
the opinion of the public, fur the general feeling certainly
was that May deserved death as well as his associates ;
but no reasonable person can now entertain a doubt that
May is at lea.t innocent of the crime of murder, and
therefore has Mr. W., with his usual judgment and hu-
manity, done a service to the cause of justice, by exerting
himself to rescue May from the fate that the other pri-
soners so richly merited.
During the greater part of yesterday Dr. Cotton was in
attendance upon the prisoners, and Mr. Baker also ren-
dered his assistance in administering religious consolation
to the unhappy men. About seven o'clock in the even-
ing, the Rev. Mr. Williams arrived at Newgate, and re-
mained with them about three hours. The convict Wil-
liams exhibited a sullenness of demeanour indicating a
degree of insensibility that could not have been expected
fiom a person in so awful a situation. Bishop, on the
contrary, seemed sunk in despondency—literally horror-
stricken. He repeatedly inquired "Is there no hope for
me of forgiveness from God?" The clergyman said he
could not venture to give him an assurance of mercy—a
man approaching the presence of his Msker with his hands

stained with the-bloodof his fellow-creatures, ought hardly

to expect it.—Bishop then said, " Surely, Sir, there is a
hope of mercy for a repentant sinner! Was not the thief

on^the cross pardoned ?" " Yes," replied Mr. W., " but
he had no knowledge of our blessed Redeemer till that mo-
ment, but you have from your earliest days been taught to
know Christ, and have rejected his precepts. Besides,
your's cannot be called a true repentance—it is incomplete
—your's is more the fear of human punishment in conse-
quence of your offence having been discovered, than the re-
, pentance of a Christian. The first step towards a true re-
pentance is a full and open confession of your crimes.
Still, I exhort you to pray with all the sincerity and fer-
vour you are capable of, and as the mercy of God is un-
bounded, your prayers may obtain favour in his sight."
It will be perceived by the intelligent reader that the
Reverend Gentleman has been striving, in the above ex-
hortation to induce the unhappy man to make a clear con-
science, as well for the eternal safety of the criminal's own
soul as for the interests of human society.
The prisoners, Bishop and Williams, confessed on Sa-
turday that all the deaths of the victims whom they sa-
crificed to the "interests of science," were effected in the
manner we have already described, viz. by "hocussing"
first, and then drowning or suffocating in a well.
It was reported yesterday that Carlo Ferrier, the Ita-
lian boy, has been ascertained to be alive. It is stated that
he is at present in a distant part of England.

SPEECH OF THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, IN RE-
LATION TO THE TRIAL OF THE BURKITES.
After the trial had concluded, and the Judges, Nobility,
and other visitors, had retired to a private room, the Duke
of Sussex (who had remained in Court the whole day,
paying the most marked attention to the evidence) took
occasion to express the gratification he had experienced at
the manner in which the prosecution had been arranged
and conducted. " I have (said his Royal Highness, ad-
dressing himself to the Lord Mayor) always made it a
point of attending every trial of national interest that has
occurred in the metropolis; and I have done so not only
from a desire to become acquainted, as far as I could, with
the laws of my country, and their practical application,
but because in the station I till, I feel it to be a sacred duty
to take a personal interest in every thing calculated to ef-
fect the character or the security of the people of this
country. I have never, my Lord Mayor, been present at
such inquiries without increasing the admiration with
which I regard the criminal jurisprudence of England;
the most perfect, the most intelligent, and the most hu-
mane system that human ingenuity or wisdom ever de-
vised. Upon the present occasions whatever pain I
may have felt at the sad necessity for taking away the lives
of the wretched persons whose crimes have excited
so powerfully the indignation of the public, I cannot
help feeling proud of being the native of a country
where such a sentiment of indignation has been universally
evinced, and where such disinterested exertions have been
made to expose and bring to justice the perpetrators of
crimes, happily, I trust, rare amongst us. In what other
part of the world, indeed, could such a scene be witnessed
as that which we have this day contemplated. The Judges
of our land, the learned in our law, Nobility, Magistrates,
merchants, Medical Professors, and individuals of every
rank in society, anxiously devoting themselves, and co-
operating in the one common object of redressing, as far
as human power can do so, an injury inflicted upon a
pauper child, wandering friendless and unknown in a
foreign land. Seeing this, lam indeed proud of being an
Englishman, and prouder still to be a Prince i❑ such a
country and of such a people."
It is impossible to describe the effect produced by the
Royal Duke's eloquent address (of which we regret we can
only give the above imperfect sketch), upon the numerous
and distinguished auditory to whom it was addressed.

This day (Saturday), the Magistracy of the
county of Norfolk are invited by the Lord Lieutenant
to assemble for the purpose of forming some general plan
for the prevention of fires, and the detection of the villains
who perpetrate this most terrible as well as most heinous
crime. We pray that wisdom may be vouchsafed to
direct them to means the most effectual. —Norwich
Mercury.

We are informed that the murderer HoLLo•
way, instead of being penitent, indulges in the foulest
and most shocking language. About a week ago, seeing
the female prisoner, KENNETT, pass his cell, he poured
forth a volley of abuse, and said he hoped he should bang
her ! KENNETT, we hear, persists in asserting her inno-
cence. The story of her being enciente is, we are as-
Bared, a fabrication...—Bri,qhlon Gazette.