The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-16 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF PALLET'.

CuuLmsposo, fire. 15.—The place of execti.
etion is an open space between the gaol and the river; in front
it is shut off' by a high wall through a gate in which the crowd
are admitted. As soon as the light of day appeared, the wall
immediately above the spot where the platform was to be raised
,was seen covered with black cloth. .Many had then assembled
upon the bridge to view the preparations of death. At half-
,past seven about half a dozen young men arrived there, weep.
eirigmoet bitterly, and uttering convulsive sobs. One of them
'was the brother of the culprit—all were relations. The others
'turned their backs towards the agonizing scene and cried aloud;
the brother grew rather composed, and fixed his steady gaze
etpon the fatal spot. At the end of five minutes they quietly
•withdrew.
The culprit went to bed at half-past one this morning, and
slept most profoundly till past six. When awakened, he fell
fast asleep again.. Ills ignorance exceeded belief. He was
entirely illiterate; and though be frequented his parish churkli,
.he could not repeat one sentence of the Lord's Prayer.
At half.past eight the gates were thrown open, and the
crowd became exceedingly dense up to the temporary defence
set across the ground, a few feet from the platform. At the
same instant the irons were knocked off the culprit and he
walked firmly and slowly to chapel. There lie received the
Sacrament.
At a quarter past nine the chaplain took leave of him. Ire
was then pinioned and bound hard by the wrists. All the
while ho kept moaning, and oiteasionally kept muttering,
" Lord help me !" In going to the chapel he had worn a hairy
cap on his head. He moved slowly from the chapel to the
eplatform bareheaded, and with his neck exposed. His visage
upon stepping from the passage to the outer ground where the
platform stood was dreadfully expressive, though perfectly un-
moved. His upper lip was partially drawn uP by the agony of
~despair. His eye was still and sad, and . his large toil-marked
hands were swolu and livid with the tightness of his bandages:
His half-boots were dirty and unlaced, the smock-frock bearing
still visibly over hie left breast and shoulder the blood of mur-
; dered Mumford. He ascended the platform very slowly but
firmly. The executioner was the only one there with him. 'rite
instant he was placed on the station for execution, he glanced
at the crowd, who were by this time closely packed In the Inner
part of the ground, and all around the platform.. The exact'.
tioner immediately covered his bead and face with a nightcap,
and bound a handkerchief over his eyes. When this operation
began he Nrtraned with most atrectilig energy, and he continued
for some time rising slowly. on his tip-toes, and falling strongly
'beck on his heels.
' The executioner took a considerable time in adjusting the
. rope, and then shook hint strongly by his clasped hands. rue
steps were then removed, and the platform, which is attached
permanently by hinges to the wall, and had been supported onp
the outside by a locked spring, was dropped. Thoexecutioner
continued pulling hint by the legs till lie was dead. The crowd
were perfectly silent, and looked on with awe, but not with
sympathy.
The following is an exact account of the voluntary conies-
- sign made by this unhappy man, to his attendants, on the eve
of his execution, with the exception of some alterations in the
style:--
" I had been drinking with Kitiman at the Coach and Horses,
Queedon, all the afternoon,and was somewhat inflamed with
ti,e liquor 1 had drank. From this place we both started'
'with the intent of going to Newport to get sand. I was
riding on Kidinan's donky, and he was beating it with his
oyster measure. When we came to opposite Quendon Want,
lane, we obeerved sonic one go down. Kidrnan went forward
to see who it was, and on his return said. " It is Jell' MUM-
. ford." Kidinan then lent me IA; knife to cut a atlck, and I
said, " D—n him he shell have it." I then got off the donky,
and followed Mu:nford down the lane. Kitiman left time,
and proceeded through the turnpike. I overtook Mr. Mum-
ford upon an hill, without his perceiving me, and *truck him a
blow on the head; but he did not fall from the first blow ; I
then struck him again, "and he fell. When 'down I repeated
the blows with the stick until he was incapable of resistance.
Having so done 1 felt in his pockets, and took out the knife,
which betrayed' me, and put it into my own pocket. Mr.
Mumford lord his great coat upon his arm, which I took, and
also several email things which were in his pocket; what they
wage Ido not recollects these carried into the turnip field ad--
joining. I th',n sat down upon a piece of wheat, anti stuck the
stick in the ground by my side. I began to reflect; for it Was
not my intention, at first, to have committed murder, but only
to heat him severely ; and !placed my two hands upon my face,
saying to myself "Good God ! what have I been doing ?"
Atvut this time I heard the footsteps of a horse; he stopped
at the spot where I left Mr. Mumford, and shortly after I
heard the horse return. I then returned to the body, forget.
tiftg that T had put the knife In my pocket ; I kneeled down
upon one knee, and raised Mr. Mumford, and sat him upon
else other, and rested his chin upon my left shoulder, when the
blood poured down my neck in torrents, and made the collar
of my shirt in the state it was when the pereons came up.—
I next took the body on my back, and prat:ailed on roy
way to NViddington, under the impreseion that should be
able to convince the family that I found him, and Was per.
forming a friendly office. In my way I was met by four men,
.and soon after it cart clone. When I came to the public house
I placed the body on a chair, but it fell, and 1 endeavoured to
place it there again. Mrs. Whisken, the landladyor the rub-
lleebouse, found a mark upon Mr. Miunfordse shirt, which ma-
' tUfled those present it was Jan Muinford. I then left the
room to wash the blood from my face, which I did as well as
could and afterwards returned to the top-room, where, shortly
after, 1 was taken into custody."