The Sun.
London, England, 1815-07-31 00:00:00

ht,l2,‘ PtN.Md-,

We• have-already stated such strong A'rounds,
in order to shew 'that this unfortunate woman
merited lrer fate, that 'we should 'drop the subject
if preindite, artifice, and false notions Of Imam,
frity did not still operate Upon many persons, and
lUdnee thein to entertain doubts of liar guilt. We
therefore take: the lot loWing art icle from a respect-
able Sunday Paper (The Wiser i'er) , which we con-
ceiVe -must satisly.every candid ininrl, that there
was little An her character to call for sympathy
and commisseratiOn on her puni,hment. In fact,
this Culprit had the a dvantage of other trials after
her solemn conviction in a Court of Justice, as its
decision was 'fully confirmed by the investigation
of the Petvlr CouNctr., and the anxious delibe-
ration of the Lotto CHANCELLOR, the ItEcoarmt,
and Mr. BECKETT.-

Having thuS given an account of the transac
bons which have followed the determination of
the wretched criminal's fate, we shall proceed-to
give a short sketch of her history previoos •to the
commission of the crime for which She .suffered.
It appears, that her father and .loot her are, both
from Ireland, and that they are both Rsoma.o Ca-
tholics; the former is a servant to ?sir. Hutchins,
a portly* seller in Red Lion-passage ; the other
is, as far as we have been able to learn, an indus-
trious woman, and the mother of eleven childreu,
Of whom Eliza was the last living. -Eliza, at a
proper age, was • sent to .the Gate-street (Lin-
eharity-school, for education,
yvhich is made the-protection of DisSenters ; here
it was endeavoured to instruct her in the Chris-
tian Religion, and whatever instructions she .re-
ceived in thal yeay,.was detiVed from source.
Notwithstanding every effort to correct a way-
ward and vicious disposition which at this early
period manifested itselt, however, it became ne-
cessary; at twelve years of 'age, for the preserva-
tion of the morals of the other children, who were
her school fellows, to expel her ; and in the books
of the Charity is this memorandum, written- on
that occasion ! " Eliza Feinting-, aged twelve
years, turned out of the school for lying and lewd
talk."—From this period site ilid but little to re-
deem her lost character. Truth was a practice
with whiCh she seemed to he at war, and there
was not a place in whith she was employed (fot •
she went out to service almost immediately aftll-7
wards), that site did not leave behind her the Lila-
ractet of a confirmed liar. In,the service of Mr.
Hardy, a grocer in Portugal-Street, •• Lincoln's-
Ina-Fields. she gave particular manifestations .of
her vicious disposition. She thine denied her
mother, and applied to her language which none
but the most abandoned could use when speaking
of a parent. She was also in the constant prac-
tice of inventing falsehoods ; and by her general
demeanour, impreSsed her. master with an opinion,
to use his own words, " that she was capable of
any act, noweeer malevolent ;" and so strongly did
this impression weigh on his mind, that he. was
not happy till she w,5 out of the house.
" Mr. Hardy had aiSo a suspicion, that there was
something deleterious mixed in a •pot of porter
which she brought from the public-house for the
use of the family, but which was not, from the
idea that was entertained of it at the moment,
used. Ot -any attempt .to poison here, however,
although strongly repOrted,. there is no positive
proof. In every place in which she lived after,
wards, she unhappily obtained for herself the
character of being most spiteful and malicious.
She did not live tong in each place, and went to
Mr. Hardy for three charactets ; and there are
numerous instances of a treacherous mind recited,
which we cannot. afford space to detail. - SVhile
with Mr. Hardy she imbibed an affection for a
young man, -which seemed greatly to have unset-
tled her mind, and perhaps to that may he attri-
buted many of her subsequent follies. Her last
place was that. of Mr. Turner:s, where her con-
duct, as appeared on her trial, soon exposed'her
to tbe.reprehension of. .her mistress, and she re-
ceived warning to quit. It was after that warn-
ing, which she seemed to have taken much to
heart, that site committed the crime imputed to
her. In Mr. Turner's service site had sheWn a
very amorous inclination, which, while even under
sentence of death, was more strongly manifested.
Of her trial we can say•no more than it was most
impartial, and in our estimation from the evidence
which was, produced. the verdict could not have
been otherwise than it was pronounced. If, how-.
ever, the shadow of a gratin(' existed for conclud-
ing her innocent,, the steps which were taken to
examine her case subsequently, would have .
-vered it. Twice were the fact.;- studiously and
minutely' investigated by the Piivy Council.---
Every -circumstance which could be urged in
her favour was deliberately weighed.. Inqui-
ries were made, and. witnesses eicalained innu-
merable.' At nine o'clock on the-night previous to
her execution; another inquiry took place ; and ,
again were all the facts scrupulously re-examin-
ed ; and the result of the whole was a convic-
tion upon the idintls of men high rank, of well-
known humanity and strict impartiality, that there
was no just cause for delaying the dreadfill sen-
tence of the law. With these facts befort-ns,' it '
-naturally occurs to us to ask, upon what fair artgument persons who have merely the,ipse dix-it of
the criminal herself can support her innocence ?'
There can be none ; and if there were, her con-
duct in the priSon would tend to weaken, if not
to overturn them. For how•does it appear she
conducted herself there ? From the day of her
`trial she behaved in a manner so flippant.and so
nnbecoming, that she frequently called down the
animadversion of the Rev. Mr. Cotton, by whom
she was attended, a, gentleman, of whom it is but
justice to say, 1,10-.-Luan could fulfil the arduous
functions of lids .office with a more exemplary
spirit or a more pious zeal. Her first act of im-
purity was 7that. of writing a letter to Oldfield,
who suffered with her, and who, it will be recol-
Aected, was convicted of a rape—the last man of
all others with whom a virtuous.miod would-have
communication. This, was .followed by billets-
doux written to other prisoners and among others
was a-letter written to a prisoner in custody on a
charge Of forgery, conelted.in the most voluptuous
:language, and enclosing a lock of her hair. To,
thisman, who.liad been admitted to assist her in.
preparing a petition,, she was
heard
t .o say, " If
she did not due otherwise, she would in love of
lihn." lie felt a passion equally strong for her,.

•
shot t as had
,been
.itecluaintaate: A tetr,
days before her execution; 'she ac'cused
persons of having committed the crime charged to
her account, And.lastly, desired that a youngman, tamed king, Who had lived in Mr. Turner's
house, might be brought befoie her, and con-
ironted with her, bbSerVing, that she was sure he
would,- by htS confession; ,convince those .who
were witnessek to the scene that he alone was
guilty. This wish was complied with;and King,
who is constitutionally very timid, was introduced
into.the cell, in the presence of the. Mr. Cot-
ton, Dr. Mdore, Mr. Newman, and several other
gentlemen. The test which the prisoner required of
his innocence was, that he Should go upon his knees,
• and, placing his hand upon an open bible, soletim-
•ly declare that he was not in the kitchen the day On
• which the dumplings were made. The hoyexpres-
sed his willingness to do all this, notwithstanding
the, 'prisoner addressed him in the most vehement
and passionate manner; upon which, finning that
slie had failed in -producing the - intimith.tiou she
expected in his mind, she said she should not he
satisfied even if he did swear it. Mr. Cotton,
however, having brought the lad to the test, in-
sisted upon his going through the fornir which he
did, in -the most •solemn manner, declaring he
neither Was in the kitchen, or knew any thing of
the mixing -of the poison. Upon hearing this,
she clapped her hand on the bible, and said, in
the nest passionate way, ." I ant glad of it, you
have sworn a lie." Upon being reprimanded by
Mr. Cotton, for expressing joy at conduct in a buy
which would OeStroy his soul, she equivocated,
ain't said, " She did not' mean that ; hut she Was
glad she could contradict hint." All; the women
who attended her, declared their'perfect convic-
tion that she was guilty, as did every turnkey about
the prison, and they all said they never saw a wo-
man of a more uttilevolent disposition. She was
heard to say, more than once, that she Wished she
could get leave to tear the heart-out of her riro-
secutors; and to the women who sat up with her
for some nights before her execution, she admitted
that there-were two things, which, if they were to
cut her in pieces, she would not -divulge. What
these were could not he discovered, although it
may he inlet red that she had made some mental re-
servation to avoid telling her guilt. Jr appears
also from the observation of. some respectable in-
dividuals who made a point to attend her through.
out her confinement, that her manners partook
rather of a ranting and theatrical turn than of the
serious conduct of a person who was really inno-
cent. As inducements for not divulging her guilt,
even -in the last instant, when the hope of re-
prieve, which we know she entertained ; and the
exhortation of her father, to persevere in the de-
claration of her innocence, for the sake of his
Character.
" She exhibited throughout an uncommon
strength of mind, and a degree of talent, which was
displayed in her letters, far above tier •sitnation in •
life.—She was thought to be of no particular re-
although she said she was a•Protestant.—
The delay of her execution till half past eight we
understand is'attributable to the lounanity of the
Rev. Mr. Cotton, the Sheriffs, and Mr. Newman,
who wished every chance' of reprieve to be waited
for ; although in their. own mind, notwithstanding •
her prote,statiOns of innocence, they had not the-
sljghtest doubt of her guilt. There Was •a hesi-
tation and confusion in her last moments, .which
gave the strongest proofs that "she died with sortie-
thing pressing on her mind which she wished not
to divulge.
" The humanity with. which she' was treated by
every person ;chola the prison,_ and taupe espe-
cially by the Ordinary, as well as the anxiety
Which manifested to prove her innocent, if
possible, is the best proof that these persons are
totally undeserving of those treacherous and Ilia-
lignant attacks by. which they are assailed."

HOME CIRCUIT.

SURII.EY A,SSIZES.-CitOYDON, FRIDAY, JULY 28

LORD LE Dr.SPENCER V. EVELEIOEI.

The whole of this day was occupied in this one
cause, which was,a claim of tithes of woodland in
certain parishes on the bOrders of the Medway,
between Maidstone and Tunbridge. It being
claimed by one party that Woodlands within the
Weald of Kent were exempt from the tithe of
Mlerwood. Another question Was, how far the
Weald of Kent extended ; the one side contend-
lug, that• what is called the Red Hills were the
boundary, the other Ihnt the Pilgrim's Road at
tlic foot of the Chalk Hill,'near \Vrotham, was
the boundary. This latter question .was not,
however, decided, as,the defendant, the claimant
to the tith,es, confined his evidence to the precise
spot in question, and by the production of a num-
ber of old terriers, surveys, records, &c. shewed
that the church had; immemorially' been •paid tithe
of woodland, the spot which was now claimed;_ in
consequence of which the defendant had a verdict.
This'leaves.the question open as to the exemption
of other parishes, not having•settled the boundary
line of the Weald.
CROWN- [MAY, Jvi.v 29: •

Elizabeth Shiehis. was indicted of
Bigamy,: in marrying James Broker on the 27th
day of. February, her former husband, .T. Shields,
whom she had married but lour days previously,
being still alive.
This was a most whimsical casein all its. cir-
cumstances. • The prisoner was,a very .respectable
and by th'e evidence of J.
looking young woman,
Shields, the father of the first husband, it ap,
peilred that- his son, who was turned of 21 3cars
_of age, required his consent' to marry the pri-
soner. He was not acquainted with her, but
when she was introduced-to hint, she gave a very
satisfactory account of her family and connec-
tiOns in the \Vest of England, and he consented.
to their union ; accadingly, on the 23d of Fe-
- broary last, his son and the prisoner were married
at St. George's, Southwark'. About two hours
aft et' the marriage she said she was going away for
a short time, but she %V en,t, awq , and returned no
more. Four days after, on the 27th of February,
-she married again to James Broker. •
The female witness, who was.. the prisoner's
friend, attended her at botk marriq,•es; and being
examined as to the motives of such conduct, she
said the prisoner told her the first marriage was
not 1)111(1111gs as sin had not cointbited with him ;

hi

hnd slie eh* to irnitry i3ooker, to '.'7l.l°ll' 1 sl's.1111::i
h'een Bout-asked in the church befor-- is ,ow
-Shieleg-; ; ..Pete
of the
the
.fatheri said he waS the' P for
9t
.11, present indictment, and his ol''l fO5
prosecuting it was to, dissolve the tnatri,ll.4e°
son with the prkoncr. . 5 pa
_ The Learned Judge said all the 173!Itieprose"
been Mistaken in their law; The prt;sel)- (1 ac't
dissolve it, .and the Anisoner was eel"al;?',z' br.
n supposing her first marriage not bi'l(':l,',,'dol''
cause it had not been followed up by cobkolishe
was islee;jiteiiryeetiolitiomsi ixtlinevoin":ihTrinfprGisliCitliti9ll'e-1.11(' .