The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-23 00:00:00

EXECUTION.

This morning, at eight o'clock, the dreadful
sentence of death was carried into effect in the
Old Bailey, upon Samuel Rains, aged 24, and
John Austin Wren, 20, for a highway robbery,
attended with circumstances of aggravation.

These culprits were convicted, with a man named Elliott,
who is respited, in the January Sessions of an attack upon, a
gentleman named Collins, near the road leading to Vauxhall
' Bridge ; but the gentleman making rather an unexpected re-
sistance, the ruffians resorted to violence, and finally, in their
attempt to escape, one (it is believed 'Wren) fired a pistol, the
ball from which passed through Mr. Collins's hat; they were,
however, all secured very near the place of attack. Untbrtu-
nately, these men had before undergone the ordeal of trial, and
were known to the police as desperate ruffians capable of any
act of violence, and this circumstance, added to their crime,
was calculated at once to decide the necessity of their being;
made an example; and although the prosecutor recommended
them to mercy, which recommenda'ion was joined with an effort
from another quarter, it was determined the sentence should
not be altered. The family of Wren were most respecta-
ble, and he, it seems, was the entire cause of the breaking
up of their fortunes. He was an only son, and every
effort had been made by his family to wean him from the bad
associations he had formed, but of no use, as the unfortunate
pining man despised every kind of advice. On his being con-
victed for this offence, and the Judge intimating that the law
would take its course, his mother became so shocked that she,
19 a short time, died of a broken heart; his father also finding
himself reduced nearly to ruin, and seeing his son about to
forfeit his life ignominiously, his mind could not stand against
such accumulated affliction, and he became raving mad, and
expired yesterday evening at 6 o'clock.—This was communi-
cated to Wren last night and he became so shocked as since
scarcely to be able to attend to any religious instruction ; he
however fully admitted the justness of his sentence, and ex-.
pressed great contrition for his critne.—Rains has been ex-
tremely penitent, and since his condemnation has made
most unceasing appeals to Heaven for mercy.—He has
left a wife and two infant children to deplore his loss ;
they, we understand, are in a state of the most deplorable dis-
tress, and live in Peter-street, Nirestminster.—This morning
Mr. Sheriff LAURIE and his officers arrived at the gaol at
twenty minutes to eight o'clock, and instantly proceeded to the
press-room, where the culprits were introduced and pinioned.
Wren was dressed in a blue coat and white trowsers, and looked
extremely respectable; his demeanour was careless and bold,
but from the wandering of his eyes and his flushed countenance
it appeared his senses tvere wavering. Rains was extremely
dejected and weak, but prayed with great fervour ; he show(
hands with the Sheriff, and begged him " to pity" his
poor wife and children. The awful preparation being com-
plete, in twenty minutes the wretched men were led to the
scafibld, attended by the Rev. Mr. TOWNE and Mr. BAKER.
Rains, us he walked through the passages, repeated the re-
sponses at the conclusion of the funeral service, and said, " Oh
Lord, in the valley of death thou hest lifted me up, simpoet
and receive my soul now." 'Wren first ascended the platform,
and nodded to seine persons in the crowd, and, with a smile,
exclaimed, " Good bye, God bless you."—ln a few minutes
the executioner having completed his arrangements, the drop
fell, and they ceased, after a few struggles, to exist.—Consi-
dering the wetness of the morning an immense crowd attended.