The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-17 00:00:00

EVEN-1 etc; SUN

which the bills of credit were piinted was some of the
paper in question.
This was the case in behalf of the defendant.
Mr. THESIGIMI replied.
Lord Chief Justice TINDAL summed up, and at ten
()Vock the Jury retired, and after being absent abeuit
half an hour they returned into Court, _finding a verdict
for the plaintiff—Damages one farthing..
The trial occupied thirteen hours.

EXECUTION OF JOHN -SELF.
MURDERER OF JEMIMA STIMPSON.
(From the Norwich Times, Aug. 14.) •
Public justice has been executed this day, in accord-
ance with the laws of nature as well as of every civilised
community, on the perpetrator of the atrocious murder
of a young and unoifending girl. We have heard some
declare that such was the ignorance and' stupidity of the
criminal, that he was hardly an object punishment;
and his confession proves him to have been less conscious
of the horrible degree of his guilt than 'nest murderers.
After he had taken unwarrantable liberties with the girl,
he was extremely concerned lest she should report his
conduct, and it was to avoid the shame rind consequences
of this exposure that he destroyed hiklinfortunate victim.
HIS CONDUCT IN PI N.
From the time of his conviction, Self'was unceasingly
attended by the ministers of religion; by the chaplain of
the Castle, and the curate. Their admonitions and cxhor •
tations drew the confession from him, which has been
already published, and perhaps prematurdy,—for, how-
ever public curiosity may be gratified, the particulars of
a confession ought not to be made knorm till after the ex-
ecution of a criminal. His confession is-very important, the
evidence of his guilt being circumstantial and presump-
tive, and, though sufficiently conclusive to convict him,
not clear and decisive. His conduct was indicative of
penitence to the last. He was duly impressed with the
enormity of the crime he had committed, and manifested
a desire to make his peace with that Sludge before whom
he would shortly appear.
At an early hour numbers began to assemble on the
Castle-hill, among whom were many persons from Beth-
ersett, Wymondham, and the adjacent country. The
hill being covered with stock, the confusion was very
great, and for some time there was e fetal suspension of
business. As usual at such public exhibitions, all sorts
of abandoned characters collected 'opposite the Castle•
gate, and showed that they enjoyed the spectacle rather
than being awed by it. All seemed to join, however, in
execration of the criminal. • - -
The parents and friends of Self have visited him dur-
ing the week, to whom he is said to have expressed great
penitence and contrition. It is hardly necessary to state
that his honest parents are very deeply distressed
through the heavy guilt of their wretched son. It is not
usual previous to an execution in Norwich to trouble
the criminal with many questions. No person is al-
lowed to speak to him except the officers of justice, and
they only what is absolutely necessary.
THE EXECUTION.
Precisely as the clock struck 12 the murderer emerged
from the prison door, accompanied by the chaplain and the
usual officers. He had an officer on each side, but did not
seem to require any support, but walked to the drop, a dis-
tance of about 30 yards, with a firm step and demeanour.
When he mounted the drop he had a person holding each
arm, the chaplain and governor of the gaol being also on the
scaffold. The instant he mounted, the executioner turned
the prisoner's back to the multitude, and put the cap over
his eyes. The murderer appeared to stand very firm. The
rope was quickly adjusted, and the fall seemed to us to be
unusually long ; the drop fell, and, to all appearance, he
died without a struggle. The multitude made no de-
monstration of excited feelings, but conducted them-
selves with a decorum we have seldom witnessed. The
execution was conducted with rapidity. How the pri-
soner had spent the night previous to his execution we
could not ascertain, nor with what fortitude he awaited
his end. After eleven o'clock the crowd greatly in-
creased, but (lid not equal that of last year.
The scaffold was erected near the top of the bridge,
the same as last year. Formerly it was placed against
the lodge. Many were of opinion that an execution
ought not to take place on a market day-, as it interrupted
business ; and the dealers looked on callously till the
awful punishment was completed, and then resumed their
business with increased activity. Mr. Gidney's large
room was completely filled with gentlemen, who wit-
nessed the execution, without expressing the least com-
miseration for the criminal.
When the prisoner was brought out, all was breathless
silence. The hill was covered with a dense multitude of
human beings, all looking eagerly towards the fatal in-
strument of justice, and, when the rope was adjusted, a
cold tremor seemed to run through the crowd, and a
feeling that the wretched man deserved his fate. Thus
ended the career of John Self, who, previous to the crime
for which he suffered, had borne a comparatively good
character.

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