The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-12 00:00:00

THE LAST DYING WORDS AND

CONFESSION OF EUGENE ARAM.

Vie (Manchester Guardian) ha% e had a curious printed
paper placed in our hands for inspection, being no other
than the halfpenny sheet hawked about the streets en
the execution of the notorious Eugene Aram. It is en-
titled, " The last dying words and confession of Eugene
Aram, who was executed at 'Tyburn, near York, on
Monday, the 6th day of August, 1759, for the murder of
Daniel Clark, of Knaresborough, about the 7th February,
1744." Beneath this heading is an impression from an
old and well-worn woodcut engraving, curious as repre-
senting the mode of hanging at that time. The
gallows has only one upright in this form a, and
there does not appear to be any scaffold, and
the " Tyburn cart" has apparently done its busi-
ness, for a man is represented as hanging from a
rope, carried over the end of the horizontal arm of
the beam, whilst "Jack Ketch" is upon the ladder
placed against the upright, or " the gallows tree." Be-
low are seen the crowd, and mingled with them the
" javelin men," with their halberts preventing the crowd
from approaching too close. There are rude representa-
tions of three houses, all the windows filled with faces,
'as if gazing on the spectacle. Beneath this woodcut is
the brief notice of the murderer's biography—" Eugene
Aram, aged 43, was born at Ripon, the son of Peter
Aram, who wrote the excellent poem on Studley Park."
The "last dying words" bear internal evidence of their
being fabricated for the purpose of b. ing hawked about
the streets. Ai this document is believed to be unique,
we insert a literal copy of the speech or confession put
into the mouth of the wretched man:—

My Father, oho had some louse Thoughts of the
Power of Almighty God, which he continued too long,
hurt my tender and ) oung Principals in Religion ; J
thank God I am thoroughly convinced of his Error, and
am in Hopes through the Mediation of my blessed Sa-
viour Jesus .Christ to be saved. I confess the Justness
of my Sentence, but was not apprehensive my Accom-
plice would have dealt so perfidiously with me, for I can-
not help taking Notice to the World (as it does expect
I should say something) that he was forsworn upon
my Tryal, as I have solemnly declared to a reve.-
rend Divine ; he also was more active in conveying
poor Clark away, than myself, likewise in burning his
Cloaths, and attempting to persuade me to murderinly poor
injured Wife. I hope the Lsrd will pardon me for the
Wrong I have done my dear Wife, whose honest Coun-
sel I always disdaiu'd, depending on my own, as I
thought, superiour Judgment, which I find, but now too
late, hath brought me to this untimely End. I desire
Forgiveness of all the World, particularly, my poor,
dear, and injured Wife, and of all others whom I have
injured in the Course of my wicked Life, begging their
Prayers for my poor departing Soul, and that my Ac-
complices may take Warning by this my woeful End ;
for tho' they are clear'd by Man, they know, before'
God, they are as guilty as myself. Ido heartily desire
they would make Restitution to all those whom we have
injured, which is the last Words and sincere Wishes of
the unfortunate EUGENE ARAM.