The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-15 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF MARLEY.—(This Day.)

The curtain has fallen on the last act of the judicial
tragedy, and the principal actor sustained to the last
that coolness and self-possession which has characterised
his conduct throughout. At the time of his committal
he expected the just retribution that has overtaken him,
and he never ceased after to impress en all who came
near him that "he was prepared to meet his fate like a
a man." After his conviction the same fear of death
animated his conduct, and he frequently expressed to
those with him in the condemned cell that he " regretted
the time permitted him to live was so long." The Rev.
J. Davis, the ordinary, was in )St assiduous in his atten-
ti. n to the convict, who reseiyed hint in a becoming
spirit. He paid much attention to the rev, gentleman's
irstructions, and as he preferred making his peace with
God without assistance, his request to a certain extent
was complied with, and, in the absence of the rev.
gentleman, he frequently prayed most ardently for
forgiveness of the horrible crime he had committed.
After his conviction he resolut'sly refused to see any
of his friends, with the exc -ption of his sister, and his
humour in this respect was also complied with. Whether
Mr. Wright, of Manchester, the prisoners' friend,
as he is termed, who usually, from philanthropic
motives, visits condemned convicts in the various
prisons, had been informed of this circumstance,
and therefore abstained from visiting the prison, or
from any other cause was prevented from doing so we
are unable to say, but no application was made by him
for an interview with Marley.
Yesterday the condemned sermon was preached as
usual by the Rev. J. Davis, the ordinary, and it was
attentively listened to by the convict.
At an early hour yesterday afternoon crowds were
attracted to the spot, and as night advanced and morn-
ing broke upon the scene the numbers greatly increased,
until the whole of the space in front of Newgate, and the
various thoroughfares leading thereto, presented a vast
sea of heads. So closely were the persons assembled
packed together that at the lowest computation 15,000
persons were present and witnessed the spectacle.
Throughout the night the vast crowd, composed of
both sexes and of all ages, had recourse to the usual
mode of passing the intervening period between their
arrival and the execution. Coarse jests, interspersed
with loud laughter, shrill whistles, and discordant noises
of every character, resounded on every side ; and in
various parts of the crowd the strains of• "Bobbin'
around," " Polly, won't you try me, ob," were chaunteil
by a score of voices with evident gusto and
delight. Shortly after twelve o'clock the prepa-
rations were cornmenc:4 for erecting the grim
engine of death (the sight of which was dis
tinctly visible throughout its progress from the bright
light of the moon), without any intermission of the
boisterous and indecent mirth of the crowded assem-
blage, and was completed long before day light.
The convict during the whole of yesterday was in a
cheerful state. He ate and drank heartily, and at
❑ight slept soundly, notwithstanding the noise of the
crowd without and the heavy fall of the hammers used
is the erection of the gallows, which reverberated
through the prison and was distinctly to be heard in
the condemned cell. He awoke much refreshed about
5 o'clock, entered into conversation with the turnkeys
who were keeping watch in his cell, and speedily
Tressed himself. About half-past 5 o'clock the Rev. Mr.
Davis entered his cell, and remained with him up to the
time of the execution.
At half-past 7 o'clock Mr. Sheriff Mechi and Mr.
Sheriff Beates, with the Under-Sheriffs, Messrs. Ander--
oe and Crossley, arrived at Newgate, and shortly after
proceeded to the condemned cell. On entering they
were received by Marley standing•, and in a cheerful
manner. In answer to Mr. Sheriff Mechi, he said that he
nad endeavoured to make his peace with his Maker, and
that he was prepared to die. He had no request to make,
ler any wish for any message to be conveyed to his
riends.

Pl Throughout the whole of this trying time, and when
sithin a few minutes of his appointed time to die, he
oetrayed not the least emotion. He stood erect with
hat military bearing which a former connection with
the army had imparted to him, and answered the va-
rious questions put to him without hesitation and with
not the slightest tremulousness of voice—his sharp,
piercing eye scanning quickly yet minutely the various
official personages by whom he was surrounded. Not
,yen the appearance of Calcraft, the hangman, when be
entered the cell, made the slightest impression upon him
--his cheek never blanched for a moment, nor was the
quick, penetrating glance of his eye suffused for an in-
stant as he surveyed the ghastly looking apparatus with
which he was to be pinioned. On the late executon of
Bonsfield for the murder of his wife and children a scene
of the most horrible description was witnessed, and iu
order to prevent a repetition of it, Mr. Weatherhead,
the governor of Newgate, provided Calcraft with a leather
apparatus of his own construction for the more effec-
' many pinioning a convict. It is made of a stout leather
strap, buckled round the waist with back straps to
fasten back the arms, and two buckle straps one on each
aide in front with which to fasten the convict's wrists
securely on his breast. When Calcraft took it out to
commence the process of pinioning the convict, the

latter stepped out in front of him and lifted his arms,
whilst Calcraft fastened it round his waist. In doing
so the convict's coat was doubled back, and before
Calcraft had time to buckle the leather strap, the convict
carefully adjusted his coat under it. He rendered every
assistance to Calcraft in fastening the other parts, and
to his inquiries he said that "it fitted very nicely and
did not injure him." Calcraft then, in a jaunty, flippant
manner, took the end o f the convict's neck tie, untied it
and took it off, and then proceeded to unbutton his
shirt cJliar and bare his neck, the convict at the same
time drawing his neck up to its full length.
The time for the execution having arrived, the convict
was again asked if he had anything further to say or
soy request to make, and he replied in the negative.

The Rev. M'. Davis then said that he had been de-
iired by the convict to inform the sheriffs that he was
fully imbued with the position in which he stood, that
he much regretted having committed the crime for
which he was to suffer, and that he had been justly
sentenced to die.

All being i n readiness the mournful procession was
orwed, and the convict, with a firm step, amidst the
tolling of the prison bell and the reading of the impressive
and sublime burial service for the dead, walked with the
came firm step from the condemned cell across the prison
yard to tho scaffold. The coolness and self-possession of
the convict was astounding, and the same daring hardi-
hood that led him to brave death at the cannon's mouth
led him to the font of the scaffold, there without quail-
ing to meet a felon's death.

The fortitude of the convict on this occasion far ex-
ceeded that of Barthelemy, but it was devoid of that
want of religious feeling which characterised the latter.
The appearance of the convict on the seaffild was the
signal for an outburst of terrific yells, but even then his
fortitude did not forsake him. He walked quickly and
firmly under the fatal beam, the halter was adjusted
round his neck, and the white nightcap drawn over
face, and in a moment the bult was withdrawn. One or
two slight convulsive throes was observable, and the
wretched man ceased to exist.

After hanging the usual hour the body was cut down,
conveyed into the prison, and !uled within the pre-
cincts of the gaol.