The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-22 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF JACKSON FOR TIM MURDER
.01' BIS TWO CHILDREN AT CHESTER.

The execution of William Jackson, for the murder of

his two children in August last, at Chester, took place
this morning at eight o'clock in front of the city gaol.
The attendance was not so numerous as was expected,
but still there was a great number of spectators present.
The preparations for the execution commenced yesterday
afternoon, and by sixjo'clock all the preliminaries for
carrying out the dreadful sentence of the law bad been
completed.
The final interview between the unhappy culprit and
his wife and children, which commenced at halt-past two
o'clock, did not terminate until five yesterday afternoon.
The chaplain and the Rev. Mr. Dicken, who were
present, represented to our reporter that the separation
was inexpressibly distressing on the part of the wife, but

•
that the culprit maintained a calm composure.
After the interview tne prisoner prayed with the Rev.
Mr. Dicken for some time, along with the chaplain, and
until eleven o'clock he was left alone, with the exception
of occasional visits from the turnkeys. The chaplain
returned at eleven o'clock, and remained with the cul-
prit from that hour up to the time of execution.
At half-past twelve o'clock this morning the city
sheriff, Mr. J. Jones, who was represented by Mr. P.
Bordessa, went to the Castle, and, presenting the war-
rant for the prisoner's execution, which had been di-
rected to him, demanded the body of the culprit. The
warrants given to the county and city gaolers having
been exchanged, Mr. Dunstan, the governor of the
county gaol, gave up the prisoner, and he then left the
Castle in a cab in charge of Mr. Steel, the governor of
the city gaol, and Mr. Bordessa, accompanied by the
Rev. Mr. Kilner, the chaplain of the county prison.
Before leaving the county prison, the culprit was for-
mally asked if he had had proper spiritual assistance ;
he replied, " I have bad all the assistance that I could
have expected." On arriving at the city gaol, and being
shown to his room, he was supplied with some port
wine, and afterwards smoked for a time. The chaplain
then waited upon him, and prayed with him for some
time, and subsequently he had a second short sleep.
At five o'clock the chaplain again visited him, and
remained with him up to seven o'clock, when, in com-
pany with the governor and the officers of the gaol, he
attended service in the chapel. About five minutes to
eight o'clock the city sheriff announced that the hour
for the execution was approaching, and a procession
from the chapel was then formed, headed by the Rev.
Mr. Kilner. the chaplain of the county gaol, and the
Rev. Mr. Ilewson, chaplain of the city gaol, and fol-
lowed by the culprit in charge of the two gaolers. On
arriving at the pinioning-room the services of Calcraft
were called, and in a few moments this process was
completed, and, with a firm step, the wretched man
ascended the steps leading to the drop. On appearing
on the platform the audience manifested rather a feeling
of compassion than indignation towards the unhappy
criminal. There were evidently many who sympathised
with the domestic miseries which are believed to have
led him into the commission of the horrible crime of
which he had so justly bee❑ found guilty.
Immediately before the execution the chaplain asked
him if he admitted the justice of his sentence, when he
replied, " I do ; the Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Lord
have mercy on me ; Lord have mercy on me." As he
was repeating this ejaculation the bolt was drawn, and,
without even a momentary struggle, he died, and the
lifeless body of \Vm. Jackson was dangling in the air.
We have omitted to state that from the time of his con-
demnation his appetite never failed him, and thie morn-
ing he partook of a hearty breakfast.—Liverpool Chro-
nicle of Saturday.