The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-06 00:00:00

EL7CUTIOIV OF MURDOCK:

LEWES, TUESDAY.
The extreme penalty of the law is ttlf-- case of this un•
happy culprit for thm murder of the Ra4ings gaoler,
Wellerd, was carried into effect to-day at 12 o'clock, at
the cast end of the'county gaol. Scree sympathy was
manifested in the public mind on his bebalf, and the re-
commendation of the jury for mercy on the ground that
they did net believe it was the culprit's intention to com-
mit murder, but merely to incapacitate the gaoler from
making any resistance to his escape from custody, met
with general approval. All attempts, however, to arrest
the judgment of death proved fruitless.
Since the culprit's condemnation, on July 16, his de-
meanour in prison has been in every way befitting his
awful position, and the spiritual efforts of the chaplain,
the Rev. R. Barnett, have had apparently the effect of
producing a repentant feeling in the culprit's mind. At
times he exhibited signs of intense grief, and in reference
to the murder, although he admitted the deed, he has
always qualified it by saying be had no intention to
take the old man's life. On Saturday last his mother and
stepfather visited him, and the meeting and separation
was a painful scene.

At the hour appointed for the execution, 12 o'clock,
there were not more than from 1,500 to 2,000 persons
present to witness it. The unhappy man walked with a
firm step across the prison yard, and ascended the scar-
feld without assistance. He took a slight glance at the
people, but made no attempt to speak. On being placed
in proper position, Calcraft put on the white cap, ad-
justed the rape, and then withdrew the bolt, and the
wretched criminal appeared to die almost without a
struggle. The crowd was very orderly, but some few
gave expression to their feelings by exclaiming "Shame"
and " Murder."
It is said that Murdock has written a letter to the
son of the deceased gaoler, expressing his contrition for
depriving his father of life.

MANSLAUGHTER AND SINGULAR
ARREST.

On Friday lasi an inquest was held by Mr. W.
Carter, Coroner for East Surrey, on the body of Mr.
John illiam Adams, a traveller in the employ of lir:
W
Fleet, soda-water manufacturer, at Wa!worth ; and the
evidence tended to show that the death was caused by
his having been struck under the ear by Frederick Fisher,
also in the same establishment. A verdict of manalaugh-
tei was returned against Fisher, who was in the court at
the time, but when his name was called by the coroner
t was found ithat he had suddenly disappeared. The
warrant for his committal to Newgate was placed in the
bands of Thomas Cooke, the coroner's officer, for execu-
tion. The funeral of the unfortunate deceased t
place on Monday, and on account of some informati,:n
he had received, the officer proceeded to North-street,
East-lane, where the mourning coaches were in waiting,
and on opening the door of
+onee, of them ho saw Fisher.
,h
Cooke was about to arrest accused but he begged
so earnestly and with the create-it .per,tina.citV, he
allowed to attend the funeral ?Id Deptford•church-
yard, that the officer consented,at uthalso got int,) the
coach and accompanied his prisoner,
to starting real the warrant overer'to aving previously
eutsiliye
funeral ceremony, at the officer', reql..4l.l'sher imme-
diately took off the mourning cloak an'rd' band, entered a
cab which was waiting, and was
conveyed to Horse-
monger-lane Gaol. The proceedings oonnecied with the
arrest were carried out such a manner that not the
ilightegt distuebance took place, and it is but just to add
that Fisher was deeply affected and evidently felt most
acutely the position in which he was placed, the deceased
and himself having known each other for several years.
On the day preceJing the funeral Fisher called at the
residence of Cooke to give himself up, but that officer
was not at home. The assizes at Guildford ate now
Pending, and the prisoner will be tried there..
•

This was an action for compensation for dismissal from
the performance of a contract, and was one of many si•
milar cases'arising out of the mania for railway exten-
sion in 1847-8. At rhat period the Great Western threw
out a line iu competition with the Central line. It was
promoted by au independent company, who got a bill
for what is known as the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey-
mouth line, who, after entering into contracts and com-
mencing the undertaking, at length abandoned it to the
Great Wes,tern. The present plaintiffs were contractors
tnr•a portion of the line called the Ansford contract, and
sued the defendants as representatives of the Wilts,
S,Anerset, and Wey• nouth Company. The works, which
have been long in abeyance, are now being revived, and
the plaiutiffs are desirous of carrying out the contract,
but the Great Western Company are completing the
works by ctber parties.
The case had scarcely been opened when it was agreed
that it should oe referred, and that the opinion of the
Court of Queen's Bench should be taken on the issues
raised.