The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-15 00:00:00

THE FRIMLEY MURDER.

EXECUTION OF HARWOOD
AND JONES.—(THIS DAY.)
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
This morning the extreme penalty of the law was
executed on Levi Harwood and James Jones, the
prisoners convicted at the last assizes at Kingston, of
the murder of Mr. Holiest.
The execution took place on the top of Horsemonger-
lane Gaol, at nine o'clock. The story of a public exe-
cution in the metropulis has been too often told to neee
reiteration in all its details. Suffice it to say.
that the usual crowd was present, made tia
of the refuse of the metropulis—pickpocketv,
thieves, prostitutes, and vagabonds of every description
gathered together as for a holiday show, and accordieg
to all appearance but little impressed with the solemnie,
of the occasion, as blasphemous oaths and licentious
jests were banded about with almost incredible callous
ness at the very moment when the unfortunate men
were standing on the brink of eternity; and even :titre
the bolt had been drawn, the convulsive struggles which
marked their sufferings only furnished an additional sub-
ject for their brutal mirth. The mob began to assembh
shortly after six, and continued to increase until the time
of execution. A strong body of police of the L and M
divisions, under the orders of Superintendent Haines
and of Inspectors Townsend and ,quires, was on the
ground, and owing to the excellent urreegemente whica
had been made net a single accident occurred, althoughthe crowd in some parts was quite as dense as that which
assembled to view the execution of Mr. and Mrs. Man-
ning. Barriers were erected at intervals along the
thoroughfares leading to the gaol, and against these th.
force of the cruAs was spent without producing any of
those lamentable accidents which occurred on the last
occasion. The temper of the police, too, was ex
cellent, though occasionally their utmost efforts were
unable to restrain the crowd which came raging,
and we may almost say roaring, through the
narrow limits of Horsemonger-lune, like a heavy
sea pent within narrow rocks, into the more open
space which immediately fronts the gaol. Every
window which could, by any obliquity of vision, be sup-
posed to command a view of the gallows, was of course
filled with expectant gazers; and not a few had climbed
up to the house tops in the neighbourhood. Precisely
at nine o'clock the unfortunate men were led on to the
top of the gaol, accompanied by the chaplain, two of the
county magistrates, and the officials of the prison. Levi
Harwood was the first who was led on the scaffold. He
advanced with a firm step, and mounted the gallows
without faltering. He was placed on the drop and the
noose adjusted by calcraft. James Jones was then led
up, but his demeanour at this trying moment was far
from presenting the same appearance of resolute firm-
ness or dogged indifference as his companion had done
before him. As he advanced up the stair his whole
frame seemed to shake, and his step tottered so much as
almost to require support. Atter the noose had
been adjusted about his neck also, he was
placed close to his companion, their hands
were joined in a final embrace by the executioner, who
then left them, and in a few moments the bolt was
drawn, and the world closed on the unfortunate men for
ever. As the drop fell, each seemed by a convulsive
effort to turn towards the other, and their pinioned
hands met even at the last moment, in sign we may
hope of the mutual forgiveness which they had pre-
viously expressed; and death came almost instanta-
neously on both. Jones, who was the lightest of the
two, struggled slightly on the first falling of the drop,
and a convulsive shudder seemed to run through both,
which, however, lasted but an instant, and in a few mi-
nutes the corpses swung heavily to and fro on the slight
breeze which had sprung up, without sign of life or
animation. After hanging the usual time the bodies
were taken down to be buried within the precincts of
the gaol.
Owing to the hesitation shown by the jury who tried
the prisoners in giving credence to the evidence of the
approver Smith, and to the memorial which since the
trial they have presented through the Home Secretary,
in which they stated their conviction that Smith himself
was the man who fired the shot, considerable doubts
have prevailed in the public mind as to whether the real
circumstances of the case had been brought to light. It
is, however, satisfactory to find, from a confession made
by both the prisoners, within the last twenty-four hours,
that the ends of justice have not been defeated.
The following statement has been communicated tons
by tho Rev. W. S. Itowe, the Chaplain of the Gaol,
whose kindness and attention to the two unfortunate
risen has been unremitting during the whole time they
have remained in the gaol, and whose efforts for their
spiritual welfare, as was acknowledged by both, have
not been without success.
the Rev. Chaplain visited
Between nine and ten last night (Monday) the
pri-
soners having expressed a wish to address a last com-
rhumunication instructions. Jones
emnicfaotriotnhetoputrh;oirs:r(iyittng
then said that he wished to speak to the chaplain
and guvernor alone Wore the letter was be-
gan, and on the governor being sent for, he made
the following confeesion, which we give in his own
words:—" There were in the room at the time of the
murder, Smith, self, and Levi Harwood. I held Mrs.
Holiest round the waist; I had a pistol in my band, and
might have shot her, bat never intended to do so.
Levi Harwood was the man that rushed at Mr. Holiest,
as he was stooping down to pick up the poker. Levi
Harwood was the man who tired the shot; of that I am
cenaite (These words were added with marked em-
phasis.) Smith and Levi Harwood then both ran out of
the room, and left me with Mrs. Holiest. I got away I
from her as soon as I could, and overtook them just on
the other side the turnpike. All four of us, Lavi and
Samuel Harwoud, Smith and self; came on together.
After I had left the premises and had get into the utigu!

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ol•
road I heard the sound of fire-arms, as from Mr•
fit
test's house. The account given by Smith of whe4 "ls•
place in the room is quite title, and Mrs. Holiest is tobn
taken when she swore that it was Levi Harwoo d 114
held her round the wait,t, for it was me. The )14ble
money we got from a chest of drawers or a little' oitr
oown .stairs, and Sanou4 Harwood parted from S Tjer;
ab,:ut four miles from Frimley, and came on t0g15141.
and vie occasionally separated to go through the WlO w 0
Whether the pistols were parted with belord ford
finally separated before getting to Guiliiftet
or not, I can't say. On the Sunday 4,
Smith, self, and two others, one of whom w"
workman at Guildford were at the Rose and C ,n,
Suoida and I were drinking tea, and the two
called for tea, and asked us to go out with them. 0
four went out to the Wheatsheaf, and wbrlbeer,
got to the taproom we called for a pot of
„in
which the landlady brought. I gave her eixPell; of
pay for it, and she gave me two pennies out, c floon
•-..hich was the penny-token sworn to on the trial•
end
called for a pennyworth of tobacco, for which I Pon
one of the two which she had given to me. We 11, lid.
second pot of beer, fur which the foundryteen
(ilatihneuit:sspbece.ftoorreo,
Harwood came in there with a we h
with whom he was living, named Croy/ en
and as we were all sitting together, 11°1141
fanpdolicthe
Jerry Campbell, a policeman, had looked in abol;:tw
)encllamoilin and a
gton an
came and took us." 4 i,
This confession was reduced to • • 50' 6-'ll
writing, A*
pdprtehhreenedeo:los

by Jones, whose real name is James Barba ,
in the presence then immediately
governor and chaplain. sho
Mr. Rowe then immediately went to Ilarwooo,
was in bed, and informed him that his companion
made a full confession, and asked him whetbtrietel
wished to make any statement To this he alle".00
I have nothiog to say." The Rev. gentleman 'OO
pleaded with him that the life of a lellowcf" eY
depended on his silence, but nothing more could hofi
tracted from than " He may say what he likes; I tis
nothing to say."
teal
The confession of Jones was then coma:lolc%
the Home-office, but no steps were taken on igrnftr
quarter. Shortly before eight this morning Lev'
wood expressed a desire to see the governor, and
1
presence, and that of the surgeon to the gaol, h 1
" The truth was spoken by Smith—what was joo'
was never intended to be done." To this
meat he affixed his mark, after it had beee,e,
(-Weed to writing, in the presence of the
-ernor and surgeon. At half-past eigu,'.oll
morning the prisoners were led into the chapel, ;Alia
prayers were read by the reverend C"rai
orti appeared contrite and sensible of 1,00
condition, particularly Jones, who expressed sit
tat Hai wood did ma feel displeased that he 13,6 d 113 OP
confession. Harwood said he fiagave everybo°l,',4o4
arting ut the foot of the staircase itilida
o the exterior of the gaol they shook i"nopol
d bo h were in tears. Their expression of 131:„." tl/1
Corgiveness were renewed, as we have described, ""
eery jaws of death. ,
The approver Smith still remains confined in that
odr
short • tr
'waiting; her Mjesty's pleasure; and Samuel garfLooli
who was acquirted on the trial, lies at Horsham
,waiting his trial on soother charge of burghs*

HAY MARKET THEATRE. or ill?
Mr. Adams, whose orrery has always been one
London lions of Passion-week, opened last evening at
jitetj
theatre. He has Aded the nine recently discovered P
to his orrery, which is as brilliant as ever. The bouso
well attended, and, the audience seemed delighted wttk
lecture.

ADELPHI HEATRE. Ait tit
Madame Anna Thillon and Mr. Hudson rapeatei
theatre, their moat amusing and piquant entertaininenZaisiOal
was so succiastul at Willis's Rooms last winter.
Thillon was as fascinating as ever, and Mr. Hudson lIP
throuAh his part most amusingly. The theatre wiisitli
attended, and the entertainment will be repeated e
evening until Friday.

YCEU THEATRE.
Mr. Allcroft commencedM h his Promenade Concerts bol Doi
o 0
evening, but Camillo Sivori, who had been advertise to
not present. Miss Poole and Miss Julia St. Georgeo
several popular songs, and Richardson performed ¢ 00
the flute exquisitely. Several overtures and waltz's
excellently given by the band.

racfOilis
OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Mr. Henry Russell produced a new musical and ' rip S'
entertainment, entitled " The Emigrant's ProgresaA
Far West, and Negro Life in Freedem all •otott9
very." The " Emigrant's Progress" is a r ftrl
illustration of the progress of an emigrant
LiverpJol to the prairies of the far Wes," or,
the slave panoroma illustrates the progress of Tentstigl;
from his capture to his location in a cotton 110./.
These scenes are illustrated by songs, those of the erair,,,a 01
panorama being irom the pen of Dr. Mackay, anThey
the negro are from that of Mr. Angus B. Reach. 0
admirably descriptive of the scenes illustrated, and W—
,
cellently sung by Mr. H. Russell.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. r t ti/11
Mrs. Fanny Kemble's reading of Renry
,heatre last night was very fashionably attended.

MARYLEBONE THEATRE. .01
At this little theatre the first of Mr. Jarrett's secgetil
" grand vocal and instrumental concerts" drew an an 'kg
that completely filled it, the programme, one fir
the regular " monster" specie, being supported b 1.0,4);
talents of Herr Formes (who was encored in eve. erYtxisiclif.
Signor Marchesi (encored in "La Danza"), Ju6Ajberi;
Billet, who played one of the brilliant fantasias of It 0011
and was greatly applauded; Mr. Lazarus, sig_n°l.#d
(encored in a solo on the trombone), Messrs. V,P.„'7oJelr
Lindley Collins (encored in solos on the violin and ''oo-00°
cello), and an army of singers, male and female, too
rous to mention.

OTHER CONCERTS, &c. 4
At the Surrey Theatre there was a grand conce—Lde;
ported by a host of talent, which was very well at‘,7„t,'
Add to these the performance of Mendelssohn's
London Sacred Harmonic Society, at Exeter-hall' o 0!
sixth Amateur Concert in the Hanover-square
-,',06;
he Operatic Concerts, by Signor Montelli, at the
dle
Concert Rooms; Mr. Howard Glover's concert at bph
Wells, at which Ernst performed; Mr. New'i
Ventriloquism at Crosby Hall; Mr. Jacob's Wizardry'
Beaumont Institution ; and Dr. Darling's Electro-biology
Miss Kelly's Theatre in Soho— all of which took PhaAceis 011,
other:, that do not immediately recur to us an 11,0'
hardly be denied that those who sought amuseraeo'l..."
night had a plentiful variety to choose from.