The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT NORWICH.

Yesterday morning Hubbard Lingley, convicted
at the late Norfolk Assizes of the murder of his uncle
Benjamin Black, at Barton Beudish, near Downham
Market, underwent the extreme penalty of the law
in front of Norwich Castle. A crowd, estimated at
about 12,000 persons, assembled ; their behaviour
was, upon the whole, orderly. The convict a few
days after his condemnation began to make admis-
sions to the prison chaplain (the Rev. J. L. Brown).
As the day fixed for the execution drew nigh these
admissions increased, until at last, with the convict's
full concurrence, they were reduced into a connected
statement by thegovernor of the gaol, on the under-
standing that they should not be made public until
after the criminal's death. This understanding was
strictly adhered to, and it was not until yesterday
morning that the prisoner's confession was known to
any one besides the chaplain and governor. The pri-
soner's statement was as follows (a few of the less
important passages are omitted) :
" I left my house on the morning of the murder
about 3 o'clock. My wife had no knowledge where
I was going. I went to Barton Leys wood, where I
found two of my companions, whom I had agreed
the night before to meet. I think they had been out
shooting in the wood all night, but I don't know.
My gun was hid up in the straw in the shed. My
companions had brought a bottle of gin ; they had
drunk their part of the gin, and had left me nearly
half a pint, which I drank. We then started to
look for pheasants' eggs, and took them out of two
nests, 20 in all. We snared one rabbit, and then
shot one outside the wood. That must be the shot
my uncle heard. Afterwards we all three came
down the glade way towards the gate, where we
found my uncle standing. I have no doubt that be
could hear us, but we did not care for his hearing
us. He could not see us until we got close to the
gate. When we came up he could see we had got
some pheasants' eggs, as one of them was carrying
the eggs in a handkerchief by his side. My uncle
said, You master Hubbard, I have suspected you a
long while; now, you just been promised a house and
home as long as you live ; I will not screen you one
bit.' One of my companions said, 'Shoot the -- ;
if you don't I will ; give me the gun.' My uncle
said, should think you will never do that, you
bloodthirsty rascals,' and began to get himself be-
hind the clap post of the gate. Seeing that I imme-
diately clapped my gun to my shoulder and shot him
down before he could do so. He twirled partly round
from the effect of the shot and fell dead on the spot.
My companions then rifled his pockets and took out
his money, Bs. Gd. in silver, which they gave to me.
There was also a sovereign, which they took. 'said,
So you will have more than me,' when they said
they would give me 2s. more for my share as soon
as they could get it changed. They then tried to get
his watch out of his pocket, but it stuck at the top,
and I advised them to leave it, as the number was
so well known, and the watch was well known also
by many persons. I then took the gate off for the
purpose of misleading people, and one of the men
made the place to appear as if some one had been
kneeling, waiting, and fired from there ; but this
was all done to deceive. . . . lam the real mur-
derer ; it was my shot, my gun, and my hand which
pulled the trigger and caused the death—no one
else. . . After the murder I went to the place,
laid down, and went to sleep, and so did not hear
the first call."

A few days since the convict wrote a letter to his
wife containing the substance of this confession, and
also some good advice with reference to her children
and herself. He also sent a becoming message to his
aunt, the widow of the murdered man, express-
ing his deep regret for what he had done. The ser-
mon preached in the prison chapel on Sunday was
fonnded on the text, " The wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord." The sermon, which had of course
a special reference to the prisoner, affected him
greatly. On Sunday night he slept little, although
he had about a couple of hours of broken slumber.
The chaplain arrived at the prison about 6 o'clock
yesterday morning, and remained with him in
prayer until the time prescribed for the prison ser-
vice. The Sacrament was administered to the pri-
soner, who received it devoutly. lie then retired
to his cell, where he remained *till a quarter to 8.
Refreshment was offered, but he could only take
a cup of tea. He was then summoned to a small
office where Calcraft was awaiting him ;. and he
continued to pray earnestly all the time he was being
pinioned. A proceision was formed in the prison
yard headed by the under-sheriff (Mr. J. Foster),
bearing a black wand, the chaplain following in his
robes, and reading part of the service for the dead.
The condemned man came next, supported by the
governor (Mr. Pinson), and Calcraft and a few of
the prison officials brought up the rear. The pri-
soner took leave of the chaplain, and expressed great
hope that the Lord would have mercy on his soul.
Ile also thanked the governor for his kindness on
earth, and expressed a hope that they might meet
in heaven. The last fatal preparations were then
completed, and after a convulsive struggle the con-
vict ceased to exist. After hanging the prescribed
time, the body was cut down and buried within the
precincts of the prison. Nothing is known of the
two men to whom the prisoner refers in his con-
fession, and this part of his statement is received
with some incredulity.

SUICIDE AT DURIIA3I.—On Saturday morning last
Mr. Mountford Reginald Dolman, the observer at the
Durham University, committed suicide. Ho was found in
the room where the observations are taken, hung by the
repo which draws the shutters over the glass dome, and
quite dead. It is stated that for months past ho has at
times fallen into a desponding mood.
A MERCHANT FINED FOR S3IUGGLING.—On Fri-
day Mr. Douglas, a commission merchant, of Glasgow, was
charged at the Leith Police-court with having concealed
231 b of tobacco and 50 boxes of cigars, weighing 451 b, in
all about 681b5., in 6 bales of yarn, which wore landed in
Leith Dock from the Times steamer, from Antwerp. Five
of the bales contained 10 boxes each of cigars, and the
other 231 b of tobacco. Tho seizure was made on the 13th
inst. by the Leith Custom-house officials while the goods
were undergoing an examination and being landed. The
defendant denied all knowledge of the tobacco and cigars,
and claimed the bales. Ho produced a letter from the
scuder of the bales, which made no reference whatever to
their containing tobacco and cigars. The penalty of £lOO
was imposed. The magistrates offered to mitigate the fine
to £5O, and so end the matter, but the defendant preferred
to pay the £lOO penalty and appeal to the Board of Cus-
toms. The bales, valued at upwards of £lOO, are forfeited
in the meantime.

THE COUNTESS DANNE 11.---The name of this lady,
the relict of the late King of Denmark, has not been men-
tioned of late in any foreign correspondence. We learn
that she is engaged on a very benevolent mission, that of
training children for domestic s3rvice, and that she has
turned her palace, called Jagersprus, into a complete
asylum for children of from two to four years of age, whom
she will feed, clothe, lodge, and train up until they aro of
ago to maintain themselves.