The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-04 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF SAMUEL ADAMS FOR

DiU.RDE.R.

This morning Samuel Adams, aged 36, a shoemaker,
underwent the extreme penalty of the law in front of New•
gate for the murder of Martha Christina Page, in the parish
of Hornsey. The deceased was sister to the convict's wife,
who had separated from Ym on account of his intemperate
habits, and on the sth of May, while she was proceeding to
Abney Park Cemetery with a relative, he came up and
demanded to know where his wife was, and on the deceased
refusing 0 tell him, he drew a knife from his breast and
stabbed her three times, from the injuries of which she died.
Since the trial, which took place at the last Central
Criminal Court Sessions, and sentence of death passed, the
wretched man became sullen and morose, and although the
Sheriffs, in naming the day of his execution, held out ne
hope of mercy, he refused to listen to the ministrations of Mr.
Davis, the Ordinary of Newgate. An application was
made to the Secretary of State, who refused to inter-
fere, and said the law must take its course,
and after that WWI communicated to the wretched man, by
degrees he became less sullen and morose, and requested to
have the ministration of Mr. Jukes, an Independent minis-
ter, which was granted, but that gentleman being out of
town he requested the attendance of a Mr. Smith, of
Philip. street, Hoxton, a City missionary, who attended
him during the week, and to whose admonitions be ap-
peared to pay great attention, but declined those of the Rev.
Mr. Davis.
and On n
at Saturdayfirst i
t hewa a had
fearedan
he
net er
mightviey
bodily harm, but by the judicious reasoning and presence
and
eacrlimineallhde
aw:tthemhpitst7dotchheedr presence
roefsMigra.edWeasathteerhexepadre,stahheigeoevinerneereer,sehieTebi.vecamfer
hheadweaoemmteituatedd,
efirgeeel;y
head mfiretteinlyg
forgave
justice of
defptahrde sentence
he
wife, and begged her forgiveness and pardon, which she
readily accorded him, and, after an affectionate farewell,.
they parted to meet no more.
Yesterday (Sunday) Mr. Smith continued in attendance
upon the wretched man, who refused to attend the service
in the chapel of the gaol ; he was, however, visited by the
Rev. Mr. Davis. He retired at an early hour, and slept
soundly, but awoke at six this morning, and was soon after
joined by Mr. Smith, who remained with him to the last,
and he frequently admitted the justness of his, sentence,
and joined in prayer for forgiveness.
As early as five o'clock, the workmen completed the pro.
parations for the fatal scene that was to be enacted, the
scaffold being brought out and placed in front of the gaol;
and from this time crowds gradually assembled, until, at
the fatal hour, many thousands were present. The crowd
was not so numerous, but more orderly than usual, although
some of them were of the worst description. _ _ _

At half-past seven the sheriffs, Alderman Hale and Mr.
Deputy Condor, and Mr. Under-sheriff Surr, arrived, at
the gaol, and at a quarter to eight they proceeded
to the condemned convict's cell. The wretched
man was standing up in a subdued, calm, resigned
state, he had previously requested of Mr. Davis, the Ordi-
nary, that no communication should be made to him, he
merely whispered to Mr. Smith, and then went on his
knees, covering his face with his hands, and. for some time
appeared' to be engaged in earnest prayer. He rose more
calmly, and shook hands with the chaplain, Mr. Weather-
head, the governor, and surgeon, thanking them for their
kindness, he then turned to his spiritual adviser, Mr. Smith,
and, shaking hands with him, nder-
begged him to convey
last remembrance and forgiveness to his wife. Mr. u
Sheriff Surr asked him, if he wished to make
intro-
communication. Hereplied, "No." Calcraftw
asn completed,
duced ; the ceremony of pinioning having ell,
u theprootcbeesr-
e wretched man,
The fatal
the chapel bell tolled forth the fatal death
firmly, The
given, and iloose
althoughlion was
then
club-footed, ub - fo e d formed,
wtoalkthinegscafibid
appuTlTutu struggle much.
having been adjusted the signal W.he was
tho ut; time was cut down, and
lTahuencbodhedyi,natofteertehrnaniginty. g Ho
will be interred within the gaol.

Thertic Horticultural Society
between the Roy al Commis-
sionersofiltegtihe°Exhibition of 1851 and the Council of the
society have now arrived at sonsething like
uo
a conclusion, and a general meeting of the societty has been
summoned for Thursday next, when the Council will be
prepared to lay before the fellows the reply to •their appli-
cation. It is understood that the Royal Commissioners
have had under their consideration the proprietty of grant-
ing a lease of 20 acres of land at liensingtin-gt )re.