The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF TILE MURDERER
PRENTICE AT MAIDSTONE.

The last penalty of the law was yesterday car-
ried into effect in the front of the county gaol at
Maidstone, upon Frederick Prentice, who was con-
victed at the late assizes for the county of Kent,
before Mr. Baron Martin, of a very cruel murder,
committed upon a young girl, named Emma Cop-
pins, by cutting her throat with a razor.
The facts will be fresh in the recollection of the
public. The prisoner was a labouring man, only
just 20 years of age, and the deceased was only 17
years old at the time she came to her untimely end.
She was the daughter of poor but respectable people
living at Queenborough, in Kent, and she had for-
merly been servant at a public-house at that place,
which the prisoner was in the habit of frequenting,
and it seemed that he became very much attached
to her, and his companions frequently joked him
upon the subject. The young woman, however,
did not seem to desire to have anything to do with
him, and it appears that she left her place princi-
pally. on his account, and went to live in a private
family at Queenborough, and here she was followed
by the prisoner, who continued to force his atten-
tions upon her. It was her habit to go to a public-
house every evening about half-past eight o'clock,
to fetch the beer for supper, and the prisoner way-
laid her and cut her throat with a razor in such a
fearful manner that her death must have been
instantaneous. After the commission of the dreadful
act the prisoner wandered about the neighbour-
hood, and he was taken into custody three miles
off, and he at once avowed his guile; and, when he
was brought up for trial he resolutely pleaded
guilty to The charge of wilful murder, and was
thereupon sentenced to death.
He appears to have behaved exceedingly well
since he has been in confinement, and it was evident

that from the moment of his committal he did not
entertain the slightest hope of escaping the forfeit
of his life for the crime he had committed; and in
the repeated conversations he has had with the

Rev. "Watson King, the chaplain of the prison, he
always expressed himself to the effect that his life
was justly forfeited, and that he was perfectly
ready to meet the fate which he knew inevitably
awaited him.
Yesterday morning at eight o'clock the culprit
got up, and the chaplain was very soon afterwards
with him, and they bbth prayed together for a
considerable time. At the request of the pri-
soner the chaplain wrote a letter to a friend at
Queenborough, in which he requested him to exhort
his companions and associates to avoid drunkenness
and Sabbath-breaking, also not to-go poaching, all
which acts he said he had himself been guilty of,
and he believed they had been the means of placing
him in his present position. It appears that the
name of the prisoner is not Prentice, but he told
the chaplain shortly before his execution his real
name, and where he came from ; and it appears
that he is a native of the county of Essex. He first
came to Queenborough about two years and a half
ago, and was originally employed as a farm labourer,
but subsequently he was engaged as a " navvy,"
and he was engaged in that occupation at the time
the crime was committed.
The prisoner was engaged on Wednesday even-
ing in reading and praying until a late hour, and
at his request he was permitted to leave his cell, to
take a last look, as he said, of the heavens by night.
He shortly afterwards undressed himself and retired
to rest, and slept soundly until seven o'clock in the
morning.

Mr. C. Palmer, the acting under sheriff, arrived
at the prison shortly before twelve o'cock, accom-
panied by the usual officials, and they proceeded to
the prisoner's cell, where the ceremony of pinion-
ing was performed by •Calcraft, the executioner,
and while it was going on the prisoner exhibited
the same calm and composed demeanour that cha-
racterised him during the whole period that he has
been in the prison. He had in his hand a Prayer-
book, which he retained until he mounted the
scaffold, and he prayed audibly until the drop fell.
He appeared to die almost immediately, and the
body, after hanging the usual time, one hour, was
cut down and removed into the prison, where it was
shortly afterwards buried, according to the terms
of the sentence.

I The County Quarter Sessions were being held
at the time the execution was proceeding. It has
been customary to adjourn the court when an exe-
tion has happened to be appointed for the same
day, but on this occasion the justices proceeded
with the business . before them. A considerable
crowd Was present. to. witness--the execution, and
among them were a good many women and chil-
dren, principally of the lower classes ; but through
the excellent arrangements made by the borough
police, under the direction of Mr. Blundell, the
head constable, more than tho usual decorum on
such occasions was preserved.

ASTOUNDING FEAT AT NIAGARA.

(From the New York Spirit of the Times.)

Since the fatal leap of the famous Sam Patch, no
feat of daring has equalled the one recently accom-
plished at Niagara by Andrew Greenleaf, of Con-
necticut. A correspondent gives the following
graphic account of it :

" One evening, about a week ago, while sitting
in the saloon of the International Hotel, I became
interested in an animated conversation which was
in progress between two persons, of whom one
seemed to be a Southerner and the other an Italian.
The latter had registered his name as Signor
Morelli, but I have since learnt that he is really a
Yankee boy ; that he was born and raised near
Stonington, Connecticut, and dubbed by his
affectionate parents Andrew Greenleaf. As he
grew older he was afflicted with an intense desire
to become a circus performer, and finally ran
away from home to connect himself with some
strolling company. He was for a while a member
of Barnum's immense show,' and his astonishing
performances upon stilts will be remembered by
thousands. He had before this time assumed the
name he now bears, as well to escape recognition
as to avoid the fate of a prophet in his own coun-
try.' He is a handsome, frank-looking man, of
about 25, has a fair complexion, and wears a small
black moustache. At present he is staying here
without an engagement. The conversation referred
to was a discussion upon the possible feats which
might be accomplished by a man upon stilts.
Signor Morelli (as I will call him), asserted his
ability to do many thin6s, a belief in which
required— considerable faith. The Southerner,
who is a well known sporting gentleman
of New Orleans, evidently thought the Sig-.
nor was lying pretty hard, and at his last
announcement he laughed long and loud. Morelli
had, in fact„ expressed his cony ction that he could
cross the Niagara river, walking upon stilts, amid
the foaming and unsounded rapids that whirl be-
tween Goat Island and the Falls.

"' I'll bet you a thousand dollars to fifty it can't
be done,' exclaimed the Southerner. •_ _ _ _

" I accept the challenge,' answered Morelli,
quietly.
" The astonishment of his hearers at this reply
may be imagined.
" When do you propose to attempt it ?' inquired
the challenger.
" '.Con Saturday morning, the 12th of February,'
tranquilly replied Morelli.
" The assurance with which he spoke filled every
one with. surprise, which was not lessened when he
produCed the money for his deposit. The stakes
were handed over to Mr. Augustus Train, of
Buffalo, and the company separated to await the

result of this singular wager. The interval was
spent by Morelli in constant exercise, for the pur-
pose of strengthening his limbs, somewhat relaxed
by a season of rest. His friends expostulated in
vain against the apparently insane hazard, and even
proposed to return to him the amount he would be
compelled to forfeit. He seemed sure of winning,
and would listen to no one. To avoid a crowd it
was announced that the attempt would be made
upon the 14th. (Monday), instead of to-day, so that
at seven this morning there were only about 30
persons by the river bank. Punctually at that
hour Morelli appeared in fine health and spirits.
" He had with him a pair of stilts about 12ft. long,
made of wrought iron, flat, sharp-edged, and p pinted
—shaped, in fact, almost precisely like a double-
edged dagger. These were firmly lashed to his legs,
and he walked towards the river with a confident
smile. The morning was clear and cold, but he
was attired very lightly, in a dress usually worn by
professional gymnasts. At 10 minutes past 7he
stepped into the water, which in another moment
was boiling, surging, and rushing beneath his feet.
The boldest of the lookers-on held his breath in
suspense as the daring man receded from the
shore. He alone seemed unmoved, and passed
on slowly and carefully, avoiding the larger rocks
which were made apparent by the eddying cur-
rent. His steps at first were very short and
carefully made, but afterwards became bolder and
longer. The stilts, of course, were so placed that
the current struck only against their sharp edges,
and produced but little effect ; but the danger
from sunken rocks and the conviction that a
single false step would send him to death produced
a feelittg which was horribly painful. Once or
twice he seemed to lose his balance, and a sicken-
ing shudder ran through each one of the beholders.
Recovering himself, he still kept on—still receded,
until, to our straining eyes, he could scarcely be
distinguished from the foaming waters.
" The middle of the river was attained at last ;
hours seemed to have fled, but it was barely 17
minutes since he left the shore.

"As he approached the deepest and most danger-
ous part of his route, the suspense became more
fearfully intense. No word was spoken, except
that one man offered another 5 dol. for a moment's
use of his lorgnette, which offer passed unheeded.
Just as Morelli reached the swiftest, and deepest
part of the current, he seemed to totter—sink—he
threw up his arms ! I closed my eyes. Opening
them a moment after, I saw that he was still stand-
ing. A few moments more, and he had reached
the Canadian bank—he was safe, and fell exhausted
into the arms of two men who were waiting to
receive him.

",At this hour (3 p.m.) he has nearly recovered,
and, though still in bed, received the congratula-
tions of dozens of visitors who came pouring in.
He left the American shore 950 feet above the fall,
and came out about 1,000 feet above the Canadian.
The money has already been handed over to him,
and all will agree that it has been fairly won. His
generous opponent is able to afford his loss, and
speaks in >praise of Morelli more enthusiastically
than ever."

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-April 8.