The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-14 00:00:00

frai EXECUTION OF THE PIRATES OF THE

SALADIN.
(From a Halifax paper of the 3d inst.)
Jones, Hazelton, Anderson, and Trevaskiss, were
executed on the Common on . Tuesday morning last,
in the presence of a large concourse of people, the
gallows having been erected on a hill in the rear of
the Catholic Cemetery.
A company of the 52d Regiment were early on the
ground, and formed a circle round the scaffold, keep•
ing the spectators at a proper distance..
At about ten o'clock, a.m., the prisoners arrived at
the -spat from whence they were to take their last
look upon the world, and end their mortal career in
ignominy. They were coaveyed in two close car-
riages from the Penitentiary, preceded by the Sheriff
in a gig, and strongly guarded by a body of the
First Royals, with fixed bayonets. They ap-
peared much more debilitated than when
we last saw them ; but their countenances wore a
more placid expression. They ascended the steps of
the scaffold, and took their stand upon the fatal drop,
with- great firmness. For some time after they.
ascended the scaffold, and with the ropes about their
necks, they were engaged in prayer, the different
clergymen appearing unremitting in their attention
to these unfortunate beings in the last moments of
their existence. The Swede alone seemed at all indif-
ferent to his awful situation. He stood perfectly
erect, and gazed around on the vast assemblage; on the
green fields, the blue sky, and the ocean before him—
far, far beyond which dwelt those who were dear to
him, whom he should never more see, and whose
cheeks would mantle with shame for the de-
gradation of their lost son. It is hard to tell
what may have been the secret thought of that
doomed buy, while standing on the verge of his own
grave, with his coffin beneath his feet. His aged
parents with their silvered locks—his brothers and
sisters, who but a little while since shared his youth-
ful joys and sorrows, may have risen up before his
imagination at the moment and rendered him regard-
less of his real state, or, it may be, that his apparent
indifference was the result of education—of the diffi- •
culty under which he laboured to understand the
language of consolation addressed to him—of na-
tional pride, which prompted him to die as it became
a Swede ; yet his rigidity of countenance'may have
been a token of resignation—of reliance on the atoning
blood of the Saviour fur salvation. We believe he
was really penitent.
It was a melancholy sight to see four young fellows,
the oldest not over twenty-three years, close their.
mortal career just as they were entering manhood, on
the scaffiald. Circumstances alone made them pirates
and murderers. We have authority for believing that
they were not habitually vicious. It is quite possible,
had they not embarked on board the Saladin—or had
never met Fielding—or knew of the existence of the
wealth in that vessel, they might have escaped so ig-
nominious an end.

Before the executioner adjusted the ropes through
the rings of the scaffold, and prepared them for the
drop, the prisoners shook hands, and bade each other.
farewell, Jones kissing his comrades affectionately on
the cheek. Before the caps were put on them,
Jones addressed a few words to the spectators, stating
that he was an Irishman, and from Clare. Ile
expressed his deep sorrow for the deed he had
committed, 'and hoped for pardon from God.
Hazleton and Jones handed papers to the Rev. Mr.
O'Brien, containing confessions of their guilt—but
alleging that they were innocent of the death of
Fielding and his son. The caps were then pulled
over the features of the prisoners, and the clergymen
on the scaffold took leave of them. The Rev. Messrs.
O'Brien, Connolly, and Quinan, knelt in prayer,
when the bar which supported the drop was re-
moved, and the unfortunate men were launched into
eternity. Treveskiss alone struggled a moment, and
not violently. The bodies, after having been sus-
pended for three-quarters of an hour, were cut down.
Those. of Hazleton and Jones were conveyed to the
Catholic Cemetery, preceded by the clergy in attend-
ance, and followed by a large number of people, and
deposited in the little chapel, where prayers were
offered ■p. Those of Anderson and Trevaskiss were
taken to the poor-house burial ground, and, we be-
lieve, interred. Thus ended this melancholy and
horrible tragedy.
The following are the confessions made by Jones
and Hazleton :

George Janes, at this my last moment, acknowledge
the guilt which I have confessed and for which I die ;
but I do declare in the presence of Him who is about to
jilt:lgo me, that I had no part whatever in the death of
the boy George, commonly supposed to be Fielding's
son. I neither counselled the boy's death, nor approved'
of it, subsequently. I furthermore declare, I would have
prevented the murder had I been able at the moment to
do so. I believe that no man on board, unless the
immediate perpetrators of the deed, counselled the
murder of the boy. It may be an act of justice to
remark, that on the awful night of the mur- 4
flers, Fielding appeared desirous of deferring
the execution of the project until the ship should have
proceeded further on her course ; on the occasion of
manifesting this desire he %l as strongly opposed by
Johnston. I think th, se declarations th cessary from
some mistaken views, given by the judge in passing sen-
tence and from a d. sire to do justice to my own memory
already sufficiently blackened by my real offences. I
offer my life as a sacrifice for my misdeeds, and expect
mercy through the death and passion of my Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. I die in peace and charity with
all mankind, and may God have mercy on my soul.
His
GEORGE PC JONES,
Mark.
I, John Hazleton, do penitently acknowledge my
former confession and the justice of my death—but at
this my final hour, do declare in the presence of God,
who will judge me, that I had no part whatever in Cap-':
tain Fielding's death. I furthermore declare, that I
advised and desired his preservation ; although I peni-
tently confess that 1 appeared to approve his death.
I did no act, however to co-operate in it. I also pro-
test most solemnly that I had no part whatever in
the death of the boy commonly called George, and
supposed to be Fielding's sun. I did not advise
it before' nor did I subsequently approve it. I op-
posed it by eryinc, out when the act was beingdone and I
had been aware of it. I think these declarations only
in justice to my memory already sufficiently darkened
by my sins, and that they are moreover called for by
some mistaken observations of the judge in passing sen-
tence. I die in peace with all men, and expecting for-
giveness and salvation through the merits of my Lord
and Saviour, who died for the sins of the whole world.
His
JOHN fr 4 HAZLETON,
Mark.