The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-17 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Thomas Wilkins, Nu. 117 of thc.., D division of me-
tropolitan police, was brought up in the custody cf
Inspector Colin Grant, and placed at the bar before
Sir George Carroll, charged with defrauding the
treasurer of Middlesex of 3s. Gd., and also with de-
frauding Mrs. Collins of a similar amount.
The circumstances of the case were briefly stated as
follows :—The prosecutrix was in attendance at the
last sessions of the Old Bailey, on the trial of Wil-
liam Collins, her husband, who was convicted of having
violently assaulted her, and was sentenced to ten
years' transportation. The prisoner was the officer
engaged in the case, and had the paying of the ex-
penses to the witnesses for the time they bad been in
attendance. He received the amount of 1/. Is., to be
paid to the prosecutrix, and instead of applying it to
that purpose, ha paid the prosecutrix only 145., and
appropriated the remainder to his own use.
Mr. Parry appeared on behalf of the prisoner.
The following was the additional evidence
_ _

Elizabeth Collins, of 8, Praed-street, Paddington,
said she. was the wife of Win. Collins, who was trans-

ported fur assaulting her. Prisoner was present at
• the trial ;he bad the getting-up of the case. She did
not sikn any paper for money.
Cross-examined by Mr. Parry— She never said "she
would have this blackguard of a policeman trans-
ported for transporting her husband." She never said
prisoner was paid 4s. fid. per day for transporting her
husband, while she was only paid 3s. GI She went
to see her husband in Newgate the day after the trial,
when he told her that they had not pail her enough
for her attendance. He told her she was entitled to
more than 14s. for fiVe days. She called the same
day at the office of the Clerk of the Arraigns, and was
informed that she had been allowed 11. ls., that heiog
the amount for six days' attendance, instead of five.
Her brother paid her the money. Prisoner never
asked her to sign the witnesses' paper. Prisoner paid
the money in her presence, but not to her ; she had
been at the "Pitt's Head" all the afternoon, while
priso r,,w4; At, the "Bose."
'"Ma is ia Jenkins was present at the trial. Shl:wea-lt,
l'- th t`,, 13•°!3.P" 40 104 ,aftqr.AlTA. Qq11,0:0 MoPPY-ar
'whin Risopez ask hegaif hilacould,w,rite, hey, name
-to,a7-ieQgje„,and at, .the: 4aine,tiol,Auqui;erl-„w4re,
Alm cal,lies-syass to be,,foupd:, liVit.nz-.03 :§ignvil A •
lidperiby.putting her dross to..it,,but prisoner gavt...l3er,
-nu—thihney. He said be had 14s. for Mrs. Collins,
but he did not pay witness 17s, 611.
George Jenkins, the husband of the last witness,
said he was also present at the triil. The expenses
'were Vowed. He received 14s. from the prisoner as
the prosecutrix's share. Prisoner said the judge
would not allow her any more. The officer, Duhell,
147, was present at the time prisoner counted the
money on to the counter. Could not say that Mrs.
Collins gave his wife any authority to receive the
money for her.

Anne Collins heard prisoner asking for Mrs. Col-
lins, and he said that he had 14s. for her. She also
heard him ask Maria Jenkins if she could sign a re-
ceipt for him, but. she did no: sec her do it, as the left
the house at that moment.

Inspector Grant sail prisoner told him that the
judge had allowed him a day's expenses, in consider-
ation of the troub'e he had bad in getting up the evi-
dence, and said Le was to deduct it from Mrs. Col-
lins's allowance. lie called on Mr. head at the of-
fice of the Clerk of the Arraigns, to ascertain what
dependence could be placed in prisoner's statement.
Mr. Read informed him that in consequence of some
representation made by the prisoner, he had been in-
duced to allow the protecutrix for six days, instead of
fie, and that no order of any kind was made by the
judge relative to anything being allowed to the pri-
soner,
Samuel Dobell, 147 of tha D division, said it was
generally the custom to depute the polio Wien en-
gaged in all cases at the Old Baily to pay the wit-
nesses. Ile Vitas with prisoner at the time he got ft e
money for the order for the expenses from the land-
lord of the Rose. It was too late to go the treasurer
of Middlesex. He (witness) signed the bill of ex,
Tenses, but did not see the amount allowed to Mrs.
Collins, as prisoner purposely concealed that from
him by doubling the paper up, so as to leave only a
small space for his name. He saw fourteen shillings
paid to Jenkins fur Mrs. Collins. He was sure-it was
no more.
_ _ _

James Hillier, of the Rose, said he cashed the or-
der for the prisoner. He did it more to oblige the
treasurer of Middlesex, who requested he would do
so as a favour whenever he was absent, so as not to
give witnesses the trouble to come up again for their
money. He got no commission, neither did he derive
any benefit whatever from the transaction.
Mr. Parry hero said he would reserve his defence,
without prejudicing the prisoner's case, as he intended
to take the alderman s (Tinton upon a point of law.
He submitted that there was nothing of a criminal
nature in the charge brought against the prisoner, as
it had already been shown that there was nothing
more than merely a breach of trust. Prisoner was
not the servant of the prosecutrix nor of the treasurer
of Middlesex, therefore the charge of embezzlement
could not even be sustained for an instant. He would
not enter upon his defence now, as he was fully con-
vinced that the alderman, after duly considering the
charge, and weighing the evidence well in his own
mind, would arrive at the came conclusion that he had
on that there was not,
accoeraddininggt o
law, instructions,
which
was certainly in a very
defective state in that particular, the slightest shadow
of criminality in the offence prisoner at present stood
reading
itsh
e
charged with.
Sir GEORGE CARROLL said that the case was one that
required some consideration, and he would, therefore,
remand the prisoner for a week for that purpose, and
in the meantime he would take bail for the prisoner's
appearance, in one surety of 801., and himself in his
own recognisance of 401.

John Webb, a respectable looking young man, was
charged with fraudulently obtaining a quantity of
cigars and tobacco of various tobacconists about Lon-
don. This practice his been carried so far by the
prisoner and others, that every shopkeeper in sending
their errand-boys out with goods find it absolutely
necessary to caution them not to let the goods go out
of their possession without the money, unless they de-
liver them over the counter of any respectable house.
Daniel Davis, of 297, Oxford-street, said the pri-
soner came to him one day lust week, and ordered
two bundles of cigars, which came to 183., to be sent
to Mrs. Dowdesdale, Cavendish-street, Cavendish-
square. He sent his boy with the cigars and a bill ;
prisoner met him on the way, and asked him for the
bill, and requested the boy to wait for him while he
stepped back to his master's shop. In a few minutes
he rejoined the boy, and said, "It's all right ; I've
been to your shop and paid for them, so you can give
me the cigars and go back." As the boy was return-
ing, prisoner said he wanted some pick wicks.
Wm. Stephen Adams, of 44, Haymarket, said, on
the sth of September prisoner called on him and
asked the price of some cigars similar to one he pro-
duced. Witness told him they were 9s. per pound.
Prisoner said they were too high. He went away and
came back in a few minutes, and told witness to put •
him up two pounds of them for Mr. Wood, of Co-
ventry-street. He met the boy going to deliver them,
and asked for the bill, which he took away, and on
coming back told the boy it was paid, and that he was
to give him the cigars. He gave the boy two pick-
wicks to bring back, telling him that he wanted some
of the same sort.

James Shaw, in the employ of Mr. Clark, of No. 5,
Drury-lane, said prisoner came into the shop on 'Wed-
nesday last, and ordered Gibs. of tobacco to be sent to
Mr. Cooper's, at the Old Crown, in Oxford-street.
He took the tobacco out with him, but shortly after
met the prisoner and took away the bill, which he soon
brought back, and said it was paid. Prisoner then
took the tobacco, and told witness to bring him 21bs.
of cheroots.

Charles Woodward, of No. 21, Tower-street St.
St.
Martin's-lane, said that early in August pris
called and said he wanted 2ilbs. of Bengal cheroots,
which were to be sent to the Boar's Head, High
Holborn. Prisoner met him taking them out, and
asked to see the bill. He then took the cigars and
gave witness a sovereign, which was the exact amount
of the bill ; but on giving it to his master he disco-
vered that it was a counterfeit sovereign.
There were several other cases of a similar nature
against the prisoner, but in which he was not quite
so successful,
as he happened to meet the boy in one
instance, and in another a man wasseat with the
goods.

Sir GEO. CARROLL said all the offences were com-
mitted out of the City, the case not come within
his jurisdiction, and he would therefore remand it,

that it may be tekea to Bow street, that beiDg the
proper district.

CLERICENWELL.

Mr. Andrew Scott, paper manufacturer, residing at
29, Hemming-ford-terrace, Islington, was placed at
the bar bx•fore Mr. Combe, charged with having
violated Mary Ann Limber, aged 24, servant to Mr.
Bunnev, 30, Hemmingford-terrace.

Mr. John Wake Hui attended on the part of the
prhoner.

A surgeon's certificate was produced, stating that
the prosecutrix was unable to attend, in const quence
of inj cries she had received.

The prisoner, it appeared, occupied apartments in
the house 29, Hemmingford-terrace, and had been in
the habit of getting over the garden wall .nd•convers-
ing with her. On Friday week, the Gth inst., whilst
she was in the kitchen of her matter's house, the pri-
soner got over the wall, entered the kitchen, there
being no one in the house but herself, and although
she made a resistance and screamed, he accomplished
his purpose. She subsequently became afflicted with
a foul disease, when she communicated to her mother
what had happened, and the prisoner was apprehended,
by Collins, 59 N division. • •

Mr. Wakeling said his client was highly respect
able, and denied the charge.
A medical man raid that the prosecutrix would not
be able to attend in less than a week to give he:
evidence.

Mr. COMBE ordered the prisoner to put in his own
recognizance to appear on Tuesday week, to answer
the charge, which being acceded to he was liberated.

LAMBETH.

The benefits likely to be derivable to the public,
and they were considerable, by the transfer of the
cab regulations from the Hackney Coach-office to the
Commissionera of Police, are likely to be much im-
peded by a" dodge" hit upon by some artful cabbee,
unless some active measures are adopted by the po-
lice to put it down. In several case, when the drivers
of cabs have recently been summoned to this court
for irregularities and a violation of the Act
of Parliament, the defendants produced the most
satisfactory evidence that their cats had been
in a totally different place at the time of
the alleged offence to that described by the
witnesses, and so conclusive was the defence that the
magistrate felt bound to discharge. The constable
and other witnesses called to prove the case spoke
with perfect certainty as to the deliberation and accu-
racy with which they took down the number from the
vehicle, yet the testimony brought against them was
so satisfactory that a conviction was altogether out of
the question, and for some time the matter continued
to perplex even the magistrates themselves. The
affair is, however, now satisfactorily accounted for.
Some ingenious rascal determined, as before stated, to
neutralise the good intended by the recent Act of
Parliament, has hit upon a mode of " bishoping," as
it is called, the numbers, and thus, without very mi-
nute inspection indeed, evade the evil deeds. The
mode by which this ingenious process is applied is by
plugging up the numbers on their plates with a black
adhesive composition, and, by obliterating the first or
last, or transforming one of the centre figures, totally
change the number. The con6equenee is, that the
person whose number happens to agree with that
to which the " bishoping" alters that of the delinquent
is the praeion summoned, while the really guilty party
escapes scot free. The police are on the alert to detect
the guilty parties, and it will reepire some alteration
present. system, or some punishment, to put a
,atop to
===

1I .

• F
.1 • • ' I
~EXEGUTI()N OFA--PROFESSOR,

"- • IiST.ER AT" BOST 6 • '
L--Vrom the New Fork Tribune of the 3d inst.)
Professor Webster has this morning paid the last
debt of nature, and the law is now satisfied. Yester-
day afternoon his amiable wife and three intelligent
daughters visited him in his cell. They were with
him the usual time—from two o'clock until about
half-past six. They appeared the same as usual.
Singular as it may appear, we were assured by the
officers of the prison that they parted with that hus-
band and father ignorant of the fact that they would
never see him again alive ! We saw them as they
passed out of the prison, and we are as fully satisfied
that such was the case as we are of anything within
the compass of human judgment. Immediately after
they left a guard was placed in his cell, and continued
with him until this morning.
Professor Webster was notified some days since by
Dr. Putnam that it was customary in such cases to
place a guard over the prisdner the night before ex-
ecution. He made no objection, but aflaed as a favour
if they did so, that he might have the privilege of
selecting Mr. J. C. Leighton, clerk of the gaol, and
Constable Edward J. Jones, the ciiicer who had
charge of him during his trial. The request was
granted, and last night, immediately after his family
parted with him in his cell, the above-named officers
entered upon the duty named, and remained
with him until morning. He was perfectly free in
conversation, confining himself wholly to mural and
religious subjects. He read the Bible and other
books with a great degree of earnestness and since-
rity. He conversed and read until twelve o'clock,
when he laid down upon his cot, spread upon an iron
bedstead, and slept until half-past four this morning,
apparently as sound and restful as under ordinary
circumstances. He assured Mr. Leighton that his
family parted with him last evening, at half-past six,
entirely ignorant that he was so soon to suffer death.
He frequently spoke of his family, and seemed to be
quite happy to know that they were all religiously in-
clined. He briefly spoke of his execution, and re-
peated the passages of Scripture, " If it be possible let
this cup pass from me, yet, not my will, but Thine, 0
Lord, be done."

Oa arousing from his slumbers, he engaged in de•
votional exercises by prayer and reading of the Scrip•
tures. He was as calm as the sunny and almost
breezeless morning.

As early as half-past five,y Mr. Luther Dunbar,
with a posse of some six or eight men began the
work of erecting the scaffold. It was located between
the two prisons, near the centre of the yard. It was
the same instrument upon which Washington Goode,
the coloured man, was executed, in May, 1849. It
was then new, and consists of a platform of about
fifteen feet square, raised a little higher than one's
head, and a single beam over it as much higher. In
the centre of the platform was a trapdoor, surrounded
with a raised joist frame. A rope was run through
two holes in the beam, and fastened on the post. The
noose was suspended over the trap, which was so ad-
justed that the executioner might let it fall by simply
placing his foot upon a spring fixed in the floor imme-
diately in front of the victim. At a quarter to eight
o'clock the machine of death was fully completed, and
in that direction the deathly notes of preparation
ceased.

The scenes around the gaol, upon the tops of the
private dwellings, were most revolting. From the
Iv indows and tops of about thirty houses on Lowell,
Causeway, and Leverett streets, the horrid spectacle
was witnessed by men, women, and children.
On the top of house No. 8, Lowell-street, planks
were arranged to accommodate about 100 persons.
The windows of all the other houses north, except
Mr. Andrews's, the gaoler, Mr. Lovejoy's, and two
others, were filled principally with women.
The following is from the Bee Extra:—

" We noticed that the top of Mr. Noah Wyeth's
house, 51, Leverett-street, was lined by men and
some few women. We passed round to the front
door, and found it guarded by a police•oflicer. One
man said, I will give a dollar to go up if I can see
the execution.' The officer opened his blind door and
let him pass in. From his appearance, we should
judge the man who so foolishly parted with his
money, for we heard it demanded of him, was from
the country. To be more certain that klr. Wyeth
was speculating on views of a man-killing, we stepped
inside the door and asked him what he would charge
us to go on the top of his house and see the execu-
tion. He came towards us with his hand full of
bank bills, and said, ' One dollar, sir.' We stepped
back and made this record, which is only a part of
the proceedings."
We learn that one of the houses closed was broken
into by the mob, so great was their anxiety to view
the slaughter. They did great damage to the furniture.
While in the house it was surrounded with a posse
of police, who denied any of the persons the privilege
of coming out. How the matter will end we can-
not say.

Th.; witnesses and officers began to gather about
seven o'clock, and continued to collect till about nine.

There were about 125 spectators admitted to the
gaol. yard by passes from the sheriff; besides the offi-
cers in attendance.

The whole number of constables and police-officers
on duty was 125 ; 25 constables and 25 police-officers
were stationed at several points on the inside, and 75
were on the ground outside the prison.
The Rev. Dr. Putnam arrived at the gaol about
half-past seven o'clock, and immediately proceeded
to the prisoner's cell, where devotional exercises
were held.

Dr. Webster was in the further corner cell on
the right, on the lower floor of the south-eaitern
building. _ _ _

At half-past nine o'clock Sheriff Eveleth sum-
moned to the rear office of the gaol those gentlemen
who he had requested to be present as witnesses, and
there read to them the order of what was to "-fol-
low, together with the duties devolving upon his se-
veral deputies. .

The Sheriff stated to the gentlemen present that
they had assembled by invitation from him as lawful
witnesses of the execution of John 'White Webster,
for• the crime of murder, for which he had been con-
victed and sentenced. He detailed to them the order
in which the proceedings would take place, and ex-
pressed his hope that the utmost quiet and good order
would be maintained, as consistent with the solemnity

'of the occasion. He hoped that he should not hear
any loud talking, not a voice during the progress of
the prece'dingF.
From the gaol-of ace, the sheriff, supported by De-
puties Rugg andrreeman, procoeded to the prisoner's
cell, followed by the witnesses and other deputies,
where an impressive and eloquent prayer was offcrect
by the Rev. Dr. Putnam, he being the only officiating
clergyman present. No other services were held.
The prisoner, during prayer, was in his cell in a
kneeling position.
After prayer we had an opportunity to see Pro-
fessor Webster in his cell. We had not locked upon
him since the day he was sentenced. He was greatly
altered for the better. We never saw a more healthy
looking man than he appeared to be. His countenance
was much more pleasant than when he was upon his
trial.

Shortly after, at 20 minutes past 9 o'clock, High
Sheriff Eveleth, attended by Deputies Coburn, Free-
man, and Rugg, Mr. Andrews, the gaoler, Mr. liolmes,
the turnkey, and the prisoner, accompanied by Dr.
Putnam, came out and ascendr.id the platbrm of the
scaffold, the prisoner taking his position upon the drop.
Dr. Putnam immediately entered into earnest con-
versation with Professor 'Webster, and continued to
.do 'En through the reading -of the governor's warrant
by the sheriff, and until gaoler Andrews stepp,A
forward to pinion the legs of the prisoner, when the
Doctor shook the Rev. D:. Putnam affectionately by
the hand, bade him a final earthly farewell, expressing
at the same time the hope that they should meet again
in heaven.

The priioner was dressed in a black suit, apparently
the same clothes that he wore during his trial.
Deputy-Sheriffs Rugg and Freeman adjusted the
rope at 25 minutes to 10 o'clock.

Pelore,the cap was drawn over his eyes he shook
hamls with the gaoler Andrews, Mr. Holmes, and last
with the sheriff, and thanked them for their kind treat-
ment of him.

Sheriff Eveleth then said—" In the name of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in accordance
with t:-.e warrant of the Chief Executive, I now, be•
fore these witnesses, proceed to execute the sentence
of the law upon John W. Webster, convicted at the
March term of the Supreme Judicial Court, of the
murder of Dr. George Parkman."
This the !!heritf placed his fo:)t upon the fatal
spring, and in an instant more the victim was launched
into eternity. He gave several struggles and all was
over.

After remaining some thirty minutes, Drs. Sted-
man and Clark pronounced the body lifeless, when
it was lowered into a black coffin, and conveyed hick
into the same cell where, in the full vigour of man-
hood, it had but a short period before trod. It will
be ddivered to the family this afternoon, and without
much ceremony be buried at Mount Auburn, in the
family vault. Thus far we have .no knowledge that
there exists any other confession than the bare state-
ment which he has repeatedly made, that the law of
capita! punishment was right, and that he was justly
a subject of it.
The following letter, which we find in the Boston
Transcript, was addressed by Professor Webster to
the Rev. Dr. Parkman, brother of Dr. George Park-
man. A copy of the letter, was retained by Pro-
fessor Webster, and confided to a friend, with
mission to make much usa of it as he might see fit,
after the execution :

" Boston, Tuesday, Aug. G.
" Rev. Dr. Parkman—Dear Sir,—l cannot leave
this world in the peace of mind for which I pray
without addressing you as the head of that family
which I have so deeply injured and afflicted, to make
known to you and therm, the bitter anguish of soul,
'the sincere contrition and penitence I 'have .felt, at
,t -havin been the canse of the affliction under which
you • nd they have been called to mourn. I can offer
nd ex •use for my, wicked and fatal'-ebtallition, of. pas-
sion but what you already know, nor would I attempt
to pelliate it.
"I had never, until the two or three last interviews
with your brother, felt towards him anything but
gratitude for his many acts of kindness and friendship.
That I should have allowed the feelings excited on
those occasiens to have overpowered me so as to in-
volve the life of your brother and my own temporal
and eternal welfare, I can, even now, hardly realize.
"I may not receive from you forgiveness in this
world, yet I cannot but hope and believe you will
think of me with compassion, and remember me in
your prayers to Him who will not turn away from
the humble and repentan'. Had I many lives, with
what joy would I lay them all down to alleviate the
effliction I have caused ; but I can now only pray for
forgiveness for myself and for every consolation and
Llessing upon every member of your family.
"In justice to those dearest to me, I beg to assure
you, and I entreat you to believe me, no one of my
family had the slightest doubt of my entire innocence
up to to the moment when the contrary was commu-
nicated to them by Dr. Putnam. That they have
your sincere pity and sympathy I feel assured.
" There is no family toward every member of which
I have always felt a greater degree of respect and re-
gard than that of which you are now the head. From
more than one I have received repeated acts of friend-
ship and kindness, for which I have ever been and
am most truly grateful.
" Towards yourself in particular hive not only rny
own feelings been those of the most sincere regard
and gratitude—every individual of my family has felt
towards you thst you were their pastor and friend.
Often has my wife recalled the interest you took in
her from her first becoming your parishioner, and
often has she spoken with feelings of gratitude of the
influence of your public ministrations, and of your
private instructions and conversations, and of your
direction of her inquiries and reading in what related
to her religious views. These she has oft,n recalled
and referred to as having firmly established the reli-
gious faith and trust which are now such sources of
consolation and support to her and our children, as
well as to myself.
" Nothing that has occurred has weakened these
feelings, and although those I leave behind me may
not meet you without the keenest anguish, I trust
you will exonerate them from any participation in or
knowledge of the father's sin, up to the moment I
have mentioned ; and may you remember them in
your prayers to the father of the fatherless and the
widow's God.

" I beg you, my dear sir, to consider this strictly a
private letter, and by no means to give it publicity ;
at the same time I will request you to make known
to the immediate members cf your family the state of
my feelings and my contrition.
" Tbat every consolation and blessing may be
vouchsafed to yourself and to every member of your
family, is the heartfelt prayer of yours most respect-
fully, " J. W. IVEIisTEr.."