The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-03 00:00:00

THE CONVICTS WHO ARE CONDEMNED

TO DIE.

Hunton bore the intelligence " that he was cer-
tainly to die" with apparent fortitude. He was lying
on his pallet when the Ordinary entered his cell at
a little after eleven on Monday night. Upon hear-
ing the cell door open at so extraordinary an hour,
he turned round slowly, and said, " Well, I sup-
pose I know the news thou bringest." " Yes," re-
plied the Ordinary, " Mr. Hunton, you are, I hope,
prepared for that which you expected—you are to
be executed." Hunton said, " Indeed, I have been
expecting that intelligence ; it is no surprise, and
yet my case has many palliatives which should ope-
rate with grace at the seat of mercy. Pray tell me
who are doomed to die with me ?" The Ordinary
mentioned the other names enumerated in the Re-
port, and Hunton observed that he should submit
with calmness to his fate. " But," said he,
" wilt thou do me the great favour, friend Cot-
ton, to permit my wife to come and stay with me
alone before the time arriveth for the change ?"
The Ordinary replied, that he had not the power to
grant any favour, but the request should be commu-
nicated to the proper authority, and no doubt every
indulgence of a reasonable kind would be granted.
During this conversation, Hunton seemed to be per-
fectly resigned to his fate. It is singular that he
never asked on what day he was to be executed.
After the Ordinary assured him that he should be
treated with kindness, he turned about, and said
_ . _ .

" good night friend," and appeared to resign himself
to sleep. In the morning he rose, evidently in a
state of the most wretched dejection. His eyes ►were
filled ►with tears, and he deplored the inhumanity of
the laws, by ►which a man who had committed an
act not deserving the name of fraud, was to suffer
death. The spirits by ►which he was supported ever
since his committal to Newgate altogether aban-
doned him. He wrung his hands in agony, and
complained of the bitter aggravation of delay. 'When
he first entered Newgate, he said, " I wish, after
this day, to have communication with nobody. Let
me take leave of my wife and family and friends. I have
already suffered an execution. My heart has under-
gone that horrible penalty." A few days ago a person
called upon him to request that he ►would explain some
document relating to certain bills not yet due. In
one instant he gave the required explanation, fully
to the satisfaction of the person interested ; aunt

was asked by the same individual, what opinion he
entertained of his own case. " Why," said he,

" my case resembles the condition of this paper

(holding the letter upon his finger), a breeze of
wind will turn it either way. Caprice may save or
destroy me; but I rather think I shall live longer."
He was yesterday visited by his wife, and several
of the Society of Friends, and he told them he
knew that to hope would he to court deception.
He was, during the whole day, the most painful ob-
ject to those who went to console him. He groaned
as if his heart was bursting within him, and seemed
to consider this life all that a human being could
wish for. The intelligence that he must die seemed
to add fresh vigour to the exertions of his friends.
They were yesterday preparing fresh applications to
his Majesty, and they still hope that the almost
universal feeling of the public will find a correspond.
ing sympathy in the Royal breast.
When the intelligence was conveyed to Abbott,
who stabbed his wife in the throat, that he was
amongst those who were ordered for execution, he
seemed surprised, anal was rather agitated. " I re-
gret to inform you," said the Ordinary, " that you
must lose no time iu preparing yourself for death."
" Indeed !" replied Abbott, " I am surprised at
that ; but God's will be done. Oh ! I had dreadful
provocation." Since the conviction of this mise-
rable man, circumstances have come to light which
render the convict an object of the deepest commi-
seration.
Affidavits have been made, to the effect
that he was one of the mildest and most benevolent
men, and that the provocation (that of jealousy) he
received was greater thou could be endured by any
man of ordinary sensibility; that on the day preceding
the night on which he inflicted the wound, his wife
accused him of being attacked by another tit of jealous-,
to which, in the first instance, she had provoked
him. It is said that the Sheriffs have considered it
most particularly incumbent upon them to use every
exertion to save the life of this poor man. His wife
taost i
sa
.t
ies 1 cldfthovhidrci
elci
death.stNi tesni
cr..al:teici-oe,hf.
has never appeared at Newgate, nor has she ever
cmoamdpejaarixty.ifnrcioupireynatifyteorfhias h‘eilotlltehntorpaciortildinitihoins.
head,
elaide,
distrac-
tion a'sviLicmheit'iemseasytsohbeeisir' inducedsueh
as a relief to his sufferings. Those who are in tho
habit of conversing with him say, significantly point-
ing to the head, that lie is " touched," and it is evi-
dent to all that he is an enthusiast. Although he
observed no similarity between his case and that of
Higgins, who was executed on Monday, the fate of
that person threw him into despair, but still he
thought that his life would not be the forfeit of his,
violence.
John James, upon being told that he was ordered
for execution, started out of bed, and paced up and
down the cell in great perturbation. It was with
difficulty he was prevailed on to lie down, and he
was frightfully dejected during the whole day.
A turnkey remained with each of the unfortunate
convicts who are doomed both day and night. Hun-
ton is particularly watched. There is
.every reason
to suppose, that if he had the
.opportunity, he would
nf
o(irnael
itsetNitonelo:s.,.:-1
put a period to his life. It is said, that while at
the Giltspur-street Compeer, he. was . making pre_
parations for strangling himself with his garters. He
resolutely denied that. lie had, at that time, any
agts
jet:. eotaettn;
rocildfli
pt
at000l:fi bititielteleearksstilliaoilbrdieji,ett‘coitia.cttho suspectedoilniielintel%:::hssn occupied
be
suicide;e
during a great part of the time of his imprisonmeen
h,ilusell,
in rendering services to the poor ignownit wretches
by whom he is surrounded.
John James, aged 19, was convicted of feloni-
ously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of
Henry Witham, Esq., a barrister, residing in Bos-
well-court, Carey-street, and stealing therein a
punch-ladle, a pair of sugar-tongs, and five pow.
reigns, the property of John. Ross.
It appeared from the evidence, that the pr.jsecutor
occupied chambers in Boswell-court, and that Ross,
the 15th of September his chambers were broken
open, and the above property stolen. The prisoner
his servant, was in the habit of sleeping there. On
from the neighbourhood of the house, but as there
and another man were seen by a watchman coining
was nothing suspicious in. their appearance, he did
not detain them. Ch© prisoner was taken a day or
two afterwards by one of the. Bow-street patrol, with
aypheoadorfni
parish
yil 6a
ot,defr
oNsVsptlottsflieolic.iouTrnt
part of the stolen property in his possession.
breaking and entering the. dwelling-house of Mr.
Ow
c..iltl
00l William
October,
allridtaohano,:i
quantity
n'the a aged
Fields. The prosecutor's house was entered by two
men about two o'clock in the morning of the'ls.'n
man beard an alarm, and went to the back of the
house, when he saw
garden-
wall, and took him into custody.
James Abbott, aged 28. This pri*,,w,..r, who re-
sided in Fetter-lane, was convietv,l of: cutting his
wife's throat, with intent to kilt and murder her.—
The particulars of his cne weret fully detailed in
The Sun at the time oi the trial.
Joseph Houton, aged 58. This prisoner was con-
victed on two indictments of uttering forged bills
of exchange, under circumstances which must he
fresh in the recollection of our readers.

puapttforofitiliteash(olitn,glat't.id both fell d'''il
SINGULAR SIIOT.—A gentleman, while
ltilvige:dtmoment (and which was not pre-
yorting over Cape!dewy farm, Cariivrthenshire, fired at
sportsman.
A woodcock,
taio;:c--ti.fytirlereontains a portion of the nuriste?, over
Ilitelekaytmosphere, in the vicinity
wia:,:fi
lohplti,slihhicicseicehEii,ays,:p::.t:rranueho,ets
cAirstisnie)i
usually
been wailed. It is a curious fact, but well
ascertained, that the air best adapted to vegetables is petni,
cious to animal life, and vice versa. Now, upon the sea,
coast, accordingly, animals thrive and vegetables decline.

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