The Sun.
London, England, 1819-04-08 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT MAIDSTONE.

On Thursday last, the awful sentence of the
law wal.., executed on James. Morgan, aged 39, wit!
Bowra,,agesl 19, both capitally convicted
at the late Kent Assizes : Morgan for stealing
101 sheep, the property of Mr. Miller, of Boss.-
; and Bowra for a highway t obbery, com-
mitted fen the person of T. NiCkelle, near Tun-
bridge-wells.
We understand that the general conduct of
both. the culprits after condemnation was very.
proper and becoming. The mother of Bowra
did not see him until the night before his execu-
tion, and their meeting was a very trying one to
both of them. The poor woman wished to see
her son again. on the morning of execution, but
the. interview, by the wi3b of Bowra, did not
take place.

At an early, hour on the morning of execution,
they were visited by the Ch,pldiu, who adminis-
tered to them the Holy Sacrament, which they
received with, every appearance of devotion.
It being the first time that any criminals had
been taken for execution from the New Gaol, a
great number of persons surrounded the portal of
'the prison, io white's the melat►clroly spectacle
On the waggon drawing up in front of the
scaffold,Bowra appeared in an:agony of distress.
The worthy Chaplain of the Gaol ascended•the
vehicle, and for several minutes joined in prayer
with the dying men, after which he shook hands
with each, and they parted, with, hint, duly sensi-
bfe of his affectionate and pious attentions, and
expressing their confidence
.of a glorious resurrec-
tion thfoUgh the merits of their Redeemer. They,
then.eicpressed a wish to speak with Mr. Powell,
the,Governor of the Gaol. To him they also ex-
pressed their thanks for the humanity of his con-
duct towards them, and their hopes of. forgive-
ness in the next world. Bowra emphatically re-
pealed that he felt confident he was going to
glory.
Morgan was the first to ascend the platform..
He walked up the board from the waggon with a
firm step and a resigned air. The executioner,
who had for many years filled that office, having
become too old and: in4rm to perform it any
longer, the person employed on this occasion had,
been,procuredfrom Li►ndon. While the dreadful
'preparations were
.performing for' Morgan, Llowta
sat in the waggon, a most pitiable object. He was
almost overwhelmed with the horror of his situa-
tion. Has, sobs, the heavingof his breast, his
trembling 'limbs, all. beipae the tumult of his
soul, which' tas so.soon to leave its earthly tene-
ment. Every now and then he cast a fearful:
glance at his wretched companion in miiery, and
the sight of him appeared to increase his agitation.
He would then raise his eyes to :Heaven, as if
ejaculating a prayer to the throne of,mercy. His
sufferings seemed to make a sensible, and it is to.
be hoped a lasting impression on the surrounding
multitude.

The executioner baying performed the neces-
sary duties for Morgan, Bowra with weak and
trembling step, assisted by one of the turnkeys,
ascended the scaffold. His distress appeared to
increase, and the turnkey held him by the atm,
while the halter was made fast. Bowra exclaimed
to Morgan " We shall meet again in happiness."
The latter replied, " We shall." They then shook
hands- with etch other, and with the executioner,
who immediately descended from them. The dy-
ing culprits prayed very fervently., and with that
rapidity of ntterfince which a tense of the nar-
row bound between life and eternity inspired.

• in a few second!, the fatal bolt was withdrawn,
when an occurrence took place that was dreadful
to the .feelings of humanity. The executioner,
who we understand had acted in that capacity at
Newgate for upwards of four years, ha►t .ap-
parently taken every precaution that hninanity
could under suet► dreadful circumstances 6uggest ;
but, notwithstanding all his .care, on the tall of
the drop, Morgan, who was a very heavy .11)11),
tell so low that his toes touched the phritorm,
and immediately atter his weight brought hi►t►
nearly on his feet. An exclamation of horror
escaped from the lips of many who witnessed
the occurtei,ce, and—much indignation was ex-
pressed against the exectnioner ; but the per-
sons .surrounding the scaffold with great ce-
lerity and presence of mind almost instan-
taneously got away the platform 'from under his
feet, and relieved the feelings of the spectators.
With re3pect to Morgan, we do not believe that

„ .
• • , • •‘;'etl
-i
his stleriogs- c ineref“ed 'or pro k, •
r4..1
by the accident. The greatness of the fah at-(
hiS weight appeared instantly to deprive bira f
existence. lie did not exhibit the least sympton
of Motion, nor did Illwra seem to be Much coil;
vulsed. The cause of the accident, which h4b
t
_have produced conseoenees too aMicting to 44.
thought without shuddering, is variously
counted for. The slipping of the uprrknot and 1
she stretching of the rope have been suggested'
but we are more inclined to believe, that the 1i
mane caution of the executioner, in leaving the
rope very slack to shorten the pain Of the suf-
ferers, combined with the circumstance of bl,
being unacquainted with the exact depth of the
drop falling, were the teal causes of the accident%
It is painful to ewer into any discUssion on such A,
subject; but we have felt it a duty 16 the public
to say something oil it, to preveOt the circUlatio4
of idle reports, which such an occurrence is like',
to create.
After the criminals had hung some time, the
usual disgusting scene took place of persons offlier!a,
ed with wens applying to the executioner for the
purpose of having the, swellings rubbed withil
hand of the deceased, which
,the credulity al
ignorance of the afflicted, or their relatives, „I%
them to suppose would be an *effectual cure.
this occasion, malty persons of both sexes, all4°-
various ages, under Went the operation. One
tiercent pretty-looking girl, about 17 years of Agief,
presented herself at the moment when the h""I
of Morgan was about to he cut down, and si:f
actually got upon his coffin to stand snilicientl7
high for the hand of the corpse to be dratvtle:”;
ral times over her neck. How great must
been the credulity which could induce a Pm%
girt, in the face of hundreds of spectators, tht't
publicly to expotte herself in the performance 5
an act so revolting to female delicacy and genet
feeling. It It is truly pitiable.
After flanging the usual tithe, the berries were
cut down, and being, tdaced in shells, Were c°l"
veyed to MaidStorre for interment.
W. Bowra, we believe; was born in the viei".
nity of Tunbridge-wells, and edify associatiws
with bad company, that finittill source Of crifflel
brought him to his ignomininus end. The °i,
fence for which lie suffered was a highway rub
bery committed in the night, and attended "Pit. -
the most savage el nelty.
Little is publicly known of the Connex
'I respect!!:

le other critnioas, except that they are
able. His name in the calendar stood Ja'n.,;;i
Morgan ;. but that was not his real name' •
Olaidsione Paper) •

YOUTHFUL IMPOSTOR.
TOWN HALL—Yesterday a poor woman, res
ing in the Borough, brought her daughter,." chn(
about nine years old, before air. Alderman SMITE
aid requested his advice to her in the 1°11"4"14.
case :
She said that the child, who (with the exceer
ion of a little flannel petticoat) wast vi'e khr
had got connected with some bad clisr"te:ss )I(t
whose persuasions she frequently rat' away'
all her clotkes, and supported herself upon "73-
Ac
money she got by begging, at which site wO9
complete adept. Her principal resort was tll°
Parks, and here she one day met Col,Freemanuer
to whom she told such an apvnrenfly artless aillE
woeful talc, that the Colond gave her temporArr
relief, and gained from her the address of IW'
parents, on whom he and Lady Fremantle waite4
bot were surprised beyond measnre at having
so grosslyimpnsed upon. The mother now addeuf,
that there was, somewhere in Westminster. 1:
house where. children of tender ages were retsina.
ed tor the vilest purposes, and lodged at the"t
of 4d. per night ; and that the chill confessed Bbd"
had been at this house, and that her elotb"11"al
been disposed of for her by the landladY of ~,,

house. ho%
Nlr. Alderman SMITH—" If you Vat tell 71,01
the persons are that bought the clotl'esh' ,•11
shall be seerely dealt with. 'As to the (1:a116
don't know any thing you can do better„ gtooti
take her home, confine her, and give
whipping every now and then. That wie°e„
position must be beat out of her ; it
permitted to grow up with leer years." :b
The poor woman saul she was so artfuli, 110 l
she would give no account whatever of
panions, or who had bought the clothes. et
The Worthy Alderman said, he had onlYPlhea
peat his former advice ; he could afford no 01-
remedy. 4,01141°
During. the whole time, the girl seemeu—s-
careless of her situation.

BIRTHS.
of On the 2d inst. the Lady of S.'Cartwright, Esq. 01 "-
place, of a (laughter— f MO* 4-
On the 3d inst. in -1-larleyford-place, tbe Lalli °
Cowan, Esq. of a dani.tliter.

RI El).
At Exmouth, WilliamNlAß Mare, Esq. to France;
youngest ciaue;liter of the late Rev. E..lutund Giiii
Windsor Hume, in the county of Cornwall.

DiEn.
On Saturday last, at. Hastings. in the 7Gth of I'39L:ILI';
dot,-5e
Colonel Herries, Commandant of the City of to
Horse Volunteer,. Ilk reinajits arc to b"45.1-
and interred with military honours. ; C 13.4
Lately, Caesar Colcloilzh Arinett, Esq, Mai"r lo3cl
iW
j,..sty's 35th Regiment of Foot, and a Lieutenant-c).
the Army

P ROVINCIAL BIRTHS, NIA it-----------'itiA6_,EF„ AND
_DEA ilS'
littZ'firlS. f tl%;-, tb
At EsligrovciScotland, on the' ' the LadY °- '
Dall,Xl)l:,lea.tESlla.t(tba'll;(Clio.ttager Leland, lie l'3dY 0f I ajc't
Mahe, of a son.
...._____—......—.—
On the 27th ult. John Dawson Es
q.
Henry Smith, Eisq. of Emitlimr, Dawson,
4 "
Olt the 31st ult. Colonel l'a:lcv, of the Royal Engineer. ;to,
Miss Robe' ts, niece of tae late *Rev. W. I)..Nlenzics, 0f -
cliester. to. ane, daughter tit

On the 29th tilt. Mr. Rolyert Bevil), of the Custorrss,
eldest sou of the late Captain-Adjutant lienry Bevin, of
t"
Dainthies Militia.
Lately, in Ennis, of fever, Thomas Lvsaglit, Esq. Attorttei
at Lilt, Reg'ister and Solicitor to the Iltrbtio Society.
Sq late
Lately, in Rodney-street, Liverpool, EltaJ Joseph, X.•
of Springfield Bowie, West I)ertiy.
Lately, at Lantegtos, ear Camelford. Cornwa.ll, Ph_ll
I
(t „
r Broom, a man of very penurious habits. On
examination of the premises after his death, an old bog e°o7o.
taiaing. 2879 penny-pieces, accumulated, as it appears, frosty.
the sak of eggs, was found in the iiivitve.

'
_ .
LONDON: Printed by .1. D. CA itsTAnts, of NO. ""A
Ornurvid-street, Queen-square; and published by IC'
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Office, No.
^I Strand ; where Adrettisenwnt3,
LetNys, (poit-itAid.) must bc aldresLefi.