The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-21 00:00:00

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THE SALT-HILL MURDER.

AYLESBURY, WEDNESDAY.-It is extraordinary with what
avidity every morsel of intelligence relating to the mur-
derer, John Tawell, is sought and snatched up by the public.
Far and wide inquiry and speculation are busily on foot con-
cerning him, but nearer the scene of the murder he is the
general topic of conversation. As may be supposed, many
incorrect stories concerning him find their way into circu-
lation, but nothing can be more absurd and reprehensible
than some of the inventions which idle gossip has promul-
gated.
Public feeling is, generally speaking, against him, and
every day some fresh amount of crime, in the way of poison-
ing, is attributed to him. Sarah Hart is supposed by the
credulous to be by no means the only person upon whom he
has practised his knowledge of chemistry ; and it is suspected
that while he kept his druggist's shop in Sydney a wide field
was open to him for the exercise of his skill. His partner
at Sydney is said to have died suddenly, leaving him all his
property. His two sons are said to have left this world
suddenly. His first wife, it is stated, died suddenly. Sarah
Hart had a narrow escape once ; and these circumstances, in
connexion with her murder, by no means lessen the belief of
his guilt.
By those who have any knowlede of the prisoner he is re-
garded very differently. Everybody who knows the wretched
man speaks well of him, and everybody who has conversed
with him has received a favourable impression. Mild, gen-
tlemanly, and unaffected in his manner, he listens to what-
ever is said to him with respectful attention, and converses
with all the serenity of a martyr. A convict of the gaol re-
mains with him at his request throughout the day, as a sort
of attendant, and to this man he is particularly communica-
tive. He received the visiting magistrates yesterday with
great composure, and expressed his thankfulness for the con-
sideration shown to him. It was intimated that nobody
would be allowed to visit him but those whom he expressed
a wish to see, upon which he observdd, that he desired to see
nobody but his wife, and he looked forward to another in-
terview with her. One of the magistrates suggested to him
the propriety of foregoing such a scene, and sparing the feel-
ings of his wife in particular, of whom he had so lately taken
leave. He, however, persisted in the wish and hope of again
seeing her, meekly alluding to the affectionate terms upon
which they had lived together.
It is remarkable that the culprit has never once com-
plained of the sentence which was passed upon him. When
the hope of escape (which had been very great within him)
was suddenly crushed, he observed that The judge was a
just judge, but a stern one." He has once remarked, with
remote reference to his sentence, " that he could conscien-
tiously acquit himself of cruelty or treachery to anybody."
But he rarely, if ever, adverts to his crime.
He continues to receive numerous letters from all quarters
of the country. His time is divided between writing and
praying; and be occasionally sees the chaplain, Mr. Cox,
but no revelation has yet been made by Tawell. Great care
has been observed by the authorities to prevent, what it is
thought by many he will attempt, the making away with
himself. Mrs. Tawell is known to have been aware of the
existence of such a person as Sarah Hart, and even of
Tawell's having children by her; but she was utterly un-
conscious of his visiting her, and attributes his last visit to
purely humane motives.
Friday, the 28th instant, is decidedly fixed for the exe-
cution, unless the Secretary of State orders it otherwise. A
petition to Sir James Graham has been this day set on foot :n
the town of Aylesbury, praying that Tawell's sentence of
death may be commuted to transportation for life. This pe-
tition is grounded upon an objection to the punishment of
death, and the prayer is set forth in behalf of all who lie
under such a sentence. The petition is signed by a few
tradesmen of the town, nearly all of whom are Dissenters.