The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-24 00:00:00

Ills —DAY'S NEWS

THE EXECUTION OF JAMES
TAPPING.—(THIS DAY.)
The unfortunate criminal who this day expiated in
111\14,1'4 of the prison of Newgate the crime of which he
tobeen convicted, namely, the murder of Emma
gaiter, at Bethnal-green, had all along, we are happy
taY,paid the utmost attention to the admonitions of the
b. erend chaplain, Mr. Davis; but up to the last moment
e
denied that he was guilty of the deed
oft%llted to him, and insisted, with every appearance
sincerity, that the unfortunate girl had herself, in a
loon of jealousy, put a termination to her existence.
tet,r,,did the visits of his relatives elicit anything like a
),tssion from him; for, though subdued to a childlike
el"ess, he still maintained his innocence. To the
14,,gYnaan who unceasingly attended him he acknow-
y,...ed that his career bad been a vicious one, but
1,4„71 that God would forgive him, as he himself freely
eluia''e all men. His relations attribute the melan-
th,'Y catastrophe to the pernicious libels contained in
to anonymous letters which were sent both to the pri-
te," and the deceased by some cowardly and malicious
Ctlndrels ; but the unfortunate man himself traces his
Itt4st error to the circumstance of his frequenting what
to Popularly called " night concert-rooms." It will be
oCembered by our readers that it was in returning from
ttf, of these places that the quarrel occurred which re-
ed in the death of the girl.
flle prisoner was fully aware that his sentence was
t ' Ilikely to be in any degree commuted, and had in
47equence made up his mind to meet his fate with
,
~911 this the last morning of his life, he rose about five
i4'nek, and, having dressed, passedithe hours till seven
Iletarnest devotion. He then took breakfast with, as
44ifnself said, " a good appetite," eating a buttered roll
, a
slice of toast, and drinking two cups of tea, and an
4111t:',! number of cups of coffee. He was then waited on
t;),.,71'. Sheriff Sidney and the Under-Sheriffs, in the
iCtemned cell, where he gave a letter of thanks into the
t;i4s of the Under. Sheriffs, and another letter, un-
tej:°„ti, into the hands of the n, to be given to his
,7"ons. We subjoin both of thesaie:—
dames Tapping returns his grateful thanks to the
'error,th the Chaplain, and Sheriffs, to his friends, and
tol`fi officers of the gaol, for their very kind attention,
ish„',if it meets with the Governor's approbation, he
cleillhttl like his sisters Betsy and Ma to receive his
" JAMES TAPPING, Marry ch 23, 1845."
Th
at, e request conveyed in this note will, of course, be
it complied with by Mr. Cope. The other letter
follows:--
IviaMY dear Brothers and Sisters,—Receive the last
kav-ea of your unfortunate brother, and God grant you
ti Prosper in all your undertakings. Do not think him
ectful, and forgive him as he hopes to be forgiven.
Aien,e;l greatly for your situation, but I hope and trust that
Ilet;ois4t God will ive you all sufficient strength
r,to
- it) Y the sincere g
wish u
of yourunfortunate brothe
Ja " JAMES TAPPING."
fines Tapping, previously to the procession being
FliCh'n to the scaffold, was asked by Mr. Sheriff
aier7eY if he wished to say any thing, as some gentle-
he eollnected with the daily press were present ? but
j' answered " No," and added, "what I have got to say
beyjnay on the scaffold. Don't refuse me this, as it is
ean request." The unfortunate man's arms having
eeil° pinioned, the Governor, Mr. Cope, moved from the
Gapefollowed by the Under Sheriffs, by Mr. Sheriff
and y, the Chaplain reading the service for the dead,
glo the ison
prer, who, with his eyes directed to the
affetlll, 6, trod with as firm a step as if he were the least
thee'ed there. The Deputy-Governor and the rest of
at opersons present brought up the rear. On arriving
ade,,oase of the scaffold, the prisoner shook hands and
Ntkh, '4l.eWell to those near him; and then, with a firm
tiler .rtseended the ladder, attended by the Chaplain and
tur,,,,uernder-Sheriffs. The crowd, which could have
pes7 ed no less than 6,000 persons, greeted the ap-
htridron of the criminal with cheers, waving of hats and
riehederchiefs, and other demonstrations, which fur-
the the very best of all possible arguments against
ieyu)lieity of these executions. The unfortunate man
ta.twr with the most perfect calmness the awful prepa-
retirj ; and after a few brief words, the Under-Sheriffs
, and he was left with the Chaplain and the exe-
the justice
His last expressions were :—" I acknowledge
for istice of my sentence, and hope to be forgiven, as I
la give all men ;"
and in another moment lie was
Itched into eternity.
'3_said that the younger members of the family, who
throwen wholly supported by the prisoner, will now be
ri upon the parish.

pass.-e Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and family are
34 king the recess at Broughton House, his Grace's seat
QtthariVtOnshire.