The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-08 00:00:00

IEXP.CUTION OF HUNTON

AND OTHERS, THIS MORNING.

Thrs
morning, John .Itunes, Joseph Mahoney James
)1664 and Joseph Huntion were executed in front of
71g4te, pursuant to their sentences. The concceirse of
LPie4ssembled to witness the 'sad scene was immense ;
hegau to colletet soon after cix o'clock. At a very
.j.")! hour all hope of a respite either for fluorin or Ab-
..,7tt wet abarloned.
Ai a:few minute& before 'eight 'o'clock the Sheriffs, Under
it'''*,
and other Officers arrived at Newgate, and iinme-
4dy proceeded the PreSi-room.
‘/O ehltaring the Press-room with the above gentlemen,
refound Joseph Huntorasitting near the fire on one side.of a
,
`"le, read;aloud, attentively listened to b his friend
reading
'1 Seediest Moline, a prayer occupying the greater por-
:4l of two sheets of letter paper, composed and Written
himself, and afterwards requested by ,him to be given
itiB dear wife.
. .
Moline, an elderly and highly respectable gentle-
-414:1 a Quaker, had been with him from-a very early hour,
thiriug the previous part of the oight the unfortunate
sus aucompanied by another friend., It was likewise
(71 that Mrs. Fry and Mr. Gurney passed a consi- •
:141-4e part of Sunday evening with him in expounding the
tl4iPturee, endeavouring to direct his views, and to-buoy
1: and strengthen his mind, so as to enable him to meet
0
tPrtnication of hie lamentable fate with that composure,
,4iEnatlan, and fortitude, which in the end characterised hie
tduct in the most striking degree. After finishing the
44444ing of Ilia manuscript, which he did in the firmest, most
.itk'nu, and reverential tone of voice, he immediately folded
uP!ri the shape of a letter, kept it in hishand, rose up,
tirruilue towards the Sheriff', said," I am ready." Mr.
I,ontter than advancing towards him, politely requested
to be so good as again to sit down. for a short time.
-bowed slightly and eat down. ;.-
'1('1111 Janes, aged 19, convicted of breaking and entering
ttie dWeJling-kinuie of Henry Witham, E,:q. residing in
‘ 'well-court, Carey-street,_ stealing a pm:A-ladle, a
Dais'sugar...tongs, and five sovereigne,,the property of
Ross, was then, hroueht-iuto_ the pross-room, and
mtaoned. We was-a very fine looking young man, and ap--
1'144d to baioniewhat older than 19. After his hands
arms were tied, • he was loonveYed..to a- bench on the
Pesite aidenf the room, where he knelt down, paiked a
44' minutes in prayer, .then rose and _sat down upon it.
4 '9OII afterwards appeared to be fainting, and wateaeabit-
''l! °ear to the fire, and took a sent -directly 'apposite
''4l,..uton, which had been occupied by Mr. Mofine. but
rho had risen, and retired to a short distance. Hunton,
Ithu, during the time James was being pinioned, bad
.red his gloves out ..f hi; pocket, es well as a blue pocket
44(16914f to tie across his eyes, when on the 'scaffold,
141 t his gloves on, opened a that laid before him, and
-Q a passage io it, lifting up his eyes, and lookiagoiteadily
7Dt 4
a reW seconds at his :dejected conepanion, and in a kind
',ld soothing manner inquired, " Art thou ill?" James re-
-I"ltied. "I am rather sick ?" " How didst thou sleep last
4igtt 2" "I did not sleep much. This is all for the best."
~,,unt°ll--" I hope it is." In a short time James was
'4le to be taken back to his former seat.
.*
IMahony, aged 26, convicted of hrenking met
:tiling the dwelling-house of jr. Willininillactetieje
a* Parish of St. blartin-in.theefielde, was next brought
411 d pinioned.
. 'hates Abbott, aged 25, convicted of making .a slight
''qision in his wife's throat, with intent to kill her-, Was the
alLird that passed through this part of the ceremony. The
tee continuedlto pray, as was observed by the motion of
`'‘r lips and.either closed or uplifted eyes, with great
''ttency, and were on the whole greatly composed. • 'the
leer next advanced to
Joseph Ilonton, aged .68, convicted ef: forgery, and
44 if by anticipation of the -approach, the ill-fated
1.,411a, before the officer had tiine to address hint,
.I'°t up, pulled off his gloves, sheok' Minds with his friend,
•414, said, " Give this' to my deer wife," holding up the
1
" and tell her that I am happy and..colefortahle."—
,14% M. replied that -he certainly should.. .Hunton added,
"Y You'll go with me." Mr. M. said, " Oh, yes.". He
clasped his bands together, and turned round to be
" In 'a. minute Or two afterwards Mr. M. in-
!' 'kuired how he was? Run ton answered-74s I feel
4_l ought : I trust I have made. my peace, where
4 cues; to he made." As his wrists were being
aged, be complained of tightness,'-and the cord
I'as After they were- secured and h 8 was
4,4iicted, he said to the otEcoi—:-•" leqOw,l wilt thou put
gloves on agaia?"—Officer : "Po you, ;thing they'lllo.on, lir.?"--tiunten is "O, yes, they -will- yen en."
tbQ gloves were put on without difficulty, and holding...la
'l4.bands the manuscript before alluded to,- he joined the
,?'aceseion in the order in which the poor creatures had been
• I).:,itliorted, 'and all proceeded-eas if with a degree of eagerness,
the winding. pas Sages until they arrived at the foot of the
`Adder lead'ing up to the platform. Mr. Aldine walked
next to his friead, holding his arm all the way. When
174 iiria4 came for 'Huston to mount the fatal drop, he
‘,ll4ed the paper he had'all along held io.his hand, and
.de-
'tnrod into his fri,..4d; saying,, aivi it to my dear love,
"Cteil bar that lam happy ;" M. assured him he
4`)ed...-kiesed 'him, and they parted for ever. On the
told he shook hands with Mr. Cotton, and the signal
. uelag given instantaneously,' the World closed on theta all.
Runton was attired as a Quaker, and alwaps spoke as
He, with the other three, were neat and clean, and
(k"lideicted themselves throughout with all the apparent pee
°iteece that could have been wished far, and evidencing
Aat gel had a well-ftiended hope beyond the grave.
Mr. Peel, the Lend Chancellor, and Lord Chief Justice
4ie Court, of King's Bench were together yesttFday
444'. Miug far. three hours on Ahhott's cue, but in the. re-
`lilt they could not feel themselves justified in resorting- to
'"Y step calculated to mitigate the severity of his sentence.
' 4 Copy of the Document seat to Mrs. Hunton was con-
promised to be 'delivered to the Gentlemen at-
t'iteling for the Press, .after being read by Mrs. Hunton,
but on application subsequently made to her, she.did not
141 at liberty to hand it out for publication, at least until
'l4! had token the opinion of the Elders of the Society upon
1114. propriety of such an act.