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

EXECUTION—(THIS nAY.)

This morning, pursuant to their sentences, the
following unfortunate men died, in expiation of their
crimes, at the Old Bailey :
Jeremiah Sullivan, aged 28, William
.M4ford,
21, and Charles Melford, 17 (brothers), for house-
breaking, &c.; Thomas Chapman alias Derrick, 28,
and William Johnson alias Carter, 30, for horse-
stealing.
Mr. Sheriff Stables mid Mr. Under-Sheriff Foss
arrived at the usual hour, and proceeded to the pain-
ful discharge of their duty. Since the warrant had
arrived the unfortunate men had behaved with out-
ward decency, but it was supposed not with the in-
ward contrition that might have been expected, par-
ticularly Charles Melford and Chapman, whose
friends had injudiciously kept them in the hope of a
reprieve, and consequently their • disappointment
was the more severe. The Rev. Mr. Cotton and
Mr. Baker were with the unfortunate men during
the night, and two Roman Catholic gentlemen re-
mained with Sullivan. The friends of the prisoners
took a last farewell of them yesterday. Chapman's
father visited him under the most distressing feel-
ings, and the wife of Johnson was almost frantic.
The unhappy mother of the two Melfords was wild
with anguish, and after remaining several hours with
her two only sons, whom she had endeavoured to
rear in rectitude, and whom crime had felled to the
grave before her, it required force
.to separate her
from their last embrace. She remained outside the
gaol till a late hour, in the confident expectation of
a respite being sent for Charles, her youngest son ;
but the closing of the door closed her earthly hopes.
Sullivan was already in the press-room when we
were admitted. Being a Catholic, he was attended
in one corner of the room by a priest of his own
persuasion. He prayed most devoutly, but at inter-
vals a deep drawn sigh showed the anguish of his
soul. Ho continued praying after he had been
pinioned, and requested his handkerchief to be placed
in his hands, which was complied with. He also
received a book, which he read with the most fixed
attention.

Chapman then entered. His features, pallid and
cadaverous, were wound up as it were to the last
pitch of despair and misery, and he submitted his
hands to be bound with a painful willingness. He
was an athletic man, about six feet high, and dressed
as a farmer's servant. Mr. Sheriff Stables kindly
inquired of him, after he had been bound, if he
wished to make any communication to any one, be
replied that he had told his father yesterday all which
he thought necessary.
The next brought in was William Melford. This
mar., with his younger brother, was convicted of
two most daring robberies in the day-time in Lon-
don. The first at a Mr. Pring's, in the City-road,
when they went in church time on a Sunday, and
suddenly presenting a pistol at the female who was
alone in the house, rifled it of all articles of value,
with money, &c. to the amount of 701., with
which they got clear off, forbidding the female,
under pain of death, to move under half an
i4iour from their quitting the house. He now
seemed conscious of nothing but the approach of
death, and wept while his hands were bound. His
face had been horribly disfigured by disease, having
lost part of his nose. This man, together with his
brother Charles, had been in irons since the senten-
ces for refractory conduct in the prison. The irons
were, however, taken off early this morning.
Charles Melford came in fourth ; his youthful
appearance excited the real pity of every one who
saw him. He was a fine youth of about five feet
teen inches and a half in height, but affliction
appeared to have bent him nearly double. He wept
unceasingly and sobbed aloud, till he reached the
fatal drop.
_ _ _

Johnson, who had been struck by paralysis since
his commitment, had lost the use of his legs, and
was now brought in on the back of a turnkey. He
appeared less agitated than any one of the spectators
and was not bound until they arrived in the soup
room at the foot of the scaffold. He was there sat
on a table, and retained his composure till the last.
On passing through the passages one of the turn-
keys shook the bound hand of Chapman. This un-
expected mark of sympathy seemed to collect his
scattered senses. He stopped and gazed intently on
him fora second, and as he resumed his place in
the procession, his tears fell thick and heavy.
Johnson was bound while the four others were ad-
justed on the scaffold, and was carried by two per-
sons up the steps, and supported by them till the
drop fell. From the almost unnatural apathy. shown
by this man, many persons believed that his com-
plaint had affected his intellect. All but him on the
scaffold were deeply affected, and Charles Melford
seemed nearly fainting. The Rev. Chaplain con-
tinued his prayers, C. Melford cried out in despair
for the hand of Mr. Cotton, which he pressed con-
vulsively, and begged most piteously to be taken off
the drop. In his agony, however, the drop fell, and
the world closed for ever ou these ill-fated men.

The crowd was immense, and amused themselves
before the execution with a disgraceful combat be-
tween two women.

LIVERPOOL, MARCH 10.—We have had a
fair demand for Cotton to-day, and 2,500 bags have been
sold at regular prices.

LIVERPOOL, MARCH 10.—To-day our
Market was well supplied with beef, which met a ready
sale at our last quotation ; the supply of mutton was not
so great as last week, and it was sold at a little advance in
price; beef sid. to 6id. ; mutton Od. to 7-id. per lb,

A painter, whose talents were but indifferent,
turned physician. He was asked the reason of it. "In
painting," answered be, " all the faults are exposed to the
eye ; hut in physic they are bttried with the patient, and
one gets more easily off."

SERIES OF DUELS.—The Tasmanian, (pub-
lished at Van Dieman's Land) after announcing the arrival
at Hobart-town, on the 10th July, of the ship Harvey,
Captain FINDLEY, from England, via the Cape of Good
Hope, where she landed troops, and remained about six
weeks, says—" By this vessel has arrived J. WILLIAMS,
Esq. barrister-at-law, son of Mr. Wittiaats, a profes-
sional gentleman of high reputation in London, and J.
NOBLE, Esq. a nephew of D'Aacr WENTWORTH, Esq. of
Sydney. These gentlemen have been involved in very em-
barrassing and annoying circumstances since their departure
from England. ' It appears, that a detachment of the 55th
Regiment embarked in the Harvey for the Cape, com-
manded by Capt. ELRINGTON, son of Major ELRINGTON,
of Sydney, under whose" orders were Lieutenants &arms,
WILSON, and PECK. Some disagreeable misunderstand-
ing which occurred before the ship left the English Chan-
nel, unhappily increased so much during the voyage, that
the military men and the civilians were upon the most
unpleasant terms. On their arrival at the Cape, in con-
sequence of certain steong expressions which Mr.
WILLIAMS had found himself called upon to apply to
some of the military, he was waited upon by au officer
of the 55th to invite hirn to a meeting with Lieu
tenant Bosaas. This gentleman had hardly perform-
ed his functions, when he was seconded by another
officer from Lieutenant Wirsost, who, in his turn, was
followed by a third similar invitation from Lieutenant 'WK.
Mr. Wittrasts expressed some astonishment at such a
succession of visiters, btu promised them all that he would
not fail to accept their invitations in due order, if he had
life enough left in 'him to enable him to do so—and he did
se; for, strange to say, he fought the three in succes-
sion-Lwounding one, very nearly quieting the second, and
not returning the fire of the third. Not so, Mr. NOBLE.
The two gentlemen, Messrs. WILSON and Boxiirs, not
content with Mr. WILLIAMS'S affairs, considered it neces-
sary to repeat the operation with Mr. NOBLE. This
gentleman did every thing in his power to avoid the un-
pleasant extremity which he saw it was wished to bring
him to. Mr. WILLIAMS stated plainly that Mr. NOBLE
was a man not very likely to make child's play of such
matters, but in vain. Lieutenant WILSON first encountered
him, and, receiving a slight wound, expressed himself
satisfied. But, unhappily, a different fate awaited Lieut.
BONNIS ; for, at the first fire, Mr. NOBLE'S shot pene-
trated his temple, and he fell dead ! Thus ended this most
extraordinary affair. The two gentlemen were committed
to prison, tried by the Dutch law for murder, but acquitted,
as it is said, for want of sufficient evidence to establish
the fact of the duel having taken place. A Military Court
of Inquiry was held, in respect to the causes of these un-
happy affairs ; and the result was, that Captain ELRINGTON
was sent to England in arrest to wait the decision of his
Grace the Commander-in-Chief."

DESTRUCTION of the NEW BRUNSWICK
THEATRE, WELLCLOSE-SQUARE.

ADJOURNED CORONER'S INQUEST,
(THIS DAY.)
The investigation was resumed this morning at the usual
Hour, and the Coroner proceeded to examine Mr. Pulsford,
the surveyor of the theatre.

LThe evidence has already been given so fully in this
Journal, that we only consider it necessary to publish such
parts as may be considered material as throwing fresh light
upon the subject under, investigation.]
Mr. Pttlsford deposed as follows :--I am assistant-sur-
veyor to the East India Company ; I was employed by the
proprietors to measure the artificers' work at the Brunswick
theatre; two months before the accident, I repeatedly warned
the:late Mr. Maurice of the insecurity of the roof—made in-
secure, in my opinion, by suspending heavy weights from
the iron ties of the roof. On one occasion, soon after the
painter's shop was suspended, I gave my opinion to Mr.
Maurice, that it would be advisable to have the opinions of
persons of science, and practical acquaintance with iron
work, and for that purpose I voluntarily promised
that Mr. J. Bramah, of Pimlico, civil engineer, and
Mr. Thos. Moorman, of Old-street, an eminent smith,
should both attend at my request to give their professional
opinion on the structure and security of the roof, I not
having had much experience in iron roofs. The fact was
I doubted, and wished to have that doubt confirmed or re-
moved by persons better acquainted with the subject than
was. The late Mr. Maurice told me he had received a
letter from the patentee of the iron roof, or some friend of
his, I cannot tell which, and that this letter assured him
that there was no danger to be apprehended by the
suspension of weights from the roof; he therefore de-
clined my offer to obtain the opinions of the individuals
whose names I have already mentioned. I still felt great
apprehension that the structure would fail, from the sus-
pension of those weights, and within three days of the
theatre opening, I told Mr. Maurice that I felt quite ner-
vous and uncomfortable whenever I went under the roof.—
Mr. Armstrong, the plaisterer, and several other persons
were present when I spoke to Mr. Maurice on the subject.
Mr. Carruthers was only present on one occasion, when I
expressed my opinion of the insecurity of the roof. Ou
this occasion Mr. Shaw, the clerk of the works, told Mr.
Carruthers that the timbers were not yet strutted, and that
when that was done the vibration would cease. Shaw
made this observation upon being called on by Mr. Car-
ruthers, who heard my opinion as to the insecurity of the
roof. I have had conversations with Mr. Whitwell, the
architect, in which I expressed my doubts as to the safety
of hanging weights to the roof, and he agreed with me that
it was very unsafe, but added, " that is a matter over
which I have no controul."

Mr. Pullen asked the witness, whether Mr. Whitwell
had ever told him that it was not necessary for him to
mention his opinion to Mr. Carruthers ?—Decidedly not.
Mr. Hill—Did he say any thing to that effect ?—No-
thing of the kind.
CORONER—In your opinion, were the walls sufficient
to sustain the roof ?—I think the walls fully sufficient to
sustain the roof, and that the proximate cause of the acci..
dent was the suspension of the weight, to which I before
alluded, to the roof, and there not being sufficient time to
dry the walls.
In answer to a Juror—The construction of the balcony
would have no effect in throwing down the walls.
In answer to another Juror—The work was very hastily
executed. If it had not been opened for two months, the
accident might never have happened.
Mr. Hill suggested, that as a letter had been referred to
by Mr. Maurice and Mr. Carruthers, as having been re-
ceived from the patentee of the roof, or some agent of
his, it was most material that the letter should be now
produced.
Mr. Pullen said he had the letter in his possession, and
was ready to produce it.
The examination of Mr. Pulsford was then proceeded
with.—ln answer to Mr. Hill he said, in my opinion the
accident is not attributable in the slightest degree to
any fault in the building of the walls. They were built
at the very best season of the year, and I could not ob-
serve the slightest settlement in them. The walls
were of a proper thickness, and the thickness was properly
distributed. By the weight which was affixed to the roof
a lateral pressure was thrown on the walls. Walls are
built to support vertical and not lateral pressure. The
weight of a proper timber roof for the building, exclusive
of covering, would be from a ton and a half to two tons per
square of 100 feet. The walls of the theatre were fully
competent to bear such a weight, if applied vertically. In
my opinion, there is no want of skill or care attributable
to Mr. Whitwe 11; I consider Mr. Whitwell a skilful man ;
I have no reason to alter my opinion of him, and I should
be happy to take his professional opinion at all times.
Are you not of opinion that the architect was bound
publicly to protest against any thing affecting the safety of
the building?--I think it was his bounden duty to protest
privately to the proprietors, but not publicly.
Mr. Hill—From the nature of the material of which the
roof was constructed, (it being of wrought iron) must there
not have been indications of failure before the accident oc-
curred? Wituess—l know very little about iron roofs,
but I think the accident must have been preceded by some
indication of failure.
At the conclusion of Mr. Pulsford's examination, the
Jury desired to express their entire approbation of the con-
duct of Mr. Palsford, and the manner in which he gave
his evidence.
The CORONER concurred in this expression of opinion.
Mr. M'Cann, one of the Jurors, thought that if there
was no evidence to rebut the testimony of the witnesses
already examined, after the examination of Messrs. Smirke
and Nash, the Jury would make up their minds on the
subject.

kr. Cotter intimated that there was a witness in at-
tendance to contradict the testimony of Shaw, who had
been examined yesterday.
Mr. Hill thought it better that all the witnesses which
the Coroner deemed necessary for the purposes of the inves-
tigation, should be first examined ; and then the persons
representing individuals might call such witnesses as they
considered material.

The CORONER had no objection to this course ; but he
wished it to be distinctly understood, that they were sitting
to satisfy themselves how the deceased perssns came by
their death, and not for the trial of any collateral issues as
to which party Should pay damages.
Shaw was then recalled, and said, that in the openings
where the windows were the bond timbers were cut out,
but that could not affect the safety of the building.
This witness's evidence was then read over to him, and
he signed the deposition.
By Mr. Cotter—l was not aware of any tipping or dis-
lodgement of the walls on the day of or prior to the acci-
dent. 1 was informed by Mr. Carruthers in the latter
end of January, that he had paid Mr. Whitwell, and that
be had therefore nothing more to do with the building. The
proprietors never reproached me for not having men-
tioned the accident relative to the flies. I do not know
that the uprights would have prevented the accident. In
Covent-Garden Theatre, which is such an immense pile of
building, there is not an upright at all upon the stage. I
do not know that there was any intention of putting up
any thing in place of the trusses and truss girders which I
recommended.

The Jury then adjourned, for the purpose of taking some
refreshment, and upon their return into Court, the Fore-
man addressed the Coroner, and said, that they were so
much fatiguedby their attendance, that they wished, when
rising at four o'clock, to adjourn till Friday morning, on
which day they would sit till seven o'clock, and on Friday
evening they would wish to adjourn till Monday.
Mr. Hill was anxious to go to Nottingham, to attend
the Assizes there ; and if the Jury would take both their
holidays together, and sit to-morrow, adjourning to Friday
and Saturday, he would be back again with them by
Tuesday morning. This proposition w•as not agreeable to
the Jury, and therefore the original one was finally agreed to.

DOVER, MARCH 11, 1828.-1-lis Serene
Highness the Prince of LEININGEN arrived last evening at
the York hotel, and embarked this morning for Calais in
Majesty's steam-packet Crusader, under a salute from
Arrived from Calais the Sovereign
steam-packet, with the Earl of CitAnt.tmoNT and his
family.
thhise Western Heights.

We have great pleasure in stating, that the
bridge over the river Dart, between Totness and Bridge.
town Pomery, is nearly completed. We understand this
bridge will be opened to the public on the 25th inst., and
that it is the intention of the gentlemen who have raised
it, with others in the town and neighbourhood, to open it
by a procession, and afterwards to commemorate the event
by a dinner at the Seven Stars in that town.—Exeter
Alfred.

During the storm on Tuesday night latt, nine-
teen sheep perished in a snow drift in the West Marshes
at Grirnshy.—Boston Gazette.

On Wednesday last a sloop, supposed to be a
Humber keel, sunk in deep water near Marsh Chappel,
on the Lincolnshire coast, and the gale being too violent
to admit of assistance being rendered, the crew unfor-
tunately perished : no particulars have yet been ascertained.
—Bruton Gazette.