The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-14 00:00:00

that I am so far conscientious, I have amongst some pri-
rate letters here, which I have had conveyed to me since. I
came hither, one in which a desire is expressed to account
for the manner in which my clothes were so besmeared; and
the person in his devotedness to me offers to forswear him-
self; but I would rather have this mysterious part of the
alThir remain as it is, by leaving it in the hands of my counsel.
I know while doing so I endanger my own safety, but I have
urgent reasons for doing so. lf this gloomy affair terminate
adversely, I die a martyr; if otherwise, by my taking a de-
fensive course, I live a traitor. This sounds paradoxical, pro-
bably, to your ears, but such is the fact, of which I excuse
and pardon your disbelief until it be further evidenced to
you. 1..wi1l therefore quit this part of the subject with this
remark :
.after such a paiufund ignominious exposure of
everything connected with my present and former circum.
stances, together with every vile and contumelious insult
and misrepresentation, I can have no desire to survive the
issue, be it ever so favourable to my innocence. I am
ruined inevitably and irrevocably, and. I am too much the
Englishman to fear death, whatever form it may. assume.
But more to the matter. The deceased, Delarue, had
frequently offered his services to me in the way of pecuniary
assistance. (I ought, perhaps, to have told you that I had
known the deceased for nearly two years.) It wan
about six months after our acquaintance that he made.
the first friendly overture of the kind, and it
was something like two months following that I ac-
cepted it. H at that time gave me 4i. 10s., will&
was the whole of the contents of his purse, accompa-
nied by the words, Rocker, never see me again if you
once venture to return elle this trifle; I ant no friend of
yours in your estimation if you view it as a loan merely'
Last August I kept away from him for a month or tire
weeks, on account of the shabby condition of my apparel.
He took it unconfiding on my part that I did not acquaint
him with my embarrassed circumstances, and he then good:
heartedly insisted on my turning to the best advantage 51..
which he threw at. me, wishing he could punish' me its
the same way right on for a whole day. Such was the
nature of our intimacy. I have had 'property belonging to
deceased of eonsideraiile value. A large telescope-1 shoul4
say worth I. or Al.—also a smaller one, and an opera glass,
microscope, kc.—all of which he lent me at different times,
and which 1 beiieve are to be found at his apartments now.
3ly parents, and several others, remember to have seen them.
The deceased also entrusted me with a silver watch, a silver
watchguard, and part of a diamond ring.. The part which
contained the diamend only remained. I had to dispose of
-them Thr 31. 17s. The deceased was anxious to make up a
certain sum of money by a given time, and I understood the
request as a delicate wish for me to pledge the article's for-
him. I got them pawned at a Mr. Richardson's, Henry-
street, Portland-town, for the required amount. The de-
ceased gave me the .duplieates, which I handed over to
the officers when they searched my apartment. How I came
with • the watch and
.ring which the brother of deceaged
identified was in the following way :—ln bur 'engagements of
late deceased had. often been half an hour behindhaed. His
watch, fur some time past, had performed irregularly. lie
frequently struck it. with his walking-cane, in a momentary
ill-humour, which accounts for the seconds pointer being
gone. lie gave it to me to be cleaned and repaired for
him, at the same time producing his ring, which W-
ale-apt been too large for his little finger, to be lessened,
and for the .brilliant to be reset, which it needed, in
consequence of an attempt to prove its genuineness,
which he effected by removing the brilliant front its setting,
and striking it with a hammer, having first placed it ou
a stone for that purpose. He had used all his influence
towards putting me into a comfortable situation, but bad
failed until the morning of the day on which he was mur-
dered. I forgot to state that it was on this morning that de-
ceased gave the watch and ring to me. On that morning he
saluted me in a pleasant air, and said he brought me good
newishe hoped. -He then led me to think I should he a little
better to do in a few days, but that he would acquaint me
with more anon. -He provided me at the same time with,
(what indeed •I had for some time expected) 12/. in gold.
The deceased had so often lent me money that I was ash-lured
to mention his name again to my parents ; I, therefore, forged
a falsehood, and represented Mrs. Edwards as the donor. • 1
was in possession of the money in the morning, and that sc•
coants for my positively assuring my parents that I might
hhve it. by calling on Mrs. Edwards in the evening. At
seven o'clock in the evening of the Friday I went to the Swiss
Tavern, and called for rum and water. 1 stayed there nearly
three quarters of an hour. There was another man--
apparently a gentleman—in the room during the whole e.f
the time, to whom I read portions of the day's newspaper.
A candle was on the table, close by me, whiled was reading..
It was a bitterly cold night, and the fire was burning cheer-
fully. Tstboil in the front. of it for some time. hied my
clothes at that time been disordered or bloody, the gentle-
man or the waiter must have seen it. The waiter remarked
at the inquest, after failing to identify me, that the person
who ordered the rum and water had white hands; he meant,
at least, that they were not bloody. If I went anywhere to
wash them, why suffer my clothes to remain as they were,
and have the temerity to enter alighted public-house so near
the spot? But it is not my place to write in this limner.
I will proceed further. After I left the tavern I directed my
path across the fields. in a line with the spot where the deed
was committed, for it lay in roy way to the Hampstead-
road, whither I was going. As I approached Haverstock-
lield, whistling a merry tune, a policeman ran out from the
hedge, and accosted me with the words Young gentleman,
sad work here; here.', a dead man.' I immeoiately scaled
the fence with him,- and asked him if he was sure the
man was dead ? The policeman (Baldock) said, There
was no doubt of it.' I felt the pulse of the deceased,
It was still.. He remarked that the deceased was a .
young man.- It was an awful spectacle, and we both
wept. I felt quite sick and chilly, and told the policeman I
should shortly take some brandy. I proposed to him to do
the same. I continued with him and the deceased, without •
offering to withdraw, for forty minutes. I told Baldock that
some months back I had been in the habit of crossing
the adjacent field from Hampstead several times in a •
week at a late hour in the evening, and that I usually
carried a pocket stiletto as a life-preserver, which I showed
him, asking him whether the possession of such an instru-
ment were illegal or not. He said he .thought not. Ile re-
marked that the blade was very bright. %Hock asked the
time of the night. I Inked at the watch which has since
been produced, and told him. Sergeant Fletcher and some
four or live other policemen then arrived with a stretcher.
Almost all of them addressed me on seeing me on the spot
with Baldock. I accompanied the policemen, four of whom
carried the corpse. I asked one of them if it were necessary
for me still to attend them ; he said, if I could give no in-
formation, it would be useless. 1 had made an appointment'
to be in Portland-place that evening. I found that I had al-
ready exceeded my time through remaing so long with
Baldock. I left them with the corpse when I had got•as far
as Church-row, Hampstead, and hastened towards my desti-
nation."

[This appeared to be the conclusion of the first statement,
, and the prisoner tookup another paper. After a momentary
pause, he proceeded
" 1 wish to explain to you as nearly as my feelings will
suffer me, the nature of my present trial, and to show you,
that to attempt an extrication out of my misery, by a toll
disclosure of everything connected with this sad affair, would
be futil and fiendish. About a year ago I courted a young
lady at Hampstead, whose parents were highly genteel and
respectable. 1 felt a great attachment to her; we met and loved
in secret. I introduced myself to her parents shortly after my
acquaintance with her. She was a beautiful girl, and I felt that
I should be proud to introduce her to the man whom I looked
upon as.myyery best, friend. At length I found an opportunity
ufdoing so. The parents of the girl, finding that I had
such a friend as Delarue, invited us both to see them. I had
represented Delarne as a man of property, and in every
sense of the word a gentleman. We frequently after-
wards visited the family together. What he lacked in man-
ner and address was compensated by his condition in life.
which was so much more favourable than mine. Delarue
betrayed me, and at length, after a long interview with the
father, he refused me as a suitor to his daughter. Hence-
forth Delarue was the acknowledged lover, though discou-
raged by tke girl's indifference towards him. But time and
assiduity accomplish everything ; he won her affections at
last, end proved the genuineness of his heart to me and the
girl by seducing her ! Yes, such a villain was the man who.
though dead, I abhor; and now comes the catastrophe. A
short period elapsed, and the parlnts suspected, by the girl's
tears and Delarue's rude withdrawal, that all was not right.
and subsequently the secret was divulged. Oh, picture to
yourself the distraction of the parents of an only daughter
in such a condition, and the thirsty revenge of an only
brother who had been married honourably but five weel:e.
Revenge was the theme alone that had any charms for
him, and we all determined to have it, for I was dishonoured
with the rest. They knew I could forge a lady'bliandwriting.
I penned the note which was found on deceased's person, and
sent it by a young woman whom Delarue knew. He at-
tended to the assignation, and was on the spot where he bad
effected the ruin of an innocent creature, and where he met
his fate. I and the brother accompanied each other till we
came to llaverstock-field, when we separated ; he to the
fatal spot, and I to the Swiss Tavern, which we appointed our
rendezvous, but not until I had waited about for some time.
I myself distinctly heard the cry of Murder.' I then knew
the scene had commenced, but neither the brother nor I had

any presage or thought of the issue. After waiting soma
time.for him at the tavern, I hastened to Ilarerstock-field.

This is the explanation of my anxiety to feel the pulse of
the deceased, and my shedding tears when I witnessed the
result of that revenge, which had not death for its object, but
seriousmutilation. I hurried to the house of the perpetrator.
who had flown there for refuge. I then took the whole

upon myself, as I had been the principal cause of the tra-
gedy. •I
immediately rushed from the house and sought a
slaughter-house in Hampstead, and disfigured my clothes in
3a,.
(reot,sonGofdor.,
imtizi
for the bloody state gentlemen, I cannot account of
a pool of blood which I found handy. You see.
ordeal in unison with
my
them clothesso— s
I have mentioned no names to you ; and ob..
my wishes. erewiishoutthe gidviiffingcult
did you but see the state of mind I I cannot prove that I
pass through the impending
was not on the spot at the time of action, unless I, to save
myself, who am innocent, bring to justice those who, as far
as intention was concerned, are equally so. Am I sure that
by such a course I should be free from imputation ?
.And if
they should turn their backs upon me—which it is in their
power to do—what then would become of me? See how i
am surrounded by difficulties? I will not say anything to
acquit myself—that is at, the best only dubious; and which it
calculated to involve others in addition to myself. I cannot
say more—my mind is almost bewildered." The reading of this extraordinary statement caused the
greatest astonishment in the Court. •
HOCK ER'S CONDUCT SINCE HIS CONDEMNATION
After the conviction of Rocker he was removed in an ex-
hausted state to the cell in the prison yard. He was received
by the deputy governor, Mr. Wright, who had humanely di-
rected some tea and toast to be in readiness for him. 'these
he partook of with much avidity, and gratefully acknow-
ledged the attention of the deputy governor. In the course
of the evening he was visited by Mr. Davis, the ordinary,
and exhorted to penitence and prayer. Kitman, one of the
officers, sat up with Docker during the night, which was
passed by the wretched man in sound sleep. Yesterday
morning 'he awoke about seven o'clock, and ate a hearty
breakfast ; but although he manifested much firmness, W-3
spirits were evidently subdued by the solemn warning of the
Judge to prepare to meet his Maker. In the early part of the
morning he was visited by Mr. Sheriff Sydney, who had
a lengthened interview with him in the presence of the
deputy governor. At this meeting Rocker for the first
time betrayed emotion, and he wept loud and bitterly. It is
stated that his feelings were overcome on reference being
made to his family, and that he made no allusion to do
murder of the unfortunate man Detente. The details of the
interview are, however, for obvious reasons, w/P.ateld.
During the day he was repeatedly visited by the Iztv, Clasp-
lain, who has supplied hint with several ref
liltnis books. He
is represented to be quiet and respectful 4.0 the officers, and
a young man of more than orditiar--
intelligence in conver-
sation. The singularly yr- i
it:;n statement which he read On
his trial has been Lis 7;rincipal occupation since his confine-
ment in NOlvf,":tie. Ile has devoted several hours daily to!
framing his defence, which he invariably drew out- in short-
hand characters, which were transcribed and reduced intoti
the form in which it has been.prezented to the public. I
father had an interview with him on Thursday, but none of
his relatives L a li" him yesterday. From letters that have
been written by the convict, unhappy and which have fallen
into the Governor's -bands, it appears that• he has made up
his mind for the worst, as he expressed his determination to
"play the man." His execution, it is said, will take place -
on Monday; the 28th -instant, and it is believed he will make'
a confession.