The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-25 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION OF JAMES
TAPPING.

The unfortunate criminal who yesterday expiated in
front of the prison of Newgate the crime of which he
had been convicted, namely, the murder of Emma
Whiter, at Bethnal-green, had all along, we are happy
to say,paid the utmost attention to the admonitions of the
reverend chaplain, Mr. Davis; but up to the last moment
he strenuously denied that he was guilty of tho dead-
imputed to him, and insisted, with every appearance
of sincerity, that the unfortunate girl had herself, in a
passion of jealousy, put a termination to her existesee.
Nor did the visits of his relatives elicit anything like a
confession from him; for, though subdued to a childlike
weakness, he still maintained his innocence. To the
clergyman who unceasingly attended him he acknow-
ledged that his career had been a vicious one, but
trusted that God would forgive him, as he himself freely
forgave all men. His relations attribute the melan-
choly catastrophe to the pernicious libels contained in
the anonymous letters which were sent both to the pri-
soner and the deceased by some cowardly and malicious
scoundrels ; but the unfortunate man himself traces his
first error to the circumstance of his frequenting what
are popularly called "night concert-rooms." It will be
remembered by our readers that it was in returning from
one of these places that the quarrel occurred which re-
sulted in the death of the girl.
The prisoner was fully aware that his sentence was
not likely to be in any degree commuted, and had in
consequence made up his mind to meet his fate with
firmness.

On this the last morning of his life, he rose about five
o'clock, and, having dressed, passed the hours till seven
in earnest devotion. He then took breakfast with, as
he himself said, " a good appetite," eating a buttered roll
and a slice of toast, and drinking two cups of tea, and an
equal number of cups of coffee. He was then waited as
by Mr. Sheriff Sidney and the Under-Sheriffs, in the
condemned cell, where he gave a letter of thanks into the
hands of the Under-Sheriffs, and another letter, un-
sealed, into the hands of the Chaplain, to be given to his
relations. We subjoin both of these:—
. . . . .

" James Tapping returns his grateful thanks to the
Governor, the Chaplain, and Sheriffs, to his friends, and
the officers of the gaol, for their very kind attention,
and, if it meets with the Governor's approbation, he
should like his sisters Betsy and Mary to receive his
clothes. " JAMES TAPPING, March 23, 1845."
The request conveyed in this note will, of course, be
at once complied with by Mr. Cope. The other letter
is as follows:

" My dear Brothers and Sisters,—Receive the last
wishes of your unfortunate brother, and God grant yoni
may proeper in all your undertakings. Do not think him
neglectful, and forgive him as he hopes to be forgiven.
I feel greatly f,,r your situation, but I hope and trust that
Almighty God will give you all sufficient strength to
bear it, is the sincere wish of your unfortunate brother,
" JAMES TAPPING."
James Tapping, previously to the procession being
formed to the scaffold, was asked by Mr. Sheriff
Sidney if he wished to say any thing, as some gentle-
men connected with the daily press were present ? but
he answered, " No," and added, "what I have got to say
I'll say on the scaffold. Don't refuse me this, as it is
my last request." The unfortunate man's arms having
been pinioned, the Governor, Mr. Cope, moved from the
cell, followed by the Under Sheriffs, by Mr. Sheriff
Sidney, the Chaplain reading the service for the dead,
and the prisoner, who, with his eyes directed to the
ground, trod with as firm a step as if he were the least
affected there. The Deputy-Governor and the rest of
the persons present brought up the rear. On arriving
at the base of the scaffold, the prisoner shook hands and
bade farewell to those near him; and then, with a firm
step, ascended the ladder, attended by the Chaplain and
the Under-Sheriffs. The crowd, which could have
numbered no less than 6,000 persons, greeted the ap-
pearance of the criminal with cheers, waving of hats and
handkerchiefs, and other demonstrations, which fur-
nished the very best of all possible arguments against
the publicity of these executions. The unfortunate naan
viewed with the most perfect calmness the awful prepa-
ration's ; and after a few brief words, the Under-Sheriffs
retired, and he was left with the Chaplain and the exe-
cutioner. his last expressions were :—" I acknowledge
the justice of my sentence, and hope to be forgiven, as I
forgive all men ;" and in another moment he was
launched into eternity.
It is said that the younger members of the family, who
had been wholly supported by the prisoner, will now be
thrown upon the parish.

The Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ad-
ministered on Sunday morning at St. Peter's Church,
De Beauvoir-town, West Hackney, by the Hon.
and Rev. Frederick S. Monckton, after a sermon preached
by him, from the four first verses of the 6th chapter of
St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. There were about 25
communicants present, including the Dowager Countess
of Galway, the mother of the Rev. Gentleman.