The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-22 00:00:00

WORCESTER RACES.

WEDNESDAY, Auc. 19.—The Corporation Plate of 50
sovs. each, for all ages. Heats, two miles.
Major Gore's Hesperus
Sir T. Stanley's Joceline, 5 yrs 1 3 2
Mr. Thorne's Forester Lass, aged
Mr. Lucas's Isabel, 5 yrs

BURTON-UPON-TRENT RACES.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 1 9.---Two-yr:old Sweepstakes of 25

sovs. each. T.Y. C.
Mr. Beardsworth's Birmingham 1
Sir 'l'. Mostyn's Sprig, by Whisker ' 2
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, and 25 added, for hor ei not
thorough-bred. Once round and a distance.
Mr. Whiteburst's Tom Moody, 5 yrs 3 1 1
Mr. Steel's Sawney, 5 yrs
Mr. Kimpson's Julia, 5 yrs
Mr. N'Vebb's Telegraph, aged
Sweepstakes of five sovs. ea, b, with 10 added. Heats,

•
once round and a distance.
Mr. Turner's Olympus, 1 yrs 1 1
Mr. Gitlard's Lucy, 3 yrs 2 2

THE MAJESTIC FETE ON THE THAMES.

Yesterday being the day announced for the grand Sail-
ing Match between ten or twenty fishermen's vessels, for
four purses of sovereigns, to take place, a number of cut-
ters and every denomination of boats crowded the River
at Waterloo-bridge, and at an early hour in the afternoon
the bridge was thronged by spectators, who were anxious
to witness the starting of the boats. The Endeavour
steamer was engaged by Mr. Sandwell, of the Dog Tavern,
Holywell-street, Strand, who had issued tickets at three
shillings a-head for admission on board. She was moored
off Waterloo-bridge about four o'clock, and a numerous
and highly. respectable company shortly arrived ; and on
twelve or fourteen fishing-boats assembling at the bridge,
nothing short of a " Majestic Naval Fete" was anticipated,
and more especially so, as Mr. Nelson, the Deputy Water
Bailiff, had arrived to start the vessels. The vast assem-

blage, however, was doomed to experience disappointment.
The gentleman who had taken upon himself the collection
of the subscription-money was not forthcoming with the
needful. When this fact became generally known, it ex-
cited strong expressions of disapprobation, and the fisher-
men were loud in their vociferations. A private inter-
view, however, subsequently took place bet Ween some gen-
tlemen from the steamer and the collector on shore, at the
request of the latter, when be handed over five pounds,
declaring it to be the balance, after deducting printing, &c.
This not being sufficient to sail for, Messrs. Nelson,
Bishop, and C. Noakes, guaranteed to make the money
251., which is to be sailed for on Monday week. The
steamer proceeded up the river with the company, and
returned about nine o'clock.—A good band was provided,
quadrille parties were set, and the junior portion amused
themselves on the " light fantastic toe," whilst the elderly
partook of more solid enjoyments, provided in abundance
by Mr. Sandwell, with elegance, comfort, and variety.
The trip was really a very agreeable one.

EXECUTION OF JOHN STUART AND

HIS WIFE.

(From the Edinburgh Evening Courant of Thursday.)
Yesterday these atrocious criminals underwent

the last sentence of the law at the usual place of
execution, head .4f Libberton's \Vynd, for the mur-
der of Robert Lamont,.on board the Toward Castle
steam boat, in December last. The novelty and atro-
city of this case, and the peculiar and almost unprece-
dented circumstance of a husband and wife going to
the scaffold together, excited a deep and general in-
terest ; and in consequence, notwithstanding the
torrents of rain which fell from an early hour in the
morning, a most unusual crowd had assembled by
eight o'clock.
On Tuesday night, about nine o'clock, the crimi-
nals were removed from the Calton Jail in 'a coach,
attended by the Governor and others, and lodged
in the Lockup-house. They seemed to have been
quite prepared for this removal, which was carried
into effect without any inconvenience from the pass-
ing crowd in the streets. On entering the Lock-
up-house, the female culprit wept much; and on
being questioned whether it was the fear of death,
she answered with readiness, " Oh yes, yes, it is
the fear of death." Dr. Gordon visited them shortly
after eleven o'clock, and spent several hours with

them in religious exercises, in ..vhich they appeared
to take a deep interest. It was subsequently
proposed by the attendants, that they should lie
down upon the bed in the room. To this Stuart
at first objected, stating that when they wakened they
might meet with a sudden surprise, the effects of
which he dreaded, both as regarded his own and his
wife's resolution. They were, however, at length
prevailed upon to agree to the proposal, and went to
bed. The man was in irons, but the woman was
perfectly at liberty. They showed no gfeat inclina-
tion to sleep, but conversed with each other in
whispers, apparently on the awful fate which awaited
them on the morrow. During the night the woman
was almost constantly dissolved in tears. Stuart.
endeavoured tO console her, and seemed to be
touched by her grief, observing that it was useless
to indulge in vain regrets, as " they were now in
the hands of the Almighty." She said it was the
fear of dying that caused her to cry—not that she
doubted the Divine mercy. The ardent affection
and sympathy which the two criminals testified for
each other, in their misery, appears a singular ano-
maly in such a life of crime as they had previously
pursued, When they first met in the Lock-up-
house, the female fell upon the neck of her htoband,
where she lay weeping and sobbignsg
‘f,oerrse:llelorarel. tours,
almost unconscious of the presence of tile clergy-
man. Stuart,
rtmiTyugreht urhnisedfeleielirn :•,aecti on, repeatedly
embracing her and otheTwise testifying his regard
for her. At five o'clecic in the morning, they were
waited on by l ilia Small, who had some conversa-
tion with them of a religious nature. He wv,s soon
after joined by Mr. Porteous.

At half-past six o'clocirl &,tuart descended with
firm step.from the Yell where he slept to the hall.—
On eteri-iig this room he complained of being cold,
though he %-.1 ore a greett coat, and tea was ordered
for him, 'He then asked permission to smoke a
pipe. His behaviour was throughotkt calm sad col-
lected, without the least appearance of recklessness
or indifference. About a quarter of an hour after,
his wife came down stairs, neatly dressed in black.
Wt, thought she felt gratified with her
neat appear-
ance. Her husband rose from lAks scat to receive
her; she sat down near the fire, and entered into
conversation wiAn ttjp4 bat in a low tone of voice.

She had by this time rallied and had an
appearance, at least, of composure. Both partook
of tea, and the female prisoner-requested the use of
a pipe ; and cleaning it out with. a pin, which she
borrowed from one of the by-stfinders,-pnrolled her
tobacco, and commenced smoking, as if iflpltklging in
an inveterate habit, and continued wliile .shi was

listening, with apparent earnestness, to the pious
exhortations of Mr. Porteous.

At eight o'clock they walked into the room in
which the duties of the executioner commenced.
Stuart at first endeavoured to hide from his wife
the pinioning of his arms, but she went round and
round him to see the operation. They then for a
minute stood close together in the centre of the
room, and Stuart appeared to have forgot his own
case in solicitude for the consolation of his wife. He
exhorted her to be firm, to keep up her heal t, for
God would pardon even the chief of sinners, for
Christ's sake, when they truly repented. When her
turn came to resign herself into the hands of the
executioner, Stuart again renewed his attempts
to inspire her with religious comfoi t. She told her
husband that he had better take off the handkerchief
which he wore round his neck, " as it belonged to
one of the turnkeys of the gaol." He replied " 0
yes; never mind it." The matron of the jail was par-
ticularly attentive, and requested her to draw on a
white cap, which had been prepared in order to save
time. Turning to the executioner, she remarked,
rather smartly, " You'll surely give me time to do
that," implying that he would so far indulge ber on
the scaffold.

The necessary preparations being competed, the
solemn procession moved from the Lock-up-lion ,e
towards the scaffold, at a quarter of an hour past
eight o'clock. After a soleirm, feeling and im-
pressive prayer by Dr. Gordon, and while praying
for the unthinking crowd, Mrs. Stuart audibly repeated
again and again, " Amen—Amen," they took their
paces on the drop, and while the executioner was
fastening the rope round the neck of Stuart, his ‘vife
looked at him earnestly for the last time.

Her face was then covered, and the rope put
about her neck. She expressed a wish to embrace
her husband; but this being impossible, they shook
hands, she saying, " John, I trust we shall meet
again in heaven." Each then prayed fervently, and
implored forgiveness for themselves and for the per-
son by whom they were initiated in the diabolical
practices which brought them to.the scaffold. The
handkerchief, which was thrown away as the signal,
was put into Smart's hands; arid he was now ob-
served for .the first time to falter, trembling exces-
sively, opening his hand and then shutting it con-
vulsively, as if he could not bear to part with the
last hold which bound him to life. His wife was
outwardly calm. She stood motionless; while her
countenance turned to a deadly pale, Her lips
moved as if in prayer; and she grasped the hand of
her companion. The fatal signal was at last given,
and both were at one instant launched into eternity,
Stuart died apparently without a struggle; but the
frame of the female was violently agitated for a few
minutes.

The prisoners were decently dressed in black
clothes, furnished to them by the Governor of the
gaol—Stuart wearing the clothes in which Burke
was executed. He was of a stout, strongly-built
frame, with rather a disagreeable physiognomy, his
features harsh and ungainly, and his face much
marked with the small pox. The appearance of the
female, who was only 22 years of age, was youthful
and interesting; and her fate appeared to excite a
feeling of general commiseration. The appearance
of these criminals on the scaffold, though their guilt
was certainly deep and atrocious, did not give rise
to any degree of popular excitement. No shoutings
were heard from the multitude; on the contrary all
was quiet and orderly.
Since their condemnation, we understand the
conduct of both criminals has been quiet and or-
derly, and such as to give satisfaction to their reli-
gious instructors. Stuart, during that period, has
twice read through the New Testament. The
female, previous to her coming to Edinburgh, was
comparatively illiterate. So late as Sunday last she
entertained hopes of a reprieve; but when apprised
that the application had been refused, she wept bit-
terly. This circumstance being mentioned to Stuart,
he was greatly affected ; but said, it was good that
she found relief in tears, for he himself, though his
heart was like to break, could shed no tears. In a
conversation which he had with some of his visitors,
he said that he did not intend to murder Lamont,
adding, " We would have been mad to have com-
mitted murder knowingly in a steam-boat." But
his wife had administered the drug without his
knowledge, for she was in the practice of mixing
the potion ; but fearing that it had not been given,
or that it had not taken effect, he administered
another dose. In conversing with another gentle-
man, he said it was the least ho could do to put the
public on their guard, and hoped his fate would be
an awful caution to poor people against sitting down
to drink with strangers, for the practice was more
widely spread than was generally imagined. The mode
in which the deception was managed was, he said, for
the one party to engage a stranger in conversatic,n,
while the other would take the glass and drir;k
portion of it, then, holding it under the t;nle, or
otherwise out of sight, pour in the fatal drug without
being observed, and pretending to sip a little out ois
it, place it before the victim of tly.ar intended t',.ea.
chery. This is exemplified in ttee case of the unfor-
tunate Lamont. While on bo.2:ed the Tow,:ad Castle
the person they first ititentkd to practis:e upon with
their diabolical contrivances was a 'nawker's wife,
who was observed to possess s
notes. But finding her too prudent
cash in Bank
dent to be easily en-
snared,and observing that liobert Lamont was pos-
sessed or a sum of mc,aey, their arts were directed
solely to him.

With regard to the female prisoner, she was born
in Glasgow; but brought up in Dumfries; and has
been married, as already stated, two years ; but had
no family. She appears to have been a young
woman of strong passions, and though she was often
subjected to the most brutal treatment fror, her
husband, she was attached to him to u degree
almost to infatuation, continuing to et.'"along with
him in all his atrocious crimes, as se:itously as if he
had treated her kindly. On ong ‘:;ccasion when they
were travelling together in Irtliand, they quarrelled,
and he beat her so dreadfifty with a stick, that she
was left lying in a sto.`te of insensibility on a muir.
When she recovz:red she proceeded to Dumfries to
her motile': ; but on reaching her door, did not
enter 'having resolved to return to her husbandl.
inough he had used her so, eruellvi
The mother of Mrs, Stuart visited her in prison,
but as may be supposed, they met and parted with
increased affliction.

After hanging the usual time the bodies were cut
down, and carried back to the Lbek-up-house, with
strict injunctions, which hP:ve been pointedly ad-
hered to, that no one should see them. At _nine
o'clocl, precisely, the bodies were conveyed from the
1,04,4-house to Dr. Monro's dissecting-room,
w).-..ere we saw them a few minutes afterwards.
Having been laid on the table, and incisions made
into the jugular rein of each, they bled profusely;
it being a well known fact, that in all cases of vio-
lent death the blood remains liquid, whereas in eases
of natural death it coagulates‘ This fact of ilia li-
quidity of the blood was strikingly exerr2.l',fied in
these subjects; all the upper parts of the 'oody being
of a pale white colour, while the l(n'er were livid,
. the eyes bkoothshot, the jaws fir:fily locked, and fists
clenched, another in.dication of sudden death. The
figure of the wsman is good, her make slender and
delicate, her skin of remarkable whiteness. That
itoetnasn:creon proportion.
of tto Man is extremely compact and robust in the
had the same ex-
pression of hull-
headed, dogged resolution, which
characterized him in life, and did not strike us in
any degree more sinister or forbidding. The great
Etrivmenk,inbudt
etahtehlehgiss acoreunt
breadth across the cheeks, tho face terminating in an
acute angle at the cilia, and the peculiarly small
sunk eyes, are fully; as remarkable in Stuart, as it,
Thurtell, Corder,Burkeor stay other great mar-
derer.