The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-20 00:00:00

EXECUTIONS.-(THIS DAY.)

At a few minutes before eight o'clock this morning the four in-
dividuals (one having been respited), whose lives a Jury of their
country had adjudged forfeited to their offended laws, were ushered
into the press-room, preparatory to their final separation from
the world.

William Davies, aged 26, convicted of robbing his master,
Captain Knox, was the first who entered. He advanced with
a firm, quiet, demeanour, and seemed most perfectly resigned
to the horrors of his fate. His mind appeared absorbed in
devotion, and his countenance, which was pale and ghastly, formed
arpetfect contrast to his appearance on his trial, and bore witness
to the internal agony that appeared to have shook his whole frame.
He was a well made young man, rather above the middle size, and
seemed to possess a deep sense of his situation. He bowed as he
came in, held out his hands to be bound, and seated himself on
the bench without uttering a word.

James Wingfield, aged 25, was the next brought in. Our
readers may, perhaps, recollect that he was convicted of violat-
ing tae person of Sarah Weatherby, a child aged 12 years,
in a field near Harrow. He was a small man, about five feet in
height, dressed as a farmer's servant, and presented his hands to
be bound before he reached the attendants, remarking, that it was
almost unnecessary, as he was quite resigned. At this moment
he exhibited nearly the same appearance of vacancy as on
his trial, which would almost iead the spectator to be-
lieve that he hardly possessed intellect enough to distin-
guish right from wrong. His crime, however, bad been
clearly proved against him, and the most humane exer-
tions had been made by Mr. Sheriff `Winchester and several
other gentlemen to discover any fact that might tend to invalidate
the evidence, or palliate the aggravation of his guilt. lie thanked
the Sheriffs for their kind interference, and Mr. Wontner for his
humane treatment, as did indeed all the criminals before they left

the room.
The next was Robert Young, aged 34. This man was convicted
on indisputable evidence of a burglary in the house of Mt. Burnell,
at Feltham Hill. By the implements found in his residence, and
the finished dexterity with which the premises were entered, he
was believed to have been a practised burglar, and no hopes of
mercy were held out to him. He now entered the room in an
apparent state of tremor, yet still possesising the same stern and
,r7rewhat savage immovability of countenance as on his trial and
condemnation, lie was dressed as a labourer, and preserved the
same sullen silence nearly all the time of the awful ceremony.
While this prisoner was being bound, Wingfield complained of
the tightness of the cord which bound his wrists, and it was im-
mediately loosened.
The rent anal last was Royal Keats, aged 31, for sheep-steal-
ing. Having a contracted leg, he walked with a crutch, and
seemed perfectly resigned. This prisoner's bands were in conse-
quence not bound till he entered the soup-room adjoining the
scaffold. Every thing being now-in readiness, the sad procession
moved, at a solemn pace, to the last scene. The stern warning
of the prison bell struck in upon the funeral service, and seemed
to paralyse the unfortunate men. Wingfield wept aloud, and all
present were deeply affected. Being arrived in the last room,
Keats's hands were pinioned, and after the other prisoners had
taken their stations on the fatal drop, he was assisted up the stairs.
There he"was supported by his crutch during a few moments ofprayer,
and after it had been withdrawn, he remained standing steadily
on one leg, till the drop falling, closed for ever, the light of these
unfortunate men. Wingfield was slightly convulsed, but the others
seemed to die without a struggle. The crowd was unusually great,
and chewed the usual want of feeling, by their disorderly be-
haviour.