Star.
London, England, 1830-05-05 00:00:00

THE LATE PETER COMYN, ESQ.

FURTMER PARTICULARS.
This unhappy gentleman, whose rank in society, and
presumed aberration of intellect, attached such an extra-
ordinary degree of public interest to every circumstance
of his past life and ultimate doom, was executed in Ennis
last Wednesday, pursuant to sentence of Court at Spring
Assizes, for the wilful burning of his residence, Scotland
Lodge, near Burren. On this melancholy occasion, all
the shops in Ennis were shut up, and their usual busi-
ness suspended, in compliment to the ill-fated gentleman
and his very respectable connections throughout the
county. Notwithstanding the ardent curiosity of the
lower classes of the people to witness fatal exhibitions of
this kind, especially where the sufferer was far above the
ordinary routine of such causes, yet the numbers assem-
bled on Wednesday in front of the gaol were not so large
as had been expected, which can only be ascribed to this
cause, the knowledge of a respite having arrived, and
the general impression that Mr. Comyn's life was sure to
be spared. The reverse, however, proved to be the fact ;
for though it is true the respite had been received, to af-
ford time for inquiry into the real state of mind of this
unfortunate gentleman, Government did not conclude
there was sufficient evidence of unsound intellect to jus-
tify the extension of royal clemency. Mr. Comyn, who
before this last capital charge was understood to be in
religious belief a nominal Protestant, although, in truth,
frequenting no place of divine worship, received visits
after conviction from clergymen of the Established and
Roman Catholic churches, whose spiritual admonitions it
was quite apparent, in the first instance, had very little
influence either on his temper or usual habits of life. In
fact, he received their attentions with a sort of indolence
or levity of manner quite at variance with the uniform
character of persons to whose mortal career the extreme
sentence of the law has adjudged a brief and definite
existence. Though occasionally eccentric, as well
as obstinate in his notions, and difficult the task to con-
vert his mind to a fixed and proper sense of his awful
situation. Dean O'Shaughnessy, the Parish Priest of
Ennis, persevered in the charitable task, and at length
acquired such an ascendancy over his wayward feelings
as to render him perfectly sensible of his approaching
fate, and the necessity of meeting it with the penitence
and resignation of a Christian, hoping for forgiveness
through the mercy of GOD and the merits of his RE-
DEEMER. Those pious sentiments grew stronger as the
hour for his execution advanced, and on Wednesday
morning he was removed from his cell to a more spacious
apartment immediately adjoining the scaffold, while the
preparations would be going forward for the dreadful
ceremony. By this time most of the gentry, in Ennis
had left town in various directions, nor was any one of
them visible for the day in the streets.
Early orders had been given to admit no person within
the precincts of the gaol except a Clergyman or the She-
riff's assistants, and but in one particular instance, which
shall be explained, these orders were strictly adhered to.
Mr. Comyn had slept very little the previous night, hav-
ing devoted most of his hours to fervent prayer, and he
received the Sacrament on the morning of his execution.
For the short period that intervened between this and 4
o'clock, the exhortations of Dean O'Shaughnessy, Rev.
Mr. Gorman, his Curate, and the Rev. Mr. Comyn, P.P.
of Kilkee, were unremitting, and they neglected no ex-
pedient that could sooth his mind or qualify him for the
last ordeal. He used occasionally to bathe his eyes in a
vase of sold water, as they looked rather dull and painful,
with slight degree of inflammation.
At two o'clock Mr. Kenny, the junior Sheriff, came
to apprise him in the mildest terms that the mails had
arrived, and that there was no order to arrest the sen-
tence, but that he (Mr. Kenny) would render every in-
dulgence in his power, and stay the execution until four
o'clock. Mr. Comyn thanked the sheriff, saying, if
there was any chance of respite, it would have arrived
before then, and that the sheriff of course should do his
duty, and that he (Mr. Comyn) was fully prepared to
meet his fate.

The unhappy gentleman now expressed great anxiety
about a new manuscript document which lay on the table
before him, and sent to beg that three persons should be
admitted to witness it in his presence. One of the cler-
gymen accordingly withdrew, when Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Mr. J. O'Shaughnessy, and Mr. Cullinen, were called
into the room, and introduced to Mr. Comyn.—He was
attired in a full mourning suit of black, and opposite him
lay a crucifix ; off the far end of the table was a bottle of
wine and a glass. He rose instantly with this paper in
his hand; it was read aloud, and he said it contained a
faithful exposé of his religious sentiments, drawn up by
himself after serious and deliberate investigation. He
declared he bad often in his life conversed with men of
all creeds, Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Dissenters,
and canvassed their several doctrines, and that now, after
calm reflection, he believed in his conscience it was safer
for bun to die in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church,
than that of any other communion of Christians. He re-
gretted that he had not done this before, and he now felt
most anxious this avowal of his principles should
get publicity in every shape, and that it would be
read from all the Chapels in the Diocese.—He then
took the pen and signed the document, which was
witnessed by the aforesaid three persons. The Rev.
Mr. Comyn, of Kilkee, now begged those present to
observe that it was quite a voluntary act, and that no
force or dictation was employed to induce Mr. Comyn
to make this profession. Mr. Comyn, who appeared
sunk in a reverie for a few moments, now turned about
and said in a firm and stern tone to the speaker, " There
is no man on earth, Sir, could force me to do any thing
of that kind." He then prayed with Dean O'Shaugh-
nosey until the hour of four had arrived, when every
thing was stated to be ready. He roused himself at the
summons, and walked with a firm step to the scaffold,
where he knelt, unconscious of all about him, while
making responses to his spiritual attendant. Once or
twice he fell into a short stupor or mental abstraction,
but rallied again, and striking his breast with every mark
of real devotion, prayed loudly and fervently for mercy.
The executioner having gently removed his cravat,which
Mr. Comyn scarcely noticed, the rope was arranged,
and the drop falling immediately after, he was launched
into eternity. Only one convulsive heave of his body
was noticed, and then all was motionless. He was left
hanging for fifty minutes, when the body was taken
down, and deposited in a richly mounted coffin, prepared
by his friends. On the plate of the coffin was engraved
his name and age, 52 years.
Mr. Comyn was a stout robust man, of large propor-
tions, and corpulent. He was unmarried ; but an un-
fortunate female who lived under his protection, stood
weeping in the crowd at his execution, with four young
children. Originally he was worth 6001. a year, though
he did not die in possession of a pound • itt the world,
having, it is understood, lived a very free and irregular
life. Every carriage, jhuntiag-car, and gig, that could
be had slims to in Ennis were in requisition fur the fu-
neral 'and his remains left town thtsame evening, fol-
lowed by an immense concourse of people to the Chapel
of Quoin, where he was waked that 1001, and thence

removed next morning to the place of family interment
at Buren. He made no allusion whatever to his guilt
or innocence of the crime for which he suffered.

Captain Colthurst'a company of the 99th Regiment,
from Clare Castle, attended the execution, also a de-
tachment of Police.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
VICE-CHANCELLCOURT, MAY 4.
GORDON V. WM. _
-

The defendant in this cause was brought up in custody, in order
to be turned over to the Fleet, for not putting in his answer to
the bilL

Upon his being asked by his Honour the VICZ-CHANCZLLOIL
why he had not put in his answer ? the defendant said he had never
been applied to for that purpose.
Mr. Olsenias.row, jam said that he bad prepared an answer for
the defendant, but that he had refused to sign it.
The litouctrou.Ozsteetat. asked the defendant whether he had
I not written to him? and being answered in the allirmative, said,
that the story told in the letter was very different from what now
appeared to be the truth. This man, said the learned gentleman,
Is a mortgagee upon an estate about which a suit is instituted for
951. and he will not let the proceedings go on, because .he will not
comply with the form of putting in an answer. There are many
unfortunate persons in this situation who are entitled to compassion,
but this man's case is not worthy of any consideration.
The defendant still persisted that be had alwas been ready to
answer the bill, as far as he could $ and on further inquiry it ap-
peared, that there was reason to believe that the defendant had given
money to a Solicitor to prepare an answer, but that it had not been
done by him $ and it seemed the answer prepared had been presented
to the defendant by the other aids, and that the objection was to
signing this answer, when another person had been paid for the
same thing.
Under these circumstances, the Court directed that the defendant
should be brought np tomorrow morning, when the Solicitor in
question might attend and explain the matter.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Maw 4.

CIIIIIINAL INVOIKATION.-TILIE LING V. 311111.

The ATIORNEY.OZWZRAL moved to file &criminal information
against the defendant, Captain Jebb, for the publication of anony-
mous letters reflecting on the conduct of Colonel Hemmer. This
was a similar application to that made a few days since against the
same gentleman by Sir Robert Hill. The Attorney-General moved
on the affidavits of Sir Herbert Taylor, Sir Henry Hardinge, and
other perwms of distinction. The affidavit of the Gallant Colonel
denied the charges made against him.—The Count granted a rule
to spew cause.

A similar application woo made in behalf of Colonel Lygon, of
the Guards, upon similar grounds, but the Court considered an ad-
ditional admit netossory, and the matter is to come on again.

LINZ 11111UILANCE.
The Court this day decided that an insurance effected by a father
on the life of his son was invalid. The insurance was made upon a
supposed interest which a father may have in the life of his son for
'Nippon in his old age.
ARCHES COURT, MAT 4. •
KILDNAY t. YILDILAY.
- -

This was a suit of diToros, brought by Captain Mildmay, of the
22d Light against his wife, for adultery committed with
a gentlemen _napp, at Southampton. The particulars are
already before the public fi the action for damages against Mr.
Knapp, tried in the Court of King's Bench last week.
Counsel having briefly opened the ease, it was intimated that no
plea would be put in on behalf of the wife.
The JUDO!, in an able review at the evidence, considered that
the presumption ot adultery was established, and pronounced fee the
separation prayed for.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, MAT 4.
111 Z ZING V. 11411/IMII6
_

This was ea Lulea apinst tii;:ta7siant, far being au
mud la eardip walk goods liable to pay duty, and for oar.
log a bulbs Se itatermietste eater, to let the same pus, whereby
=M the moue @MIL were beamed. The eau was tried
Lour (ktur &mow, at the sittings after the last tam
in this Court.

Mr. Jzavis this morn ng applied to the Court fee a rule to abew
cause why the wallet that had been entered for the Crown should
not be est adds, and a verdict entered fee the defendant t or why the
verdict iionM not be entered for the Crown, on the fifth count
of the Mthithatith 'sly ; or why there should not be a new
trial. The wash of objection to the verdict on the five first
counts were thinly of a technical nature ; they were taken at
the trial, and were reserved by the Loa Chief Baron for the coo.
sideratims st the Court. On the sixth count, he (lir. Jervis)
conitheml that the verdict must be set aside. The goods in that
inessme were impacted by a bill of sight, and though the pro-
hibited articles were found in the cam in question, yet as the de-
forinet had made oath that he was not aware of the nature of the
essisths of the ease, be eonkl not be liable, as they were sent by the
consignor at Mantlnugh, without the knowledge of the defitndant.
The Court pasta a rule to show cause.
dis Mr. Bann Oxnaow it unable to attend then Court, through in.
position.
COURT OF RING'S BENCH, DUBLIN, Aram 30.
EXTZAOIDINAIIf CA112.-CIOIIIIIE V. COX.

An application was made on the part of the defendant to be dis.
homiussotnitiv. The circumstances were very peculiar : be
had im for debt, and four years ago the plaintiff died.
No letters administration had been taken out, nor any other pro.
ceedinp been taken against him, and he now applied to the Court
to discharge him. He was confined altogether for seven years, and
had not previously sought his liberty ! bad served proper no.
tics of his intention on the executor and his attorney. The motion
was granted.