Star.
London, England, 1824-06-01 00:00:00

EXECUTION-THIS MORNING.

At an early hour this morning, persons were seen
crowding to the Old Bailey, to witness the execution of
John rasferly, aged 32, William Hill, aged 37, and
John Hill IVagste, aged 2S, the first two of these men
were convicted at the Old Bailey Sessions, three months
since, and the last at the Session of Oyer and Ter-
miner in May.
Easterby was tried on several indictments, with three
other persons, on charges of burglary, at the East End
of the town, and was convicted on two of t.;em. Some
cirorts v.ete made to save him, as he was a member of

the family of a very opulent tradesman, residing at
Shadwell, but unsuccessfully, as it was ascertained he
:tad traversed through every glade of vice, and had be-
come an expert and dating robber, some of his acts
being tinctured with great cruelty. He had no wife,
but has left an infant child.

The wretched man, Hill, displayed a melancholy in-
stance of the result of intemperate pursuits; he was the
son of a respectable publican, and had some property a
few years since, which he dissipated; he then became an
officer of the Shadwell or Worship•street Police, but
was discharged, and passed thi ough a variety of scenes,
very often appearing as a witness at the Old Bailey, until
at length he engaged in the traffic of uttering forged
notes, and was prosecuted on five distinct charges by
the Bank of England.
Wagstaff, it will be remembered by our Readers, was
convicted of forging an acceptance to a Bill of Exchange
for 2501. but the fraud being detected on the bill being
presented by a potter to whom the ptioner had given
it, a plan was laid, and he was taken into custody.
This unfortunate man had moved in a highly respect-
able sphere, and had carried on in the country a very
extensive business as a flour. factor, and afterwards in

London as a carpet-manufactui er, when his prospects be-
coming clouded, he unfortunately, in conjunction with
others, to support his credit, issued fictitious bills, and
which, it is thought, led him to the commission of the
crime for which he suffered. It was said he was well
practised in the commission of such offences; and from
his knowledge of the signs manual and signatures of
some very eminent commercial houses, very easily imi-
tated the hand-writing.
Since his conviction every effort had been matlrfor
him, and indeed his fiends persevered until yesterday,
in the hope that the Royal clemency would be extended
to him, but such an act was considered iacompatible
with justice. On the arrival of the warrant for execu-
tion, he received the intelligence calmly, and prepared
very willingly for the awful transition he was doomed
,o make. His wife, with whom he had had a large for-
tune, did not forsake bins in this trying moment, and,
with his sister, remained with him, endeavouring to
give religious consolation; but, Irons the poignancy Of
their grief, they nearly marred the pious task, by dis-
tracting his attention, and reminding him of happy
scenes never to return.
Easterby was visited by his family : this wretched man
most unceasingly, and with great earnestness, evinced
his penitence and contrition, and from his demeanour,
the world, to his mind, appeared " one blank void :" he
seemed to look forward to death as a happy release,
and expressed no wish again to enter the busy scenes
of life. He took a final farewell, nn Monday forenoon,
of some of his family, his last request being that he
might be interred with his mother, in the family grave.
Wagstaff's farewell with his wife and sister on Mon-
day, was affecting in the extreme, the poor females were
torn from him in an indescribable agony of grief; he
never held up his head after the parting, and seemed
drooping fast from the acuteness of his feelings.
The whole of last night was occupied in prayer;
the wretched men slept a few hours, and on being vi-
sited by the Rev. Mr. Cotton and Mr. Baker in ibe
morning, at five o'clock, were perfectly composed. At
a quarter to eight o'clock, Messrs. Laurie and Whitta-
ker (the Sheriffs), the Under Sheriff, and attendants, at-
rived at the prison, and proceeded to the Press Roord.
Easterby was first introduced, and pinioned; he ap-
peared calm and composed, but made only one obser-
vation, that he was happy. 11:11 then walked in,
with a firmness of nerve that astonished every per-
son ; he shook hands with some pfrsons whom
he recognized, and then submitted himself to be
bound, taking a seat on that ceremon being concluded.
Wagstaff then walked in, he appeared very weak, and
was so completely lost in thought as not to observe
anything. At eight o'clock Hill rose, andlsowing ltd
the melancholy funeral procession, with a demeanour
as collected, and a step as firm as if he were a casual
spectator, not a wretched principal: this fortitude never
lot sook him, and lie gave the executioner directions on
the scaffold, which was first ascended by Easterby,
Wagstaff being supported up last. After a few minutes
spent in prayer, the signal was given, the drop fell, and
•
of after a few convulsive struggles they ceased to exist.