Star.
London, England, 1820-12-05 00:00:00

EXECUTION, AT THE OLD BAILEY.

We have seldom witnessed so numerous an assem-
blage to view the melancholy spectacle of a number
of unhappy creatures delivering up their mortal
existence to the offended laws of their country, as
took place this morning. The general commiseration
of the populace was much increased by the circum-
stance of a female, and Captain Harnett, who was
an Officer in the Army, being two of the victims.
The platform was erected opposite the Debtors'
door at an early hour, and every avenue leading
thereto was crammed to excess. Numbers of well-
dressed females exhibited themselves at the windows
of the neighbourhood, and others were interspersed
among the crowd; we likewise noticed numbers of
Military Gentlemen.
Sheriffs WAITHMAN and WatrAass, and the City
Marshals, with other proper Officers, to conduct the
proceedings, arrived at the Jail about half-past seven
o'clock, and made every necessary arrangement, pre-
paratory to leading the culprits to their unhappy
destination.

The Rev. Mr. COTTON, the Ordinary of Newgate,
Mr. BAKER, and the Rev. Mr. DEVEREUX, the Ca-
tholic Minister, have attended the unfortunate per-
sons ever since their doom was made known to them,
and, with the most unceasing exertions, have ten-
dered their consolatory and religious advice. We are
happy to state, that their exertions were not tendered
in vain, for one and all of them received their advice
with an untainted attention, and seemed to place
their utter dependence in the DIVINE MERCY.
it gives us infinite pain to have to record the situ-
ation of one of the wretched culprits, Capt. Harnett.
He was a young gentleman, not mcre than thirty
years of age : he held a Commission in the Army.
His family is one of the most respectable in Ireland,
and, up to the period of the crime for which he suf-
fered, he bore the character of a well-bred honest gen-
tleman. Embarrassment in his affairs, led him, we
understand, to commit the forgery of which he was
convicted. He offered a fictitious bill on Colonel
Gordon, of the 6:11 Dragoons, in payment for some
articles at a linen-draper's, in St. Martin's-lane—he
was ultimately detected, and convicted for the
offence. He was a fine-looking young man, about
six feet high. It was reported, on Sunday evening,
that he had attempted to deprive himself of his exist-
ence by opening a vein in his arm, but had been disco.
vered prior to its having the desired effect. He has
been in a very weak condition, and the lamentable
situation he was in caused great dejection. He wrote
a very affecting letter prior to his death, which he
delivered to Ex-Sheriff PARKINS, a copy of which
we shall be enabled to give at some future period.
Madden, whose offence was that of uttering a
fcrgeJ note, at the Lord Hood, public-house, Lime-
house, was the first brought out; he walked with a
firm quick step, and appeared resolute, but fervent in
his devotion.

IVebb, for sacrilege, followed. This man was con-
victed of robbing the; Church, when it was in mourn-
ing for Lord LISBURNE, and was apprehended just as
he was taking the stolen property from the waggon.
He also firmly ascended the scaffold.
Two others, for highway robbery, were next brought
up. They committed the robbery, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, in Chapel-street, Mary-11-Bonne. These
prisoners were very resolute, and on the caps being
put on, they requested the handkerchiefs to be tied
ovcr them.

Captain Harnett was next brought up to the scaf-
fold. He was supported by two men, his condition
was so very weak. He mentioned something of a
private nature to Sheriff WAITIIMAN previous to as-
cending the scaffold.
Sarah Price, the female culprit, was the last led on
to the gallows; she was dressed in a suit of black, and
wore a wlite cap and riband : she was exceedingly
fervent, and all the way to the platform was ex-
claiming—r" Loan, have mercy. on me," &c.—Her
offence was passing forged notes. On the rope being
placed round her neck, the officiating Clergymen
ascended the platform, and joined in fervent prayer
until the time assigned for the fatal signal, when
the unhappy people were launched into eternity.
After hanging the usual time, the bodies were cut
down and delivered to their friends.