Star.
London, England, 1817-04-02 00:00:00

EXECUTION Or THE TWO GREER&

These unfortunate young men were convince?. at 6e
Antrim Assizes of the murder of Archibald Greer,
Vick father, at Church-tumbler, on tiie 20th or Aprk
the prisoner John having given him a wound ou
the head with a hatchet, of which he died—the priso.
ner Robert being siding and assisting. The oreacl.
ful crime was proved by an accomplice, whose test`.
mony ores corroborated by ci,curnst,ntiel eveiteee,
Immediately alter their secterce, they were conveyed
under a guard to the New l'rison. They weiiced
from the Court House to the Jed with a tiro step;
but appeared much dejened, rt,l die, not make ary
observations. Tuey were Weed to separate cell: ;
and on being asked it they wished for any Citrg:e
man to attend them, t`ley answered, bit net
any particular one--any who wound afford conse!,.
tion being acceptable. The Rev. John Brown, wbn
bad hum Andy attended on the occasion, immediately
visited them, and remained a constdieable time, art:
afterwards a t:euded :hem. They were 41st) visited
by the. Rev. Richard Dobbs, Rev. Mr. Smith, and
the Rev. John Savage. These gentlemen were sec•
cess'ul in their endeavours to arouse them to a sense
of their situation, but could not ;wail on them to
acknowledge the:r guilt, both protesting their inre;.
eerier, and stating. as their opidfon, that it was only
necessary to acknowledge guilt to Gera, not to mar.
In the-cou.se of Tuesday. boworer, RAM Greer
admitted that he saw the corpse .of hie 'rather in the
Wasteliouse, which did not unlit:tie him, as he knew
his father was " to be put cite vi the way ;" he also
admitted that a letter found by 1)r. Stuart in the
prison was see itten by Om. John Greer would.nct
admit any thing. They both slept during the night,
and oat appar,.aly with an appetite. J: ha Greer
employed pan of his time in uriting. On Wednes-
day, about twelve o'clock, the High Sheriff, attended
part of the Roal Scots, went to the prison,
and the cry iminals were brought out soon after. They
were placed in the rear of the cart, in which were their
coffins, and attended by the Clergymen : the execu.
tii.ner, disguised, immediately behind them. The
procession then slowly proceeded to the place of eta
cuti-a, one mile from the town. On its arrival, t! e
criminals joined in singing a hymn, and allerwerili
knelt down with the Clergymen and others, and
prayed fervently, v.it.h au audible voice. At t)es
time k.bert Greer was observed to be nxech agitated,
and trembled violently : John Greer continued ts
evince his usual firmness. When he knelt down to
prayer, he expressed himself in language extremely
appropriate, pathetic, and even elegant. Pis et.
raeutintir was calected, and his enunciation disl:nct.
Robert's voice was tremulous and feeble, and
whole frame greatly agitated. The persons near to
them formed a circle, and also knelt during prayer.
Tie whole scene was impressive and awfully solemn.
Prayers being ended and the fatal preparations corn-
pleted, the wretched brothers shook hands, and bid
farewell. John first mounted the cart, and being
tied up, whilst Robert remained below, asked—" is
my brother Robert to be thrown off with use ?" whir's
was answered in the affirmative. Robert was thee
tied up beside his brother. They were both again
solemnly exhorted to declare their guilt. John said,
44 I forgive my persecutors, prosecutors, and all my
enemies; and I hope GOD will forgive them as I do."
Robert prayed aloud to the ALMIGHTY to enable him
in these his last moments to tell the truth ; and then
addressing himself to those about him, said, (s I am
a guilty sinner, and iuffer justly and Liwfully."--
Then turning to his brother, ha said, " John.. will you
not confess ?" To this appeal John made no reply.
when a person present said, " John, do you bear
what your brother Robert says ?" To which he re-
plied, " I have done," meaning that he would not
again speak. The cart was now drawn away, and
they were launched into eternity. Robert appeared
to suffer little, but John was long convulsed. After
hanging the usual time, their bodies were cut down,
put into shells, and sent off to the Infirmary at Lis-
burn, for dissection, pursuant to their sentence. J,
was an excellent scholar; be was about thirty years
of age, and Robert 26. They were both married.