Star.
London, England, 1829-09-24 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF DAVID EVANS.

CARMARTHEN, MONDAY, Sm. 21
At ten o'clock this morning the wretched culprit David
Evans, convicted of the wilful murder of Hannah Davies on the
night of Saturday, the 13th day of June last, on Pencarreg moun-
tain, in this county, was brought out on the top of the county gaol
where the scaffold was erected, to undergo the awful penalty of the
law according to his sentence. The unfrequency of crimes of this
atrocious description jp the Principality may account for the agitated
interest created by tbis approaching catastrophe. Before the hour of
seven this morning an immense concourse of people, horsemen and
pedestrians, were ken approaching the town from all parts of the
country to witrieu the execution ; and when added to almo-t the
whole population of the town, already waiting in front of the gaol,
the crowd presented an enormous mass seldom witnessed at a single
glance. When the unhappy man at length appeared. pinioned and
prepared far the last scene of his earthly career, although nothing
remarkable was visible in his demeanour, the shock evinced
among the populace was affecting in the extreme, many of the
temales sobbing aloud, while others shrieked in hysterics. The
prisoner himself showed unusual firmneu, and without much
pausing dropped the handkerchief, the fatal signal to launch
him Into eternity, when the stand beneath his feet was withdrawn,
and, horrid to relate, the iron chain attached to the gallows,tbrough
which the rope was reeved, gave way, and in an instant down
dropped this unhappy being, and alighted on his feet, from which
he fell for an instant, but, without any assistance, rose again. It
seems he was no stranger to that vulgar error proverbial among
the lower classes, that when the rope breaks a reprieve or pardon
is the convict's due by immemorial custom. Accordingly, when
he gained his feet a second time, he demanded his life, saying, " he
had been hanged once, and they had no more to do with him."—
Here it became the melancholy duty of those about him to con-
vince him to the contrary ; but it was with much difficulty be was
brought up a second time. When every thing for the purpose was
now carefully adjusted, he dropped the handkerchief once more,
and the world closed on him for ever.
In adverting to the accident above described, which prolonged
the already intense sufferings of this wretched being, and harrowed
every human heart in the unusually large throng, we cannot too
severely censure the carelessness of the county carpenter, whose
neglect alone was the cause of it.
The following minutia of attendant occurrences may be added :
The prisoner was attended by the Rev. Mr. Jones, the Chaplain
of the prison, and the Under Sheriff, L. 0. Lewis, Esq, to whom
he expressed his unfeigned thanks for his humane attentions. A
thorough confession of his crime, without the slightest reservation,
adds highly to the weight of the atonement he has made. When
divested of his irons and pinioned, he prayed with the utmost fer-
vency, walked steadily to the fatal beam, firmly underwent the
ceremony of adjusting the rope, and asked for the loan of a band-
kerchief to give the final signal. After hanging the usual time, the
I body was cut down and given to the surgeons for dissection.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

A Spaniard of peculiarly ferocious appearance, who had been
in military service, was brought before the LORD MAvoa, charged
with having beaten a body of watchmen in their sanctum sancto.
rum, after having broken windows and knocked down those who
questioned his right to disturb public tranquillity.
A shopkeeper stated that the defendant, either under the influ-
ence of drink or some other powerful excitement, moved along
the streets like the common enemy of mankind. If any person
happened to stand in his way, the obstruction was speedily re-
moved into the kennel by the vigorous arm of the Spaniard, who
at length took offal= at one of the waxen heads which stood in a
, hair-dresser's window, with sundry beautiful curls about it—
"Ah !" said be, I will kill dat head," and without more hesi-
tation, he dashed his hand through the glass, and tumbled the bead
on the ground, to the woeful dilapidation of the features. This
adventure gathered a crowd of blackguards round the Spaniard,
who seemed bent upon distinguishing himself still more. The po-
lice at last got hold of him, tied his arms together, as if preparing
him for execution, and endeavoured to place him in a coach. It
appeared, however, that he was as active about the legs as about
the arms, for, taking a steady aim at a watchman who held him ,
by one leg, he gave him such a kick with the other as laid hint
nat. At length he was shoved into a dustman's cart, and taken to
tie watch-house.
The constable of the night said, that in all his experience he
newer met with such an obstropulous man as this here Spaniard.
" I'm blessed, my Lard Mayor," said this type of Civic Ma-
jesty," if ever I seed so wiolent a hindividual. Why, be made
nothing on us, and he thought no more of me nor if I was a com-
mon fellow in the streets.
The Loom Marcia—Describe his conduct in the watchhouse.
The constable, delighted at the opportunity of a display, gave the
fillourfag account of the Spaniard, to the great amusement of alt
bidet Justice-room :—" Vy, my Lord, you see I was sitting in
Any chair and giving borders to the men, yen there was a
row and a scrummage at the door, and in walks this here
foreign Gentleman. Indeed, I can't say he stalked, because he
couldn't, for his legs and harms were tied together, and he vas
all up in a lump ; so I speaks kind to him, and I orders him to
he unloosed ; but the minute he vas at liberty, my eyes, if he didn't
turn upon the men, and I'm blessed if be didn't let fly in bang
among 'em till be floored all—(Roars of laughter). So, my
Lord, says Ito him, come, come, rays I, this here's unproper be-
haviour for a gentleman; vot ! says he, and he says no more, but
just as I was viping my spectacles, he catches me with such a yap-
per right under the ear, that I couldn't keep my body op, by no
means, and so down I falls—(Shouts of laughter). So, my Lord,
yen he had us aU floored, he runs to the door, for I suppose he
vaned to go out, but there ye had him, for he couldn't find no
key, and so ye gets up, and ye bundles hint into the black hole ; and
so ye brought him afore your Lordship for to punish him according
to law—(Great laughter).
The constable, while making this effusion, suited the action to
the word so happily, that the effect of the narrative was inde-
scribable.
The LORD Mayon said the case was altogether one of the
strangest be ever heard. He asked the defendant what he had to
say in his defence?
The Defendant—lt is all a— lie ; I no strike no vatch, but
the vatch strike me, and want kill me.
Constable—No such thing, my Lord ; we never wishes to kill
nobody, particularly a poor cretur of a foreigner—(Laughter).
The Lotto nem& said it was necessary for the sake of the pub-
lic, as well as the watchmen and constables, to have some security
for the future good conduct of the defendant, and remanded him
for a few days.