Star.
London, England, 1818-08-15 00:00:00

PARRICIDE.

NXECHTION OF ctiENNEL AND CITA LCRAFT Poll
THE MURDER OF MR. CIIENNEL AND HIS
HOUSEKEEPER, IN NOVEMBER LAST.
Genat.)finta, A.oes 14.
This day Georze Chennel, convicted on Wednesday
last of parricide, and .1. Clialcraft, of the murder of
his master and fellow-servant, were executed at this
place. It had been thought due tb public justice and
public feeling, that the neighbourhood which had been
alarmed and horror-struck at the atrocity of their
crime, should likewise witness their punishment, and
hear their confession, if disposed to make any. Gene-
ral conve.niene! happily agreed with this arrange•
ment, as Godalming, where the murder was com-
mitted, is only four miles distant from Guildford,
where the trial took place: and there was no danger,
as in the case of Hussey, (if he had been broug:it to
Greenwich), that an overwhelming crowd would
create any confusion. The expected confession, how-
ever, has not been made. Ever since they were taken
into custody for ',heir hors iblc crime (which is snore
than r.;:te months ago), they seethed to have enter-,
mined hopes of an acquittal, and, therefore, avoided
any serious thlughts of their situation. Chennel, we
were told both in Horsemonger-lane jail, and at
Kingston dining the Spring Assizes, seemed as fear-
less and indifferent as if his conscience had been at,
ease; and though not apt to assert his innocence, sin-
less when questioned on the subject, appeared to
make no doubt of his getting ?11 as he expressed it,
by the insufficiency of the evidence, or the ability of'
his Counsel. Ile, therefore, smoked his pipe, and
drank his beer, when it was procured him, with as
much apparent relish as if his mind were clear from
guilt, his life secure from punishment, and his con-
finement only temporary. Thotteli he showed no
contempt for the truths or the exercises of religion,
admitting implicitly the one, and joining without re=
luctance in the other, his conduct plainly evinced
that his mind was not impressed, and his Reverend,
instructors had to lament that his devotions were
languid and formal. llis temperament, naturally
phlegmatic, was never excited to any spiritual consi-
deration. These seemed no conflict in his mind be-
tween the secret consciousness of guilt and a desire
to reveal it. He appeared taciturn, sullen, and in-
communicative, more from native apathy than from
premeditated design ; and a kind of stupor, or sot-
tishness, contracted by long habits of idleness and in-
temperance, prevented him from being interested
about any thing but the supply of his present wants,
or the gratification of his appetites. His fellow pri-
soner and coadjutor in murder was of a very differ-
ent character. His education had been entirely ne-
glected (as it appeared he could not read,) and he
had likewise run through a long course of iniquity ;
hut his intellects were acute, and his feeling strong.
Ile was always more communicative, and seemed at
times, by some expressions which he used, disposed
to relent into a confession, when. probably, the re-
membrance of an oath of secrecy which they had
motually taken before the commission of their crimes
prevented him from making a disclosure of them.
He seemed to wait for the commencement of confes-
sion on the part of Chennel, and, as we have been
told, sometimes desired him to confess, (a phrase
which, we are aware, may admit of different mean-
ings); but as the latter revealed nothing, he resolved
likewise to keep his oath and the horrible secret, par-
taking probably to the last in the hopes of an acquit-
tal. They were led back to their cells on Wednes-
day night, determined to persist in their denial of
guilt and resolved rather to take the chance of par-
don for unconfessed crimes in another world, of which
they had no habitual or vivid impressions, than to
brave the horrors of their fellow men in this by ad-
mitting the monstrous atrocity of their crimes. They,
however, allowed that appearances were all against
them, that the Judge was merciful in his direction to
the Jury, that the Jury were attentive to the evidence,
and just in a mistaken verdict, and that if they had
been in the situation of either they must have be•
hayed as they had done. At the same time they de-
clared their innocence—Chennel, with less vehe-
mence, and only when questioned ; Chalcraft re-
peatedly, and with stronger asseverations. They joined
that night with more earnestness in religious exer-
cises, with the Rev. Mr. COLE, the Ordinary of
Guildford jail, and, as we were told, slept afterwards
four or five hours. When the Rev. Gentleman was
about to leave Chennel, he asked him when he would
wish to see him again, to which the latter replied,
with seeming earnestness, " The sooner the better."
The Rev. Mr. MANN, the Ordinary of Horsemonger-
lane jail, who had been very attentive to them when
confined there previous to their trial, was sent for ex;
press after their conviction, and arrived on Thursday
forenoon. He immediately visited the prisoners, and
after joining with them in religious exercises, offered
to hear any thing they had to say respecting the
crime for which they were to suffer, endeavouring to
!impress their minds by a suitable address, with the
obligation under which they lay to the offended laws
of their country, to society, to their neighbourhood,
and their families, to make a full disclosure, but tel-
ling them at the same time their confessions must be
voluntary, and that lie did not wish to extort from
them more than they. were disposed to reveal. To
this address they remained insensible, and answered
it by protesting their innocence.
In the afternoon of yesterday their families visited
them, and to them likewise they declared that they
were innocent. Chennel's son and wife performed
this melancholy office.. The moment Chennel saw
them he burst into tears, and embraced her most af-
fectionately. They were left together in the cell for
about twenty minutes, and when they parted, his wife
was in a dreadful state of anguish ; he did not seem
Ito feel so much as when they met. He persisted to
his wife that he was innocent of the crime for which!
he was doomed to die. Ina short time afterwards a
more afflicting scene took place, Chalcrafes wife and
six children presented themselves at the jail door to
teke " a last living leave" of the husband and father.
This interview was overpowering to the spectators ;
such real distress and misery cannot be depicted ; it
is impossible to be truly described. The agonizing
shrieks of the mother, the heavy groans of the father,
and the cries of the children, would have pierced a
marble heart. Mrs. Chalcraft used the following em-
phatic words when she was sufficiently recovered as
to be able to speak :—" Oh 1. my dear Will, tell me
the truth—as a man, who stands before Goo, and is
going to die, if you are E,uilty of the murder?—pray,

for aos's sake, don't hide any thing, and have the
weight of guilt upon your conscience when you arc
dying r—Chalcraft rep•ied :—" My dear, I am
innocent of the murder, or I would confess it r
—Mrs. Chalcraft stated to him, " that she had been
upbraided by her neighbours with washing the bloody
.It,thes, and you know, and Goo above knows, that

I never did." Chalcraft answered, " They are cruel
to you, 1 never did the murder, or had any hand in
it, and you never saw any bloody clothes.' Chal-
craft then admitted, that he was at old Mr. Chennel's
on the night preceding the discovery of the murder,
from a quarter past eight to a quarter past nine ; hut
he still persisted that he had no knowledge of the
murder. Mrs. Chalcraft was about to leave the
cell, when she presented the babe she held in her
hand to Chalcraft to kiss ; she then exclaimed, Oh,
Goo! tomorrow this .child is just twelve months
old, and your father then is to die. I hope Goo will
be a father to my children !" They then embraced,
and were separated by the jailors.
Chennel, it appears, had been separated from his
wife for some time. They never lived happily
'together, and from his marriage, according to report,
,may be dated his crimes and misfortunes. They had
only one son, now five years of age, who lived with
his grandfather, and who bad only left old Chcrnel'sil
house, On a visit to his mother, two days before the
parricide wits committed. Mr. MAwe and Mr. Coi.z.
visited them late at night and were requested by
them to come early this morning. They accordingly
went a little before seven o'clock, nine being the
hour appointed for the procession leaving Guildford.
They found the prisoners nearly in the same state of
mind as when they left them the previous evening.
They first went into the cell of Chennel, whom they
found up and waiting for them. There appeared to
be little change upon him since his trial. He was
dressed in the same clothes, and had the same heavy,
inanimate, sullen, and inexpressive-look. Mr. MA NN
again addressed him on the subject of his confession,
after asking him the state of his present feelings.—
He told him, that however he might conceal his
crime from men, he could not elude the all-seeing
eye of that GOD before whom he was in a few hours
to appear. He informed him that there were certain
crimes which he was not required to reveal to the
world, and for which lie had to account to his
MAKER alone ; but that crimes against society should
be confessed for the satisfaction of society. It was a
duty lie owed to his country, friends, and neighbour-
hood, to make a full disclosure of the latter ; it was
the best sign he could give of his repentance for
having committed them, and he hazarded his salva-
tion by leaving the world with a lie in his mouth, by
declaring his innocence, while conscious of his glint.
He begged him to understand at the same time, that
the confession, to be satisfactory, must he voluntary,
and that he did not mean to extort any thing which
he was not willing to communicate. To this consi-
derate admonition; uttered in the most feeling man:
ner, Chennel returned no other answer, than that lie
had nothing to confess; that he was perfectly inno-
cent of the crime charged, and that his life had been
sworn away by false testimony.
Mr. MANN then proceeded to the cell of Chalcraft,
And, to an admonition of the same import, received
a similar answer, expressed only with more vehe-
mence, The two prisoners were then conducted into
the same cell (the gaol of Guildford being without a
chapel), to join in devotional exercises, and to receive
the Sacrament. When the Communion aliments
were brought, and the Bibles and Prayer Books laid
on the table, Mr. MANN again embraced the oppor-
tunity, before those sacred emblems, of making a
feeling address to the prisoners on their situation and
prospects, if they partook of the Sacrament with a
lie in their mouths ; and having again put the ques-
tion, whether they had any thing to disclose, they
replied successively that they were innocent, and the
service proceeded. Chennel received a Prayer-book.
Chalcraft, who could not read, was requested to
attend. The Psalms which the Rev. Gentleman read
were the 51st and 90th, the Lessons were the 7th
chapter of Job, and the description of the last judg-
ment under the parable of the Shepherd separating
the sheep from the goats in Matthew. Chennel join-
ed in the service, and read the responses with an
audible though feeble voice, and in a languid man-
ner. He was several times observed to be more
attentive to the trifling inconvenience of a fly buz-
zing about his ears, than to the sacred duty in which
he was engaged ; and during the reading of the
prayers we saw hint yawn three or four times, as
from fatigue or listlessness, which he could not con-
ceal. In short, the whole of his behaviour and man-
ner was that of a man completely besotted in his
intellects, or hardened in his crimes, dead to any
feeling of remorse, incapable of any spiritual reflec-
tion, and insensible to any thing but visible objects.
If we may be forgiven in making such an allusion
on so solemn an occasion, his character strongly re-
minded us of that of Barnardine in Measure for
" a man that apprehends death no more
dreadfully but as .a drunken sheep, careless, reckless,
and fearless of what's past, present, or to come, in-
sensible of mortality, and desperately mortal."
Chalcraft seemed more attentive, and by the expres-
sion of his face appeared to apply to himself those
parts of the service that had a reference to his wretched
situation. When Mr. Mann had communicated him-
self and administered the communion to the other
Reverend Gentleman who accompanied him, he made
a pause, and again in a most solemn manlier, ad-
dressed the prisoners on the subject of confession.
IHe described to them the nature and objects of the
Holy Communion, and conjured them not to risk
their salvation by participating in it unwcrehily ;
informing them, that they could not taste the sacred
aliments with true dispositions, unless they were pre-
pared to go into the presence of their GOD, which
they could not do safely with unrepented sins and
unconfessed crimes. The question being again put
to them, they severally protested their innocence:
their hardened guilt affected the two Reverend Gen-
tlemen to tears. They proceeded, however, to ad-
. . .
=muster the aliments, and the two prisoners com-
municated with every appearance of reverence and
awe. When the service was concluded, the two
Clergymen formerly mentioned, together with others
who attended, left the cell, and the Rev. John West,
of Stoke, went in to converse with them. By ad-
dressing them on their awful situation, we observed,
for the first time, that they were melted into tears
but still they refused to confess; Chennel saying that
whatever crime:, be might have committed, he was

rot guilty of that for which he was about to suffer ;
and Chalcraft echoing the words without variation.
At nine o'clock the Under-Sheriff arrived, the wag-
gon or caravan which was to convey -he criminals
to the place of execution was brought to the prison- .
door, the various officers were at their rots, and
the prison bell tolled the hour of departure. The
two prisoners were then brought with irons on their
feet, and their hands pinioned, having the rope-round
with which they were to be hung. Chennel was
dressed as on hiS trial, in a black jockey coat, a
stilled waistcoat, and grey cotton paitalocnc. Chal-
craft had on a new smock frock. The back part of
the caravan was occupied with a platform, provided
with steps on which they were to a-c'r.d to be tied
to the gallows. The executioner with a drawn sword,
sat in front of the platform, with the turnkeys oft
each side of him ; the Rev. Mr. West sat wi h his back
to the horses, with Chalcraft on his right hand and
Mime] on his left. The cavalcade then proceeded
towards Godalming.
The crowds that were assembled from Guildforl,
Godalming, the neighbourhood, and e'en parts of
the country more remote, wee immense, and lined
the road as far as the eye could see. In the narrower
places they were pressed together so closely as to he
er lingered by the horses, and raised cloids of dust
that literally enveloped them. All the heights on the
road were crowned with multitudes, and where an
opea space occurred they spread out so as to cover it.
The greatest part of the crowd consisted of farm ser-
vants, in their usual costume, and we rover obse-yod
so many smock frocks and straw hats on any former
occasion. The procession set oat at nine o'clock, an
arrived at the place of execution ahoot eleven. Here
the crowd was greater than we imagined could have
been collected on so mournful an occasion. The gal-
lows was erected on an extensive Tlleaiinv to the
north of Godalming, which, together with the neigh-
bouring heights, was covered with people of all con-
ditions. It was surrounded with a ring made of rope,
within which only the caravan and the officers were
admitted. The prisoner Chalcraft seemed a good
deal shaken, and hung his head on one side. Ile had
urged, we were told, Chennel to confess, if guilty,
by which he perhaps alluded to other crime:, but
no confession could be out :fined. When the caravan
stops under the gallows the Rev. Mr. Mann came
out of the Sheriff's carriage and ascended it. He
again repeated his question, whether the prisoners
had any thing to communicate, and was answered
in the negative. An officer, who knew Chalcraft,
and to whom he said, that on arriving at the place
of execution, he would " tell the whole pedigree of
it," now came up, and asked if he Was ready to per-
form his promise, ald make confession? He ncw re-
fused, and protested his innocence.
Chennel was first taken up the platform, probably
to allow time and opportunity, while the rope was ad-
juoing, for his fellow prisoner to make disclosures ;
but still nothing could he gained 1. en him. Seeing
,all importoaity vain, the esecutioner proceeded to
his work, and tied both to the gallows. Cheanel, as
soon as he ascended, requested that the cap zni;;ht
be drawn over his eyes, to prevent his face from being
seen by the spectators, many of whom had known
him in other days. lie then stood firm cad upright,
without the least motion. Chalcraft trembled, and
had nearly required support. Mr. Mann ascended
the platform, and addressed to Heaven in their be-
half an excellent and affecting prayer, at which Chal-
craft became very much agitated, arel his fellow pri-
soner somewhat moved. No appearance of a design
to confess being made, the platform o;as di awn from
under them, and they were launched into eternity.
They both seemed to strozgle a little when thrown
. over, but the eeecutioner soon terminated their suf.
ferings by drawing-down their heel:; wt.h;;:asat force.
After hanging an hour, the halters wore loosened
at the top, and the bodies lowered daoen iioo the
vehicle which had brought them from Gtrildforal.—
The hats of the dead men were placed oe their heads;
Chalcr.aft's frock was ripped up and stripped off, and
the bodies tied together, were taken into Godalrriete,
and drawn up the street before the house in which
the murders had been perpetrated. A vaA crowd
followed the caravan, which was surrounded by con-
stables on horseback. It stopped belhre the residence
of the late Mr. Chennel, which is a small house, one
storey high, and but two or three deers beyond the
George and the Dragon. Here, after .a pause of
somu moments, the bodies were taken front the ve•
hick, and carried into the house. The doors were
then closed, and guarded by constables ; the caravan
passed on, and the crowd began to disperse. The
bowels of the sufferers were taken out yesterday af-
ternoon, agreeably to their sentence.

Wednesday, Joltu fiettilide was exernrcd at Bury,
pursuant to his sentence at the last A,- sizes, for a bur-
glary in the dwelling•lmw of Mrs. WutTr, at Thet-
ford. His behaviour since condemnation was cry
peninent.

Monday Elizabdh Basham was hrou"ht to Wor-
ship-street Office, to answer a charge Laving
starved to death her infant chill—A surd eon has
since opened the child, a7reeably to the v.-1.11 ;If a Co-
roner's Jury, and reported that be found some Jirea'e
upon the stomach of the child, but rc•t ^icizat to
cause its death. It also appeared that the tnct:lcr
suckled it, and was fond of it.—Verdict—Died a na-
tural death ; and the wozoan has been di;clnaped.
Thmsday, an inquest N 7::: held nt F;tat•lnlrd
and Shepherdess, City Road, en the body of Cathe-
rine Nash, aged tai, the wife of Mi.: y
death was occasioned by a blow- front her hu,hand,
who is in custody. Elifa Nash. a gi:laboat 10 years
old, stated, that she is the dau-hter of lleniy
and the deceased, Mrs. Nash, was her step-o:other.
On Monday lzst they were all mit on a visit, and
did not return until about twelve at night, when
they had supper and went to bed. The deceased get
up to beat witness, and her (witnes'sl. father get up
to prevent her being struck. He got between them,
and either by a blow or push he pitched the deceart
down. She fell against the bed.itead, and was vtry
much hurt. Silt: died on Wednedas- morniag.--
Verdict, Mansianghter at;ain,t the husband.
On Saturday, as three 'boys were playing in a Eela
near Bennington, Ilorts, one of them, It; years of a,,e,
proposed to tic one nt the others to a :ow's tail, which,'
with the assistance of his companions, was dont ;
when the boy soon fell a victim to the barbarons
whim, for the animal dra.Ted him up and down t!-.e
field at full speed, and bel'ore he could be extricated
life wa:, extiuct.