The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-09-14 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF JOHN AND JAMES POWER
FOR THE MURDER OF JOHN PETERS.

(From the Tipperary Constitution.)
On Saturday last these unfortunate men underwent the
extreme penalty of the.law in front of our county gaol. We
have seldohr ren such anxiety evinced on any previous occa-
sion to witnes* an execution, as was manifested in this in-.
stance, which was chiefly attributed to the melancholy cir-
cumstance Of the hapless convicts being brothers, as also to
a widely circulated report that they were guiltless of the
crime for which they were about to suffer. So early as ten
o'clock, large groups of persons, the greater portion of which
were females, stationed themselves in convenient places com-
manding a view of the fatal drop, and by twelve o'clock an
immense concourse of people was congregated. The guard
was composed of a-strong force of cavalry, infantry, and po-
lice, who were drawn up in line, and occupied the space in
front of .the prison. At• a,quarter-past one, the wretcJed
men were seen slowly moving from the press-room towards
the scaffold, attended by the Rev. Messrs. Mullins, De
Bourke, and Prendergast, with whom they appeared fer-
vently engaged in prayer. Shortly after, the taller of them
(James Power, we believe) walked out with a firm Step and
somewhat hurried pace, to the front "pf the drop. His face
was rather flushed than otherwise, and' his resolution and
strength of nerve was extraordinary. He addressed the
spectators with a strong and distinct voice, and said—" I
am now about to appear in the presence of my God, andll
solemnly declare that I had neither hand, act, 'or part in the
murder for which I am going to die, or any "tither murder. I
forgive my prosecutors, and every one who was connected
with my prosecution, and I hope God will forgive me. I
hope ye will pray for me, and beg of God to grant me a far.
vourable judgment." The other brother then came out, also
exhibiting very great resolution, but quite wan and pale. He
then said, in a very audible voice—" A report has ,been cir-
culated in the town that one of us was guilty of the'crime
for which we are going to die ; but I can declare in the pre-
sence of my God, who will soon judge me, that I had neither
hand, act, or part in that or any other murder. I knew
nothing whatever about it until it was publicly known in the
neighbourhood, and I was first told of it by my sister. Per-
haps the persons who committed that murder are among the
crowd before me. I forgive my prosecutors from the bottom
of my heart, and I die in peace with the world ; I hope ye
will pray to God to have mercy on my soul." After the
executioner had performed his awful task, they took each
other's hands, and continued to shake them with a firm grasp
until the fatal bolt was withdrawn, when they were launched
into eternity after a few short, convulsive struggles. After
the bodies had remained suspended for the usual time they
were conveyed into the gaol for interment.

MURDER AT CHEPSTOW.

(From the Bristol Standard.)

A melancholy case of murder has occurred at Chepstow.
The victim, Sarah Sophia Fleming, was a native of Bristol,
about 19 years of age, and of considerable personal attrac-
tions. She was induced to leave her home about 12 months
ago, and had latterly abandoned herself to a dissolute course
of life, attaching herself to a young man of idle habits, named
Benjamin James, whom she chiefly supported by her sinful
pursuits. _ • _ . .