The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-06 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF MISTERS AT SHREWSBURY

Josiah Misters, who was convicted, at the Shrewsbury
Assizes, before Baron Gurney, of an attempt to murder Mr.
Mackreth, at Ludlow, suffered the last penalty of the law at
noon on Saturday last. The drop was got in complete rea-
diness for erection before eight o'clock on Friday evening.
The wretched convict had suffered severely in mind since his
condemnation. The ravages made in his frame by his men-
tal suffering had worn his body to a skeleton, and, though he
neither uttered a sigh nor dropped a tear, he frequently,
after incarceration in the condemned cell, swooned away,
and it became necessary to support his sinking frame by sti-
mulating and nutritious food. He never, from the moment
that he was led from the dock, breathed a syllable that could
be construed into the most indirect admission of his guilt :
on the contrary, he frequently made solemn asseverations of
entire innocence.

Great exertions had been made by several parties to save
the life of the unhappy young man. The petitions of Mr.
Mackreth, of Mr. Bird, the foreman of the jury, and of the
inhabitants of Shrewsbury were forwarded to the Secretary of
State on Monday last. The reply of the Marquis of Nor-
manby was that he would communicate with Baron Gurney
on the subject. The latter and Mr. Justice Coleridge in-
spected the Angel Inn, at Ludlow, together, when Justice
Coleridge is said to have concurred with the learned baron
in believing the prisoner guilty. Mr. Ludlow, the gentle-
man whom, it is supposed, Misters intended to kill, has been
indefatigable in his endeavours to obtain a commutation of
the sentence.

On the morning of Saturday Mr. Peel, the Under-sheriff,
and the Governor of the Gaol were early in attendance at the
Postoffice, in the hope that a despatch from the Home Office
might have arrived, which would alter the aspect of the pri-
soner's fate. There was no communication of the nature de-
sired. All idea of respite was immediately abandoned, and
the governor had the painful duty of announcing to the young
man, that he must prepare for the change that would shortly
take place. The announcement did not work any perceptible
change in the convict's countenance, which had already be-
come pinched and angular by suffering. The scaffold was
quickly erected, and, as the hour appointed for the execution
approached, a dense crowd assembled in front of the gaol.
At a quarter to twelve, the first sound of the prison bell
gave signal that the work of preparation had commenced.
The prisoner was led forth and his arms pinioned, an opera-
tion which he bore with forced composure. He had slept ill
during the night, having frequently started convulsively from
his slumbers. At six o'clock that morning, the clergyman
had exhorted him, by his hopes of eternal life, to disburden
his conscience of any weight that might afflict it. Misters
expressed contrition for his past sins, which, he said, had
been many ; but called upon God to witness, that he had no
hand in the attack on Mackreth.

The prisoner's arms having been pinioned, he was led to
the scaffold. When at the door of the Turnkey's lodge,
which led up to the drop, the unhappy man stopped, and
asked if any of the jury were present. He was answered in
the negative, when he said, in a subdued tone, " Tell the
jury I freely forgive them." He ascended the stairs firmly,
preceded by the chaplain, till they came to a room which had
been appropriated for the last spiritual consolation of the pri-
soner. Here the chaplain and he remained for a few minutes,
which were spent in devotion. 13 e was then led to the scaf-
fold, where all being prepared, he shook hands with the turn-
key, and exclaimed in a firm voice, " Good-bye ! God bless
you for all the kindness you have shown me." His manner,
to the last, was calm, exhibiting neither unseemly bravado
nor pusillanimous dejection. The signal was given and the
drop fell. The convict struggled severely for about a minute
and a half, and then he apparently ceased to exist. After
hanging the usual time, the body was cut down, and placed
in a coffin inscribed with his name and age. The multitude,
which is described as having behaved with great propriety,
quietly dispersed.

DESPERATE BURGLARY AND ATTEMPT AT MURDER.—
Information was yesterday received at the various metropo-
litan police station-houses that, on the night of Monday, a
most desperate burglary and attempt at murder was com-
mitted at the house of Mr. Simpson, the Dirpley Arms Inn,
between Burnley and Bocup, in Lancashire. It appears,
that on the night in question the house was entered by two
men, who obtained access at the rear. Being heard by Mr.
Simpson, he proceeded down stairs, when he was immedi-
ately knocked down and brutally kicked about the head and
face until nearly insensible, when they took from a cupboard
about £lO in gold, silver, and copper monies. Mr. Simp-
son's cries being heard by his son, he came down to his assis-
tance, when he also was instantly knocked down, and making
a determined resistance, a pistol was tired by one of his
assailants, the ball from which took effect in his side, and
he is now lying in a dangerous state. The fellows then de-
camped, leaving behind them a hat and a handkerchief, and
took the road to Burnley, attempting to rob two men on the
road ; after which they were traced to Marsden, and ulti-
mately to within four miles of Gisbourne, where all further
track was lost. One of the men is known to be named Jas.
Dickenson, and the name of the other is believed to be
Briggs. The first is a notorious poacher, and is dressed as
a gamekeeper, and the other in a dark shooting-jacket,
breeches, and gaiters. It is supposed that they purpose
going to America. A reward of £2O is offered by Mr. Simp-
son for their apprehension.—Morning Herald.