The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-01-07 00:00:00

EXECUTIONS ON SATURDAY,

The execution of the two young men who were con-
demned, at the late assizes, Evans, for the murder of his
landlady, Mrs. Millen, at Hulme, near Manchester ; and
Stew, for that of his sweetheart at Manchester, took place
this day at noon, at Kirkdale Gaol.

On Sunday week the cendemned sermon was preached
in the presence of the culprits and the prisoners in the
gaol, by the Rev. R. Appleton, the chaplain, from 2d
Samuel, ail. 13,—" And David said unto Nathan, I have
sinned against the Lord. And Nathan; id unto David,
The Lord also hath put away thy sin ; thous shalt not die."
The unhappy men joined in the service with much ar-
dour, and listened with great attention to the sermon.
Stew was very much affected, and wept bitterly while the
minister, with eloquent pathos, dwelt upon the sin, re-
pentance, punishment, and pardon of David. Stew in-
formed one of his friends who visited him on Thursday,
that since he heard that sermon he had experienced a great
change, and that he now felt no doubt of obtaining salve -
tion through the merits of an ever-merciful Saviour.
On Thursday, two men representing themselves to be
the uncle and brother of Evans presented themselves at
the gaol, and asked permission to see the prisoner, but in
consequence of their having made statements to the gover-
nor which differed materially from the statements of the
culprit respecting his relations, it was immediately sus-
pected that they were some of his former evil associates
On the circumstances being communicated to Evans,
immediately identified them as his former companions,
and said that the younger one was a very bad character,
and had joined him without fear or remorse in all his
wickedness. He said that lie would not now sec them on
any account; "if it had been before my trial I would have
jumped at it," added the poor fellow. Evans has re-
peatedly told the governor that it had been many times
predicted that he would be hanged, both on account of
the lines upon his hands, and because (according to an
old superstition) his eyebrows were nearly joined together
in the middle.

At their own request, both the prisoners attended the
usual daily prayers in the chapel of the gaol every morn-
ing since their condemnation, and have behaved with the
strictest and most devout attention.
The criminals passed the greater part of the night hero,-
tbe execution in prayer and religious exercise. The -5
attended in their several cells by the excellent chaplain
until' a late hour. when they retired to rest for a short
time. Stew slept soundly for about two hours, and his
fellow convict for an hour. The rev. chaplain was again
with the unfortunate men at an early hour. Stew said, in
answer to his inquiries, that he felt very comfortable ;
and Evans also appeared to be in that resigned state of
mind desirable for a man in such a situation. They had
each made a voluntary confession to the chaplain several
days ago, which were now read to them, and several slight
additions and alterations made, after which Evans signed
the paper containing his confession with a firm hand ; and
Stew, who cannot write, made his mark. Stew said that
his name was spelt Chew, which will account fur that
being the signature.