The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-26 00:00:00

Good goes to Wandsworth, a town distant some two or
three miles, and there gets involved in a suspicion of stealing
a pair of trousers. It does not appear at all certain that he
was guilty of this offence. Still, however, the suspicion,
somehow or other, springs up, and two men are despatched
after him, with instructions to search for the missing pro-
perty.
Good, thus surprised by the very thing of all others least
desirable to him, naturally offers any terms rather than al-
low the seal-ch. He will pay for the trousers—be will go
back to Wandsworth and satisfy the owner ; anything, in
short, to stop the threatened search.
But nothing will pacify or draw off the officers. Search
they will, in spite of all he can say or do. And soon they
come upon the unexpected and sickening sight.
Good's cunning and adroitness, however, do not forsake
him. He contrives to turn the key upon the officers, and
wholly succeeds in effecting his escape. So well did he use
the opportunity, that for nine days not the least trace could
be found, not a single reasonable surmise be formed, of the
path he had taken.
His next plan was most judicious. He goes to no great
distance, and yet so entirely changes the neighbourhood, and
his own appearance and way of life, as to entirely succeed in
his object of concealment, without removing even so far as
fifty miles. He becomes a bricklayer's labourer—a class of
men so migratory and so numerous as to render it quite un-
usual to think of their previous character or history. And
he goes to the neighbourhood of a railway in progress, where
swarms of similar workmen were covering every road and
filling every beer-shop, and thus effectually hindering all
remark.

The sagacity of this plan was evinced by its success. He
gained employment, fixed himself in a lodging, and to all ap-
parent probability might have remained there till the autumn
unobserved ;—then joined the reapers, and with them have
quietly passed over into Ireland without a risk of suspicion.
But " evil shall h.mt the wicked man ;" and there was an
Eye following Good's steps, which never for an instant lost
sight of him, and a Hand preparing to " turn his wisdom
unto foolishness." We doubt if the most experienced rogue
in existence could have pointed out to Good a better course
than that taken by him ; for who could possibly foresee, that
among the workmen on this very spot there should be found
a discharged policeman, who had formerly been a patroling
constable in the very lane in which Good had lived ?
Two such coincidences as these very rarely occur ; nor
ought they to pass without remark when they become ap-
parent. We have heard, within these few days, men of
gaiety and of the world using the word " providential" with
reference to these circumstances, in a tone and with an
earnestness which was quite gratifying. They can see that
either of the two—the strange attraction of the officers to the
spot where the body was concealed ; or the most improbable
meeting at Tunbridge, with one of the very few men who
could identify him—would of itself lead any reasonable man
to look away from human causes ; but that the conjunction
of the two events in a single case is so perfectly out of the
reach of all probability, as to force every man, who is not an
Atheist, to exclaim—" Verily, there is a God who judyeth
the earth I"

EXECUTION OF FRANCIS HUGHES

ARMAGH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20.—This day Francis
Hughes, who was found guilty at the last Armagh assizes for
the murder of Mr. Powell, underwent the punishment of
death in the front of the county jail, in this city. Since his
conviction the unhappy man has had two prisoners along
with him in his cell to read to him, as he was unable to read
himself, and last night he was allowed to have a candle in
his cell (which is the same that Woods was confined in.)
The culprit had retired to rest at eleven o'clock, and slept
for an honr, but was awoke at twelve by the opening of the
cell door, the governor and first turnkey of the jail then
coming in. He was frequently visited during the night by
persons connected with the prison, and when his cell-door
was opened at seven o'clock this morning, he was found on
his knees. He took no food yesterday except a little tea,
which was furnished him by the governor of the prison.
The Rev. P. Rooney, Roman Catholic chaplain to the prison,
visited hint at eight o'clock, and, with the exception of a
few minutes' absence, continued with him to the last mo-
ment. He was removed from his cell shortly after ten
o'clock at the ante-chamber, which immediately adjoins the
execution-room. Hughes, in the strongest manner possible,
affirmed his innocence. He was then asked by the Roma❑
Catholic clergyman present, if he was fully aware how aw-
fully sinful it would be to die with a lie in his mouth, and if
he knew that he would lose the eternal happiness of his soul
by doing so ? He immediately expressed his opinion, that
such conduct on his part would be decidedly wrong, and
again affirmed his innocence. He was then engaged with the
Rev. Mr. Rooney, in listening to some of the prayers of the
Roman Catholic Church, after which he was dressed in his
grave clothes, having assisted with his own hands, the per-
son who dressed him. Observing one of the clergymen
somewhat overcome by his feelings on the occasion, he
promptly said, "Do not fear." Being then strongly pini-
oned, he walked into the execution-room, where he waited
for a few minutes till the hangman arrived, by whom the
rope was adjusted, and the culprit, after expressing a wish to
speak to the people, walked with a firm step to the fatal
spot, and with a powerful voice thus addressed the assembled
multitude :—" All ye good people, listen to my last and
dying words. I am innocent ; I was not present at Mr.
Powell's murder, or any other murder; I know neither act
nor part concerning it ; I know nothing of a conspiracy
against him ; and I was not half a mile from my own house
on the night of the murder. I now forgive all the world,
and may the Lord have mercy on my soul." His lips then
moved rapidly, as if in prayer; the awful moment arrived,
and at five minutes past twelve o clock the bolt was with-
drawn from the fatal drop, and he was launched into eternity.
In the moment of execution, his cap tell off, so that his face
and head were uncovered. He died withont a single strug-
gle, and apparently his sufferings were speedily terminated.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Oxford Herald.)

in a Convocation holden on Thursday last, the following
gentlemen were nominated by the Preceptors to act as Dele-
gates of Privileges, together with the Perpetual Delegates,
for the ensuing year :
Rev. James Frederick Crouch, 8.D., Fellow of Corpus
Christi College.

Rev. George Riggs, M.A., Fellow of Queen's College.
Rev. William Andrews, M.A., Fellow of Exeter College.
Rev. Samuel Henry Russell, M.A., Fellow of St. John's
College.

Rev. Edward Halifax Hansell, M.A., Demy of Magda-
lene College.
In a Congregation holden at the same time, the following
Degrees were conferred :

BACHELOR IN DIVINITY.
Rev. William Josias Irons, Queen's College
MASTERS OF ARTS.

Rev. Edward Clayton, Student of Christ Church ; Robert
Choltneley Price, Student of Christ Church ; Edward Row-
land Dukes, Student of Christ Church ; Francis Charles
Trower, Fellow of Exeter College ; Rev. Edward Nangreave
Mangin, Wadham College ; Arthur Mills, Balliol College ;
Rev. Peter Whitfield Brancker, Jesus College; Rev. Edward
Mence, Trinity College.