Execution.
The Times, 1824-11-26T00:00:00

Yesterday morning the sentence of death was carried into exe- cation upon Joseph Ilarwood, aged 18, fbr highwny robbery, accompanied by circumstances of great dlesperation and peculiar atrocity. Mr.Alderman Brown and Ir. Alderman Key, the Sheriffs, with their deputies and assistants, proceeded, at a quarter before eight o'clock, to the press-roam, where the wretched man was en- gaged in prayer with the Reverend Ordinary and ilr. Baker. After a pause of short duration, the assistants pinioned his arms, and he then calmrly expressed his thanks to the Sheriffi, Ordinary, and MIr. Vontner, for their humane attentions to him * and stating his firm hope for mercy through the Saviour of mankimd, was led to the scaffold, the Ordinary reading the Burial Service. At eight o'clock he ascended the fatal platform, and after a rew moments employed in prayer, the drop fell. l?e was but slightly convalsed. The crowd in attenedance was immense.- The important case of MIr. Fauntleroy has so much engrossed the public mind, as to almost exclade atteniion from the only other pri- soner, amongst S8 capital convicts, who was doomed to sufrer deatb. The unfortunate youth, Joseph llarwood, who was yesterday exe- cuted at Newgate, was not, however, unworthy of the sympathy and commiseration of the humane. This poor lael, who wass irn his 19th year, was the son of a labourer, who came to an untimely end by the fallinzr in of a wharf at Lambeth. where he workel. This ac- cilent happened about eighit years back, betore wmicn tium J epn liarwood was accustomed to go to the charity-schooll but on his father's death, his mother having but little control over hinm, he was left in a great measure to be his own master, an&weiitaboutwithper- sons wbho sold various articles in the streets. Atlength, he engaged in business on hif own account, and travelled about the neighbourhood of the metropolis with cords for sale; in this way of business he be- came very successful, and he attributed to his prosperity the cause of his rain. He was accustomed frequently to gain by his trade as much as I0s. in a day, which induced him to spend his evenings, and often whole days, in the company of the profligate of both sexes. He observed to a gentleman who was in thie habit of visiting liir. in prison, that he should have been much more happy had he earned but 3s. a day at regular work, wliici would have fully occupied his time, anid rendered constant employment indispensable. His conduct after his conviction was exceedingiy be- coming ;- and tie gentlemen whto attended hin for the purpose of affording religious instruction, liave expressed themselves in a very favourable manner with regard to the sinceritv of his penitence, and therosignatioin he evinced to his melancholy fot; without the small- est hope of life, and but a few hiours before his execution, withi per- fect calmness and with much appearanceofcandour, lie dcclared bim. self innoeent of having used any violence towards his prosecutor, or havingbeen connectc withothiersinrobbinghins,butgave the follow- ing account of the affair -On the dlay of the review, the prosecutor, who is an Drishman, being much intoxicated, went into a booth with a woman whom he treated with some- Equor, anul on his- re fusing to pay for it, she took'off his liat and gave it to tfie landlord as a pledge; this irritated the man so much that lie struck the woman; a party ofmen who were present resented this, and -gave him several blowR, and a sort of general tumult ensued. Some timne after, tbis, HMarwood saw thle prosecutor sitting in the booth mtuch inebriated, with his waistceat quite anhuttoned ; and goinig up to hivm begauL to button his wtistcoat, when feeling some money in his pocket, lie was tempted to put in his hand and take out half a crown-t4us far lie confessed -himself to be guilty, but no farther ; he was willing, Ihowever to allow, that fromn the manner in which the Prosecutor gve hiis evidence as to having been beaten and robbed, and from his v- ing neticed Harwood pntting hiis ha-nd int 'hig pocket, it was not to be wondered thiat the lury and Judge 4slhoal liave considered him as belonging to a Rang of thieve8, and have taken an unfavourable view of his case- On Ihi night previoug to his execution, a gentleman connected with thie prison, being about to leave him, after having eonyersed witl hinii for aboxt an hour, lie stated that there was, one request that he wasdesirous of preferring, and this was, that lie might be permitted tQ shake hands with Mr. Fauntleroy,and thanc himr fos soRme tracts which he hatl sent. On being inforimed that his wish could not ivith propriety be acceded te,-but that it shoualdtbe-men- tioned to Air. Fa;uitleroy, lie appeared qutite statisfied; and hai.ing retired to rest; he slept-well duringthe greater p,rtTot the nighlt. Or the fatal morning, thie Ordinaryand Ar. Baker having paid that at. tendon to him which every prisoner who suffierat Newgate- ex'0c ricnces he me; his tatewith evety-appearance of penitence, anl wit] ns mucL h fortitudeas became a mLn wvhialhad-foritedl-hislife to thi Violated laws oh vhis country,- . EXPCUTIOAN.