The Sun. — 1846-11-12 (London, England)

THE LAST DYING WORDS AND  CONFESSION OF EUGENE ARAM.  Vie (Manchester Guardian) ha% e had a curious printed paper placed in our hands for inspection, being no other than the halfpenny sheet hawked about the streets en the execution of the notorious Eugene Aram. It is entitled, " The last dying words and confession of Eugene Aram, who was executed at 'Tyburn, near York, on Monday, the 6th day of August, 1759, for the murder of Daniel Clark, of Knaresborough, about the 7th February, 1744." Beneath this heading is an impression from an old and well-worn woodcut engraving, curious as representing the mode of hanging at that time. The gallows has only one upright in this form a, and there does not appear to be any scaffold, and the " Tyburn cart" has apparently done its business, for a man is represented as hanging from a rope, carried over the end of the horizontal arm of the beam, whilst "Jack Ketch" is upon the ladder placed against the upright, or " the gallows tree." Below are seen the crowd, and mingled with them the " javelin men," with their halberts preventing the crowd from approaching too close. There are rude representations of three houses, all the windows filled with faces, 'as if gazing on the spectacle. Beneath this woodcut is the brief notice of the murderer's biography—" Eugene Aram, aged 43, was born at Ripon, the son of Peter Aram, who wrote the excellent poem on Studley Park." The "last dying words" bear internal evidence of their being fabricated for the purpose of b. ing hawked about the streets. Ai this document is believed to be unique, we insert a literal copy of the speech or confession put into the mouth of the wretched man:—  My Father, oho had some louse Thoughts of the Power of Almighty God, which he continued too long, hurt my tender and ) oung Principals in Religion ; J thank God I am thoroughly convinced of his Error, and am in Hopes through the Mediation of my blessed Saviour Jesus .Christ to be saved. I confess the Justness of my Sentence, but was not apprehensive my Accomplice would have dealt so perfidiously with me, for I cannot help taking Notice to the World (as it does expect I should say something) that he was forsworn upon my Tryal, as I have solemnly declared to a reve.rend Divine ; he also was more active in conveying poor Clark away, than myself, likewise in burning his Cloaths, and attempting to persuade me to murderinly poor injured Wife. I hope the Lsrd will pardon me for the Wrong I have done my dear Wife, whose honest Counsel I always disdaiu'd, depending on my own, as I thought, superiour Judgment, which I find, but now too late, hath brought me to this untimely End. I desire Forgiveness of all the World, particularly, my poor, dear, and injured Wife, and of all others whom I have injured in the Course of my wicked Life, begging their Prayers for my poor departing Soul, and that my Accomplices may take Warning by this my woeful End ; for tho' they are clear'd by Man, they know, before' God, they are as guilty as myself. Ido heartily desire they would make Restitution to all those whom we have injured, which is the last Words and sincere Wishes of the unfortunate