Glasgow Courier. — 1853-01-13 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

EXECUTION OF HENRY HORLER FOR THE  WEIRDER OF HIS WIFE.  On Monday morning the extreme penalty of the law was carried into effect on the person of Henry Horler, aged '25 years, who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court, at the last December sessions, for the wilful murder of his wife. Since his condemnation he has been most earnest in his entreaties that every exertion should be made to spare his life, and last week a petition to the Queen was sent to Lord Palmerston, praying that his life might be spared. Although frequently assured by tho authorities that they could hold out no hope of mercy, the wretched man clung with fearfal tenacity to life • and when he was informed that ail hope was past, , a.s Lord Palmerston refused to interfere, he became sullen, and but little impression could be made upon him by the ' rev. ordinary. On Sunday the convict attended the chapel , of the prison for the last time, when the Rev. Mr. Davis delivered a most impressive discourse suitable to the occasion. A large number of persons took op their positions opposite the gallows as early as midnight on Sunday, but the main body of spectators (of whom there were upwards of 10,000), arrived between the hours of five and seven o'clock, notwithstanding that during a great part of the time a heavy rain prevailed. As soon as the convict rose on Monday morning he joined fervently in prayer with the reverend ordinary, and afterwards proceeded to read the New Testament. When the authorities arrived at the door or the condemned ward they found him thus occupied. On being told that his last hour had arrived he manifested little or no emotion, but falling on hie knees by hi pallet he tprayed audibly for the mercy of Heaven, for forgiveness for his manifold offences, and for grace to his relations sad friends. On being taken into the press-room, he subinitted quietly to the operations of Calcraft, and afterwards walked with a firm step to the scaffold. He thesitated slightly at the foot of the ladder, but afterwards ascended firmly. On taking his place under the beam he requested that the cap might not be drawn over his eyes until the last moment, a request which was complied with. He looked with apparent curiosity twice or three times at the beam overhead, and then joined in prayer. He submitted with calmness to the operations of the executioner, and after a few words with the reverend ordinary, the signal was given and the drop fell. The unfortunate man struggled violently for a few moments, and then all was over. After hanging for nearly an hour the body was cut down and removed to the interior of the prison, where it was shortly afterwards interred in the space allotted for murderers. We have been informed by the Sheriffs that as soon as the convict became aware that all hope of life was gone, he assumed a greater degree of firmness than he had before exhibited. He listened with serious attention to the consolations of the reverend ordinary, and repeatedly expreased his sincere penitence for the enormous crime he had committed ; he admitted the jnstiee of his sentence, and seemed to turn his hope alone to the throne of grace, where only he could look for help and consolation.