Glasgow Courier. — 1844-06-27 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

EXECUTION OF JOHN KNATCHBULL, AT SYDNEY, FOR MURDER. - -  early sge he 4 almost beyond the pot wu appointed to the rank Je distinguished himself °Pi served in  SOD O in the year in the r.,`"  the gentleman A very  _ the Spasish Main was in • very short time tv Linnet, ten-gun brig. In him, and his oonduct was brought to a Court, martial, -4. and he was at once ' to hold any 1, be became  met hi; path ; .she became  pretended  clergytnan  r. a Lunette Asylum. He had previously made similar victims at Bermuda, Halifax, and New-York. Closely following this event he committed the act for which he was transported to the penal settlements. In August, 1824, he was on board the Leviathan hulk, in Portsmouth harbour, and employed in the gangs working in the dock-yard; in this capacity he was recognised by many seamen who had felt his tyranny. To such an extent was the feeling against him carried, that the authorities were compelled to confine him to the hulk. Knatchball was afterwards removed to the Asia, for passage to the colony, which ship was detained for four months in Portsmouth harbour, during which times man named Lovett died on board the Asia, whose death was attn. buted to the improper treatment he received from Knatehboll. In April, 1825, he arrived at Sydney, and soon obtained& ticket of leave, haying apprehended several runaways, who, from information sobsequeutly received, no doubt were instigated to the crime by Knatchbull himself. In the latter end of Issi, he was apprehended on a charge of forgery—which, by-the-by, was not his first offence of this kind—tried and convicted, and sentence of death recorded against him, which was afterwards mummted to transportation to Norfolk Island for seven years. Here again, in a short time, his good fortune served him; he was, through the instrumentality of Captain Lambert, of her Majesty's ship Crocodile, admitted approver in a cage of mutiny, no doubt concocted by himself. Having served his term of banishment, he returned to Sydney, where he had resided up to the committal of the offence for which he has paid the forfeit of his life. The motive for the murder of the unfortunate Mrs. Jamieson is attributed to the desire Knatchbull had of obtaining some property, though of small amount, which the poor woman had, the whole of which was found on his person when he was apprehended. A more determined villain has seldom been found in the garb of man than the subject of this slight sketch, whose life has been marked with deeds of the blackest dye—Hampshire Indepeant.  readers will the circumstance of John of tb• late Sir linatchbull, of Mersham, year 1824, tried at the Surrey Anises, for ) robbery of • gentleman at Vauxhall Gara he was found guilty, and sentenced to trans. 14 years, under the assumed name of John Fitch. Afore us a memoir of this extraordinary man, who, it weirs, ended hie mortal career on the scaffold, on Tuesday, the 13th February last, at Harlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, for the murder of Mrs. Ellen Jamieson. It appears that 'ohs Ematchbull was the offspring of a second marriage of the • Sir Edward Knatchball, and consequently half-brother of who now worthily bears the faintly honours. At "‘e evinced a temper of extreme violence, at wer of contront. When very young of midshipman in the navy, wherein considerably. Under Lord Cochrane he lain • his promotion was very rapid; he made Commander, and appmpted a thsk this important post his temper overcamei marked by so much tyranny that he was United ' the several charges against him were The proved, cashiered, and declared henceforward iseompetent _ commission In his Majesty's service. Thaadiegraeed, b --J the associate of the most profligate of the day, and the frequenter of the Hells of the Metropolis. At this period a daughter of a wealthy merchant of Old Broad Street, City. - • ' -me his victim, and was married t, s afterwards died th.,