Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1882-04-29 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

CONFESSION OF LAMSON.  The "Central News" is enabled to state that the convict Lamson has verbally confessed to the murder of Percy John, his brother-in-law, and acknowledged the justice of the sentence pawed upon him. The chaplain of Wandsworth Prison vieited him in the condemned cell at half-past seven on Thursday evening, and remained for some time in prayer with the convict, offering him such Fpiritual consolation as the circumstances demanded. Lamson was less agitated than might have been supposed, the terrible strain el the past few months having culminated on Wednesday when the Hone Secretary's fiat was made known to him. Mr. A. W. Mills. the convict's sol.citor, visited his client sally on Thursday forenoon, and later in the day Lamson's wife paid him a last visit. The interview, as can easily be understood, was of a most painful character, but both husband and wife bore it much better than might have been expected. Marwood arrived at the prison on Thursday after.. noon, and would pass the night within ita precincts. He has inspected all the arrangements for the execution, and has pronounced them satisfactory. The convict is confined in one of the north-eastern wings of the building, about 50 yards from the permanent scaffold, which is situated in one of the side yards. His grave, which has already been dug close by the scaffold, is similar to that made use of in Lefroy's case. The convict will have no steps to climb, and the body will drop into a prepared cellar. With reference to the convict's written request that his body may be handed over to the surgeons for dissection, we are enabled to state that no such disposal of the remains will be allowed by the authorities. The sentenee of the law was that he should be hanged by the neck until he was dead and buried within the precincts of the prison. This will be carried out to the letter.  Lord Justice bother, although not laid aside from his judicial duties, in, it ia said, in such a state of health as to cause much anxiety to his friends.  It is stated that Mr. Gladstone offered a baronetcy to Mr. Thomas Ashton, a well known member of the Liberal party in Lancashire, but the honour was respectfully declined.  The Italian Consul in London has been requested by his Gover.iment to report upon the question of the expediency of running trains at a high speed on the St. Gothard line for the exportation of the garden produce of Italy for the English market. The Gloucester Corporation has adopted a petition against the proposed disfranchisement of the sitY, and protesting .against 4,000 pure electors being deprived of theit political privileges while there are 176 constituencies with less than 4,000 registered voters.  • A Conference of Parliamentary Debating Associations was held at Liverpool on Tuesday, representatives from 45 bodies in various parts of the country being present. Mr. Thomas Cope, the president, in Ma opening address said there were 105 of these societies in existence. In 26, possessing 11,051 members, the Conservatives were in power, whilst there were 33, with 10,854 members, where the Liberals had the ascendancy. He estimated the grand total of all their members at 34,000. Various points as to the rules and management of the society were discussed, and it was resolved to hold the conference annually, and that the next place of meeting should be Scarborough. - ••  A well known author, who wrote under the name of " Matthew Browne" and " Henry Holbeach," has just died in the person of Mr. W. B. Rands, who passed away in his 56th year at Dulwich. Up to four years since he was a reporter in the House, but had followed literature for many years previous, having written first in the Daily Magazine, rnd being a frequent contributor to toe Contemporary Review, beeitivv writing several volumes of general interest. This generation has not seen a more charming writer for the very young than Mr. Rands proved himself to be. It WU not without good grounds that he has been styled " The Laureate of the Nursery."