The Sun. — 1829-04-06 (London, England)

EXECUTION AT EXETER.  The dreadful sentence of the law was this morning (Friday) carried into effect, at the Devon county gaol, upon Thomas Helston and William Trethrete. The unhappy men, from the time of their conviction, at the Exeter Assizes, of an attempt to murder W. Jeffry on the highway, have continued to protest their innocence, and to pray incessantly with apparent devotion. This morning, after the prisoners had received the Sacrament, they were conducted to the press-room. As they passed along, Helston appeared to be devoutly praying inwardly. After their irons were knocked off, Treshrew said " I die as innocent as an Angel in Heaven ; bless the Lord, I have done nothing amiss, and hope God will have mercy on my soul. These are nearly the last words I have to say, and I am innocent." He afterwards said, as money was short, they were willing to save four-pence, which was the reason of Helston's asking leave to lie in the tallet. Upon being interrogated as to the money found on him, he said it was the remainder of seven and sixpence, which had been given by his parish officers. Helston said they had never seen the man, and, now it was his dying hour, he declared himself innocent. Trethrew then said he was willing to die for the charge, but he never injured or saw the man, except at the publichouse. The morning was extremely flue, and, when the unfortunate men Lad ascended the drop, they appeared to give one heart-rending glance at the beautiful pros., pect, which was about to be shut from their sight for ever. When the Rev. Mr. Chave ascended the drop he addressed the prisoners, reminding them that these were awful moments, and, if they had any thing on their minds to disclose it was now the time. Trethrew said, "As true as the Almighty is in Heaven, I am innocent of this charge, and am not telling you this with any view of getting clear." Helston added, "My conscience is clear; I never injured the man, and am innocent." The Reverend Chaplain again reminded him that, in a few minutes more, he would meet his God. Helston replied, " I have been a vile sinner; I have been a Sabbathbreaker, and every thing that is bad ; but I never committed a highway robbery, or laid violent hands upon any man." Both convicts then shook hands with the executioner, and the Chaplain then proceeded with the usual prayers, in which both Helston and Trethrew devoutly joined. The fatal bolt was drawn as the last words proceeded from the Chaplain's lips, and the unfortunate men were launched into eternity. Their agonies were apparently of very short duration ; if there was any difference, Helston appeared to suffer most.  At the request of Helston, he was visited, whilst in the condemned cell, by a Wesleyan Minister. Before the execution, a silly woman applied at the prison gate for a piece of the rope with which either of the malefactors should be hanged (this was to act as a charm against the effects of some disease) ; and another for permission to rub the neck of a child afflicted with the King's evil with the hand of one them after the execution.—Mr. Cole, the Governor, had very properly left orders that such applicants should have a decided negative.