The Express. — 1853-01-17 (London, England)

THE SHEFFIELD MURDER.  EXECUTION OF BARBOUR. On Friday morning a communication war received by the authorities at York Castle from the Rome-office, intimating that the result of the further investigation into the case of James Barbour, at Sheffield, on Wednesday,was such as to preclude Lord Palmerston from advising any interference on the part of the crown with the menace of the law, which was, thereon, directed to be carried into effect at the expiration of the respite for seven days, received on the 7th inst. The fact that such instructions had been received was communicated to Barbour, but the intimation produced no visible effect ulna him. The letter was read to him, but he said nothing, and maintained his wonted eullesteese sad obduracy. The condemned prisoner has never been left alone, another convict and au officer of the prison remaining with him. Daring a brief absence of the officer, Barbour suggested to his fellow-prisoner • proposal to attempt an escape, but of course such an attempt would have been perfectly futile, as the chimney and windows of the condemned cell an double-barred,and the massive atone walls and iron doors of that dreary abode render the wart of its inmates a physical impossibtlitv. At about seven o'clock on ifitarday morning Barbour was removed from the condemned cell to • room on the or puke side of the Castle-yard, and adjoining to the scaffold, in the firing of which workmen had then been employed for nearly three hours. When it was intimated to him that he must be so removed be evinced a perfect readiness, rather an anxiety than otherwise to leave the condemned cell, and to be taken nester to the scene of his final and fatal doom. The chaplain had an interview with the culprit at ten o'clock, whoa he told the rev. gentleman that he felt very much distressed on secoant of his parents. He said, " They Mill feat my death very much." The eicaptais replied. " Yes, no doubt they will; but ft would be a gust satiefution 'to them provided they knew that you died truly penitent, and had confessed your sins." Barbour said, Wiltymt write to my parents?" The chaplain answered in the affirmative, and Barbour then said, " Well, then, sir, I am guilty ! and nobody had anything to do with the murder but myself I" The condemned prisoner tbea intimated that he felt very much relieved in his mind, and expressed a wish w restive the sacrament, which was administered to him by the chaplain, and from that time forward up to the last moment he continued to pray. After Barbour had received the uerement he was handed Over to the officers whose duty it was to perform the operation of pinioning, whereupon all his fortitude left him : he became moat dreadfully aervous and agitated, and this great change in his demeanour increased more and more, until at 12 o'clock he was conducted to the scaffold, when he became perfectly terrified, being cull} able to ejaculate in trembling accents the sentence, " Lord have mercy upon me!" which be repeated many times. The sufferings of the wretched creature seemed to be of brief duration. During the execution the rain fell in torrents, and the intonese roof of umbrellas under which the spectators were sheltered, formed a carious sight. There were not more than half the number of people present, compared with those who witnessed the execution of Waddington. The body of the culprit, as usual, remained suspended until one o'clock, when it was tut down, and in the after part of .the day interred in the burial ground of the prison, adjoining the condemned ceU. Barbour will be interred in the same grave which was dog for Waddington last weak.