The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1848-08-01 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HORRID CONFESSION.—Prior to the execution on Monday last of Hewson, for the murder of the turnkey in Coldbath-fields prison ; the murderer gave to the Sheriff and Ordinary a number of papers relating to himself. He states that he was born in 1803 in Whitechapel ; that he went to the charity school, and became one of the singers at the church, and got a medal for good conduct. That his father was a corporal in the 20th regiment. He married; but having enlisted, and being bought off seven times by his mother and sister in 1826 he entered the Queen's Royals, and shortly after went to the East Indies, and was in the Affghan and Cabool expeditions, and in 1839 was at the taking of Ghuznee and Kelat, and for his conduct received two marks. Previous to his entering the army, he was tried in 1825 at the Old Bailey for stealing a pennyweight of gold, the property of his employer, but was acquitted. By his unhappy intercourse with his daughter he had four children ; the eldest ' died since he had been convicted ; another was still-born, and the other two were murdered to conceal their birth. For the death of one he and his daughter were tried, and for the minor offence he was sentenced to two years', and she to eighteen months' imprisonment. The knife with which he killed Woodhouse he had concealed about his person for four months, sometimes carrying it in his sleeve, sometimes in his trousers. He intended to have murdered Mr. Chesterton, the Governor, but he never had an opportunity. When asked his motives he had none to give, and a few days since he expressed in strong terms to the visiting Aldermen his regret that he could not carry out his object. There was a " scene" in the House of Commons on Friday night. A hot-headed gentleman, named Keogh, made a speech on Irish affairs, in the course of which he contrived to touch up the Whig ministers on a point whereon they are peculiarly irritable, and open to far sharper appliances than any which rough operators like Mr. Keogh can administer—the contrast between their language and conduct upon O'Connell's trial when they were in opposition, and their language and conduct now when in power. This made Sir George Grey very angry, hand he fell upon the unfortunate Irishman with the fury of a scold. • This was all well enough ; but the Home Secretary at length lost all discretion, and made it a serious charge against his opponent that he attended a repeal dinner some eight or ten years ago, and was returned as an anti-repealer at the 'last election. Upon this, Mr. Keogh returned to the charge, and having fired a shot or two at his old antagonist, turned his weapon against Sir William Somerville, the Irish Secretary. If he was to be called a repealer for accidentally attending a dinner years ago at which repeal was proposed as a toast, what was to be said of the chief Secretary for Ireland, a member of the Government engaged in an exterminating warfare against repeal, who had actually voted for and supported by his purse at the last election a repeal candidate in opposition to Mr. Keogh himself ? A " sensation" followed this home-thrust, and the House was anxious to hear what the ,Irish Secretary had to say to it : but for a long time the right honourable gentleman wrapped himself up in his own dignity. He was at last dragged forth, and compelled to confess that he did give a cheque towards the expences of a repealer's election ; but he didn't do it in his character of Secretary of State ! Now, really this was very pitiable.