Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-04-28 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

CAREER OF ADVENTURE AND VICE.  Leigh, who, it must be remembered, was executed a short time ago at Lewis for the murder of Mrs. Horton, at Brighton, left a statement which is remarkable, if true In this confession he says he is twenty-six years of age. He was the Illegitimate son of a gentleman who was consul of —. At eight years of age he ran away from a grammar school, and took to begging. Ile was sent to London, whore he led a vicious life, and then returned to Brighton Ills father's wife took him in hand, and endeavoured to instil proper principles into him, but without result. Ile expresses great gratitude to the lady. He was then sent to a hoarding school, but was expelled. At thirteen, having a desire for sea, his friends thought they would Cure him of it, and, therefore, sent him to sea in a collier; but although he suffered hardships, he did not dislike the life. Returning to Brighton, he studied navigation—was afterwards apprenticed to a shipping firm, went in a transport to the Crimea, was wrecked off Balaclava, and remained on the wreck under a lire from Cossacks for two days and three nights. He then went voyages to India, Australia, and South America. On the expiration of his apprenticeship he received an excellent character. Between seventeen and eighteen his principles were totally corrupted. Ile shipped for Calcutta as second mate, and drank hard ; a mutiny took place, and he nearly killed six of the mutineer.; was tried at Calcutta, but was acquitted, the captain taking hie part. He was male chief officer, but continued to drink hard. In the East Indies hemarried a Spanish girl, and lived with her in Calcutta for nine months; she followed him to Clung, and he afterwards lost sight of her. Returning to Brighton he led • dissipated life, appropriated some money which did not belong to him, and had to abscond as chief mate of an American vowel Afterwards he went in • Scotch clipper to Ilongkong and Whampna and then deserted with four others on • raft I He then became • crimp, and induced seamen to desert from her Majesty'eservlce. Being found oat he decamped to Singapore, and managed a sailors' boardiag-house. Returning to Hongkong he joined the Tamping rebels. Ors one occasion I he escaped being captured by the English by getting into a I large Chinese coffin containing a skeleton. Becoming a chief among the rebels under the name of Palmer he fought against the Engliek, French, and Imperialists. Ile was wounded In the head, chest, and log Turning pirate he had many narrow escapes and much ffghting with the Imperialist*. After being taken prisoner several times, and escaping, he returned to England Among his comrades in China were three other Europeans ; all of them used to read Infidel book, with great delight and anmeement. At Brighton he led his old life. His statement concludes as follows;—" as I said at the end of my trial, 'I cannot justify the act 'murder, but I can account fir it.' I had many aggravations. I did not wish to hurt any of the police, but when the inspector came up I had no alternative. In tact he came somehow so unawares that I had hardly time to think. I was aboard the Alabama for about six weeks. We joined her off the Cape of Used Hope."