The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-07-28 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION AT DEVIZES.  John Gund was executed at Devizes on Tuesday morning for the murder of Henry Richards, at Melksham,on April 9tls,ate4 Police-sergeant Moulder near Warminster,on April 12th. The circumstances the crime for which Hurd has paid the extreme penalty of the law will be remembered. He was engaged to Florence Adams,and the banns had been published, but the match was broken off by the young lady, who was niece of Richards. Believing that the latter was the principarmover in inducing the girl to break off the engagement, Gurd shot Richards dead and then made his escape. Three days later, Superintendent l'errett, accompanied by Sergeant Mou!den and two constables, accosted litird, who fired two shots from a revolver, the second striking Moulden,who expired shortly afterwards. The prisoner, when in his cell, said that lie allot the sergeant in trying to escape, thinking that if he could get home and get some clothes he inight avoid capture. The following letter was received on Monday from tiurd. It was sent le an aunt at Shaftesbury • Her Majesty's Prison, Devizes, July 24th, 1892. My dear aunt,—ln answer to your kind and welcome letter, I was indeed surprised to hear from you. I often think about you all; but I was cfraid to write to you, or my cousins, knowing how bad and wicked I had been; but tied have mercy upon me Is all I can say. I went to Melksham to see Florence Adams. We were going to be married, Ind her last words to Inc were to that effect. Indeed, it was her own doings. I was leaving the asylum, sod I asked her if she would like to c.nne down to Shaftesbury. She replied that she would go if she was my wife, and so I went end published the banns of marriage, but when I returned I found that someone had been saymg something against me, and she bad stopped it all. I felt broken. hearted and I did not care what became of me. Then everything seemed gone. I had been very kind to Flo, and gave her everything I could. It was tor couch. I could not et ind it, and my temper got the better of me, and you know what I did. God fergive me for it. I hope he will. ti,d bless you for your kind letter, and em metotav me to my friends. I hope to meet them all in Heaven. Now I must close with love to you all, and allow me to remain yours affectionately, JohN Gum"  A man named Charles Wood Dudley pleaded guilty to a charge of arson at thr Central Criminal Court. onTuesday.—fho prisoner was with his wife in a cab near Hendon, when his wife remarked. "How Mc* the hay smells." rhe prisoner repld...YeA, I'll set fire to it"; and upon this he applied a light to a rick of hay. He jumped into the Cal, and en Iravoured to make his escape, but was f.dlowed and arrested.—The prisoner admitted the offence, and said he wanted to he gent into penal servitude.—Tlit prisoner was ultimately sentenced to three years' Iwual servitude.—The prisoner: Can't you make it live ?—The Recorder directed the prisoner's removal, and said that the Homo Secretary would ;.. titote an inquiry as to the prisoner's condition 4,. mind.  When the medical officer of health for Hendon, Mr. James Cameron, was driving in Mill-hill, on Saturday, the horse took fright and bolted. Dr. Cameron attempted to jump out of the vehicle, and in doing so was thrown, and died from • fractured skull.  A lady named Mrs. Thursfield, residing at Hills. borough, near Sheffield, on Saturday night met a burglar on her doorstep, as she returned home. After a struggle he felled her to the ground with a jemmy and escaped. Mrs. Thurelleld lies dangerously ill.