The Sun. — 1862-03-15 (London, England)

READING.  Yesterday, at 12 o'clock, the sentence of death passed by Mr. Baron Channell at the late assizes for the county of Berks upon the man John Gould, for the brutal murder of his daughter at Windsor, on the 30th of December last, was carried into effect at the County House of Correction at Reading. The circumstances connected with the commission of the crime were published in this paper at the time of the trial, and they must be fresh in the recollection of our readers. .  A memorial, praying for• the reprieve of the criminal was prepared by several persons at Reading, and having received the signatures of 300 or 400 of the inhabitants of that town during last, week, was forwarded to the Home Secretary, Sir George Grey. Another memorial for a commutation of Gould's sentence was also drawn up and signed by the Mayor and magistrates Of Reading and others. No memorial was forwarded from Windser on the prisoner's behalf. _ _  Late on Thursday night the Mayor of Reading (Mr. Hewitt), with several other gentlemen, travelled to town for the purpose of obtaining an interview with the Home Secretary, at the House of Commons ; but it proved unsuccessful. The culprit acknowledged his guilt from the first, . and expressed great contrition for the dreadful act. He awaited his trial with coolness, and appeared prepared for the worst. He listened to ,the sentence of death apparently unmoved ; but on his removal to the prison he seemed to feel the awful situation he was placed in, and shed tears. The chaplain of the prison (the Rev. Mr. Colville) was very attentive to the wretched man, who passed the greater portion of his time in perusing religious books provided for him, and in writing a large number of letters to his wife and other relatives and friends, which were couched in the most affectionate and serious language. In these letters he sought forgiveness for the trouble he had caused, admitted that the sentence was a just one, and quoted numerous passages from Holy Writ relating to mercy on high. He also stated that drink was the cause of the foul deed. His wife visited him on Tuesday last in company with her own daughter, a girl about thirteen years of age, who presented Gould with a Bible on his committal, which he returned to her on Tuesday with some written advice. The interview lasted for three hours, and it was of a very touching nature. On the preceding day (Monday) the culprit was visited by his sister. The criminal was a native of Eton, Bucks, and in the course of his dissipated life had been several times imprisoned for assaults and other offences. uTahl uhrosudraTb netveu twoingo rG tohurl de e rtei int i re se d dtuor irnegs t t ha te night he he awoke and offered prayer. Yesterday ' morning he arose early, and from eight until a few before (Mr. twelve Ferry), otchl o'clock, chaplainall the oiffin cdeervso devotional ntahl e exercises.estab gaolomfinthuetesdwerhesnhetriiiffe, and governorot her rlshmHenett, officers, entered his cell, was engaged with the underwent the process of pinioning by Calcraft, the executioner. The unfortunate man took took kd l eav e quietly of in his hand. the Bible which he intended should be returned to his step-daughter, and the mournful procession then passed from the room to the scaffold. The .wretched man. walked with a firm step, and stood quietly under the beam while the cap was drawn and the rope adjusted, uttering words of prayer. Then. turning round to the chaplain ho gave to him the sacred volume, and after saying a few parting words, 1 'n which he hoped the ' chaplain would be blessed bby the Lord for the ' attention and kindness e had shown him, the bolt was drawn and he was launched into eternity. ' His struggles were momentary. The body hung for ' an hour, but was soon hid from view by a coverinc, to in front of the scaffold, placed there by order of the under sheriff, principally to prevent the assengera on the three railways beingwitnessesr to the horrifying spectacle. A great crowd assembled in the meadow beloW the road running in front of the prison ; but there was no disturbance, order b 'ei town police. ng preserved by the  -