The Sun. — 1828-04-04 (London, England)

EXECUTION OF WM. AND JOHN DYONN AT YORK, ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.  Shortly after the prisoners had been placed in their gloomy apartment, the Chaplain to the Castle (the Rev. Wm. Flower) attended them, and used his utmost endeavours to prevail upon them to make their peace with the Almighty. They, however, denied their guilt, and appeared to feel. but little the awfulness of their situation. The same evening an application *as made to the Chaplain for permission for the wife •of Dyon and his son-in_law to visit them. This Was immediately granted, and an interview took place between them, in the presence of Mr. Shepherd, the Governor. After beiug u Short time in conversation, they took their parting leave of each other ; but, from what we understand, it was not one where that poignant grief and anguish was displayed which it was natural to suppose would have taken place at a meeting like this. Their relations left this city the following morning. The prisoner?: slept rather soundly that night, and smoked thell pipes and appeared cheerful on Tuesday morning.. About ten o'clock they were taken to the ehape, where, as well as at two in the afternoon, prayers were read to them. During this service, some impression was evidently made upon the older Dyon, the tears flowing down his face several times while prayers were reading. On returning from the chapel to their cell, the younger Dyon was heard by one of the•turnkeys to say, " Oh what we have brought ourselves to." On Tuesdiy evening, the chaplain again visited the prisoners, and observed some signs of contrition in their behaviour. Though they did not confess anything relating to the murder, they did not deny it, which they had previously strenuously persisted in doing. Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, the Chaplain again attended the prisoners, who had, since the day before, been placed in separate cells, in order to facilitate the means of obtaining a confession from either of them; but without effect, as they still persisted in a bolsi denial of their guilt.--Yesterday morning, under the door of the cell of Wm. Dyer!, two short notes to his son John were intercepted, exhorting,him to say nothing. This might fairly ha taken for a virtual confession of the crime. They had been given.to a prisoner who had to pass the door with some water, but were found by one of theturnkeys. The - Chaplain administered the sacra: ment to these wretched creatures, and remaineo praying with them until the time of the execution. About five minutes before twelve, the two culprits walked on to the scaffold, conducted by the javelin men, bailiffs, &c. At this period, the Fishergateroad, St. George's Field, the New Walk, and other places adjoining were crowded by a dense mass of spectators ; we heard them estimated at ten thousand, and we think there was nearly that number present, William Dyon, the father, appeared quite once"cerned. His son presented a striking contrast ; he wrung his hands and was evidently labouring under great mental anguish. He commenced praying very fervently, and followed the clergyman in most of the service, ejaculating many times " the Lord have mercy upon me." The father did not take part 'in the service, until the Lord's Prayer was read, anti then his lips appeared to be in motion. The servit e having terminated, the executioner tied the legs of the old man and those of his son with cords. The Under-Sheriff now advanced towards the prisoners and spoke as follows