The Sun. — 1828-04-14 (London, England)

EXECUTION OF CATHERINE WEL.CI4  FOR INFANTICIDE.  OLD BAILEY.—(THIS DAY.) The case of this wretched woman has excited the greatest interest, from the evidence being wholly circumstantial, and in the opinion of most, insufficient to convict her of a crime which must be es, piated by death. The Jury in giving their verdict teemed perfectly conscious of this fact, as they humanely recommended her to mercy, on the ground of the evidence being eirewmstantiul; she was convicted on Friday, and contrary to general expectation ordered for execution this day. She protested her innocence most fervently, and shrieked out in agony as she was dragged from the dock, that her soul would be in heaven. It will be, however, a source of genuine satisfaction, both to the Jury who convicted, the Judge who sentenced, and those persons who from praiseworthy philanthropy exerted themselves in behalf of this unfortunate woman, to know that she has confessed her crime to the fullest extent. Although she continued after leaving the dock franticly declaring her innocence, yet no sooner did she sec a priest of her own persuasion (Roman Catholic), than she made every disclosure, Her defence that the child had died at the age of o fortnight, was a falsehood; she confessed to the Rev. Mr. Rolfe, the priest, that she had been living at a public house in the City-road, and there carried on an illicit connection with tie waiter. Het maiden name was Catherine Hayes. She left that situation, and was intimate with a man named Welch, who shortly after married her. The unfortunate infant was born about seven month,' after this marriage, and her husband, who frequently' upbraided her with this fact, and his conviction that he was not the father, deserted her, with the intimation that he would never again live with her while the child existed. Her affection for this man, who may be justly called the instigator of the murder, conquered even the natural fondness of a mother fat her child, and induced her to destroy the guiltleo Mahe. She admitted, with horror, that she strangled it by pressing her hand on its throat. The eyes of the little innocent were by this application violently strained, and she finished her infernal act by pressing them close into the skull. By these means the eye-balls were nearly crushed. Horrible as was her crime, she still entertained hopes of an acquittal ;, and imposed on every one by her protestations et innocence before her trial. She was a native of Ireland, as was also her husband. Her appearance, both at her trial and execution, was that of 0 ruddy artless country girl, of rather prepossessing features. Whilst with Mr. Rolfe she expressed the most sincere penitence ; and stated that, if she were sure of forgiveness hereafter, she would not mind the pangs of death, were they ten times greater than elle expected. Extreme unction was administered to hei' the chill stonryllasid,' this morning, at a few minutes past eight, and she Rev. Mr. Cotton attended to administer to her aebtrieltean:;ofirilbiededpeinahtiooltdi.ingTanhye cCwo'airnlsrirnstthuicanrric"aPatrirloetnsilalb'Nuevtditshhfoea Protestant, consequently he did not officiate till on the drop. As she pissed through she prayed in corn' pang with the priest, and kept her face toward; heaven with ten expression of intense supplication. The hue of health yet shone on her cheeks, and sbe might have been an object of strong pity, but she was a murderess. The prison bell, which had pealed -mournfully on the dying moments of many a wretch, pealed not on her's. The burial service lent not it', melancholy influence, and the sad procession move" ill silence to the place of death. She was tied with great celerity, and died while the prayer of peniteoo • fell broken on the breeze. The fall was short, bor. mot so the struggle, for it lasted several minutes be" fore she ceased to move. The crowd contained many females, whose heartless laugh and wreckless gaietY, while waiting for the horrid exhibition, proclaimed, them strangers alike to feeling or propriety. Severn'. female charity-school children were there, and bY their presence reproached the persons who ought t 0 have taught them better. A curious coincidence occurred in the similarity of the above wretched woman's maiden-name and that of Catherine Haye', who was executed, and afterwards burnt, about a century ago, for murdering her husband.. eeees „do,  ASSIZI:.