Glasgow Courier. — 1845-02-01 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE STAFFORDSHIRE MURDER.  EXSCUTION or DOWNING AND Powve.—On Saturday last, Paul Downing, aged 10, and Charles Powye, aged 17—who were convicted, at last Oxford assizes, of the wilful murder of Mr. William. Cooper, game-keeper, at Audley, in the month of August last—paid the last penalty of the law at Stafford. Whilst the executioner was adjusting the rope, Downing said—" Gentlemen, herein two chaps going to be murdered; we are going to die as innocent as the child unborn; we are free from it." Powys then ascended the scaffold, and whilst the executioner wee putting the rope round his neck, said "Don't put the rope so tight; I can't breathe." The chaplain then shook hands with Downing, and exhorted him in the most solemn manner to tell the whole truth, as he was about to leave the world; to which Downing replied, "lam not guilty." The chaplain baring also Aitken hands with Powys, and repeated the exhortation, Powys said," We are going to die for a thing we know nothing about, and I hope the Lord in tun will protect in." Downing further said," I hope it will • out, and that the country will know that we are innocent, our friends will be released of it." After the caps bad _ In over their faces, and whilst the chaplain was proceeding with the burial service, both the criminals prayed aloud and apparently with great fervour. While they were on engaged, the drop fill, and the world closed upon their presence. Downing tuned at once to live, but Powys struggled for several minutes.  Accounts from Alexandria of the 6th ult. mention that the plan of establishing a railroad between Cairo and Suez had been nearly abandoned. An engineer, M. Mengel, had proposed to the Pasha to open, at an expense of not more than 160,000 talaris' a canal between Cairo and Suez, by means of which goods landed at Suez would be conveyed in boats from that harbour to Alexandria. Three sluicegates would be required for the purpose, one at Suez, the other at Wadi, below Cairo, and the third at Alexandria. The epidemy still raged among the cattle. Upwards of 9,000 oxen imported from Tarsus had lately died of it in Lower Egypt. It would Appear from reports current at Alexandria, that the Russians were collecting a large military force in Armenia, and that another treaty, like that of Uniiar 'Skelessi, was on the tapis at Constantinople.  The Weather—Perth, Jan. 80.—The weather has undergone a complete change since our last, from that which had characterised the present year hitherto. In course of Friday night the wind rose to a hurricane, accompanied with torrents of rain, which continued during the whole of Saturday. The Tay came down in full flood, and reached a greater height than Ibr some years, overflow ing the greater part of both Inches. Fortunately, however, the wind shifted to the north-west, and the treat set in on Sunday morning sharply, which checked the flood. Through the next night a good deal of snow fell, and several showers during the following day, and on Tuesday it lay to the depth of a few inches. Although the direction of the storm was from the north-west—which is usually the most severely felt in the Highlands—we are happy to learn that the quantity does not much exceed that In the Lowlands. Travelling is not Impeded—the Inverness mail arriving at nearly its regular time. As the temperature continues low —being at 27 deg. through the two last nigbts.-the pre. sent fall is likely to be more permanent than any we have I had this winter,