The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1849-09-04 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE CONDEMNED CONVICT, GLEESON WILSON.— The Liverpool Times of Thursday gives some .particulars of the conduct of the prisoner -Since his conviction and sentence. "Immediately after being sentenced he was conveyed to Kirkdale, and became as cheerful as ever after leaving the court. A very unfounded statement has made its way into the columns of a contemporary, to the effect that Gleeson expressed a morbid desire to have the trousers in which the murders were committed, andjokingly observed, "That they were a nice pair:' This is not correct. Gleeson is dressed in the same clothes which he had on during his trial ; and he positively denies that the trousers produced upon the trial, and which, it was alleged, he wore on the day of the murders, are his. Whilst being conveyed to gaol on Wednesday evening, Gleeson solemnly protested his innocence to the keepers by whom he was surrounded, and still continues to assert it, alleging that, they have got the wrong man.' We may here notice that the Rev. Mr. Hearne, late of St. Patrick's, Manchester, is not the clergyman to whose care Gleeson has committed himself in preparing for eternity. On 'Thursday morning, when visited by the clergyman, Gleason was kund in the possession of the most exuberant spirits. There was a •lightheartedness and hilarity about the man that astonished all who saw'liim. After a short conversation, the clergyman referred to the crime of which he was convicted, hinted that there could not be a question as to his guilt, and urged him to confess it freely and fully. The idea that the clergyman should entertain a suspicion of his guilt, seemed to arouse his violent temper. He asked the clergyman who had a better right to know whether he was innocent or guilty than himself, and why was not his word believed'? He was soon pacified, however, and then conversed freely on other topics. He is very much annoyed at the iine of defence adopted, namely, insanity:: and refers frequently to the icily of those who sent four doctors to him to ascertain if he were •" mad." He laughs outright at the idea, and says it was a good joke. But, although 'he is not pleased that he should be thought insane, 'Gleeson feels deeply grateful to. Mr. Pollock, for the splendid defence he made ia his behalf. During Friday and Saturday his conduct remained unchanged, and he is very .quiet. 'On Sunday, the Rev. Mr. 'Hearne visited him, and read to him at some length; he burst into tears, and•it was some time before be regained his usual composure. After this, however, his usual gaiety returned ; tut ever since he seems more subdued than on the previous days. ,Sunday night he spent most restlessly • he was constantly disturbed by dreams, and occasionally, during his sleep, he spoke in a most incoherent manner, and the effect of his uneasiness was.quite visible in his appearance on Monday. His rest was also broken on Monday night, and on Tuesday he seemed to 'be undergoing a great change. lie still _persists in asserting his innocence, though less vehemently than he had previously done. Gleason being a Roman Catholic be was not required to attend divine service in the Church on Sunday ; but on that day, as on all days since his conviction, an old man, not we believe officially connected with the prison, remains in his cell and reads to him &oft a book left by the clergyman. Two turnkeys remain with him daring the night. Wilson is quite ignorant of the source from whence the funds came for his defence, but thinks that the friends of his wife are the parties who supplied the money. Gleeson has the greatest repugnance to be hanged, but knowing his doom he cares net how soon he ceases to exist. He is said to have a proper sense of the position in which he is placed. He is now most anxious to see a twin brother of his named John, whose name he has assumed, but it is not deemed advisable to allow any of his family to see him." The prisoner still maintains his innocence. The condemned sermon was preached on Sunday by Mr. Appleton, but Wilson was not nresent,'Owing to ins being a Roman Catholic. The day of the execution has been again changed, and is now fixed for Saturday week.  " Time tries all things" is an old adage, and, certainly, Mr. Thompson haS been thoroughly tried in nearly thirty years. His system of teachira writing has stood the test of a hundred opponents, but 1% is still in the same locality, with pupils so increased in numbers that he has now classed his son as his assistant. [