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

EXECUTION A 7 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 Windsor 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 ho 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 girlGou Gould dabwouitth tahißrtiebelen to her on Tuesday with some written advice. seerdodfnlife had been several for at assaultswn oa t oivr e tohaf Eton,rnede ovtimh Beersu offences. fkuser,ni ncandegs. thein (Monday) the culprit was visited by his sister. nightthett aThi mehoTveeuni The usual reoniuyhTumetaerehrlptsiruoremhv awoke iosoiseinuodfhwna criminal imprisoned dbwagei ssueat tvadesn evening asntsfyniuionperrohgeaatrt sh Gould ceolumlani hours,irtetat il ra, enwddh tii oct h wasrheset returned oa t morning he arose early, and eightfroapmtgrheae'y ewr h. o untilprecedingpresented Yesterdayadfeyw minutes before twelve o'clock, when the governor took ft ehwe of the gaol (Mr. Ferry), the under sheriff, and other officers, entered his cell, was engaged with the chaplain in devotional exercises. He took leave of all the officers in the establishment, and quietly i nmg froma na underwent the process of pinioning by Calcraft, nraTdfhsteeproasf prayer. Then wretched"sday man in his hand the Bible which he intended should be returned to his step-daughter, and the the executioner. The unfortunate mrruoonoopdumeer under aft duthjoleu sht eetprocessionadh7e wswhile ial step, and stood quietly walked with a firm cap was drawn and the thescaffold. was drawn and he was launched into eternity. the chaplain he gave. to him turning round to which he partinghoped the be blessed would the Lord for the chaplain and kindness he by attention His struggles were momentary. The body hung for an hour, but was soon hid from view by • a covering in front of the scaffold, placed there by order of the under sheriff, principallthe sacred y to prevent the pe:ssengers on the three railways being ways witnessos to the horrifying spectacle. A great crowd assembled in the meadow below words,volu mein the road running in frontof the ' b prison ; but, there was no disturbance, order being preserved by the town police. bolt  STOPPAGE order of the BoardCoflllAVNoerkEsßoirf-