The Sun. — 1849-05-31 (London, England)

EXECUTION AT PERTH.  The execution of John Kellocher, who was convicted at la. t Circuit Court of the murder of Janet Anderson, an old woman residing at Buttergask, near Blackford, took place yesterday morning at a few minutes past eight o'clock. The erection of the scaffold was commenced at an early hour on Monday, and throughout the day vas an object of much interest to the inhabitants, who, up to a late hour, continued to throng the open space at the south end of the gaol, and wa'ched with much patience the progress of the work. Next morning by 7 o'clock a large crowd had again assembled, and at a quarter past that hour the company of the 93d Regiment, now stationed in the barracks, took up a position within a semicircular line of palisades in front of the drop: and at the same time the high constables, the city police, and a strong body of the county constabulary, likewise arrived on the ground. By eight o'clock the crowd at greatly increased, although not to the extent anticipated, as there could not have been more than 5,000 present at the most. At exactly five minutes past eight the prisoner, accompanied by two priests, the Rev. Messrs. M'Cory and M'Kay, one on each side, made his appearance above the wall of the gaol, followed by the magistrates of the city, the Dean of Guild, the chaplain of the prison, and one or two others. On coming forward on the platform, the prisoner and his spiritual guides knelt down and engaged in a brief prayer. On rising the Rev. Mr. M'Kay read the service for the dying, and immediately retiring, the executioner stepped forward and pulled the cap over Kellocher's face. On coming upon the scaffold, the prisoner walked forward with a firm step, and with the exception of the ashy paleness of his features, gave no indication of fear. During the reading of the service he repeatedly lifted his hand as if in the act of earnest devotion. On being left alone, however, he trembled slightly, and continued to hold the signal for about two minutes ere he allowed it to drop. At last it fell, and the strong man, after a few convulsive struggles, hung a motionless corpse. At nine o'clock the body was taken down and put into a coffin, and soon afterwards interred. Kellocher was a native of Ireland, and from the county of Clare. He was a stout man, twenty-seven years of age. After his sentence, and up to only a few days ago, his mind appeared to be little under the influence of religious impres,dons. It is true, indeed, that he joined with Mr. M'Cory in religious exercises with much apparent devotion, but all that time he freely gave way to sudden bursts of passion directed against the jury and judges who tried and condemned him, insisting bitterly on justice not having been done to him. At last, however, on being convinced that his sentence would certainly be carried into effect, a marked change in his conduct took place. Throughout he took his meals regularly, and slept well, and on Monday night he gratified the authorities by making au ample confession of his guilt, exonerating the witnesses in reference to all that they had said on his trial, acknowledging the justice of his sentence, and expressing his contrition for his awful crime. On the morning of his execution, Messrs. Al'Cory and M'Kay were in attendance in his cell by five o'clock, but early as the hour was they were antic( pated by Mr. Milner, civil engineer, and of the same faith, who had been unremitting in his attentions to the prisoner all along—Scotsman of Wednesday.  A