The Sun. — 1840-05-25 (London, England)

GENERAL REPRIEVE FOR CASEY AND HARTNETT, CONVICTED OF THE MUI.DER, OF POLICE SERGEANT LAWLOR.  (FROM OUB COBRESPONDENT.) CORK, MAY 20, 1840. The case of the unfortunate men, Casey and Hart nett, for the murder of police-sergeant Lawlor, has not ass yet been decided upon by the Government. Subsequent to my last communication relative to the attempt to escape from prison by Casey, a respite was received, with an order that the execution should be stayed until this day ; and on yesterday evening a general reprieve arrived, directing it to be delayed for further orelers. This delay has been the result of an investigation by the Judges on some points reserved by the prisoners' professional agent, Mr. Philip O'Connell, who, it is stated, was furnished with them by a gentleman named Martin. One of them was the mistake, by the Judge who sentenced the convicted parties, of the name of the dry on which the date of the month fell ; and the other, that it was not stated their bodies should be buried " within the precincts of the gaol," which words, it appears, were necessary to the legal completion of the sentence. Upon these points their Lordships, after two days' deliberation, decided, by a majority of six to four, that the points reserved were in favour of the convies. The Pilot, which conveyed this intelligence, concluded the paragraph by stating—" Thus these wretched men (whose death was otherwise certain) are saved from death." The Paper which declares the feeling :of the people here, the Cork Southern Reporter, has espoused the cause of mercy, and draws a line of distinction between the animus, or incentive, which induced the murder of Lord William Russell, and the homicide committed by these convicts, in fact, in their own defence. That Journal does not at all mean to qualify or palliate the enormity of their offence, aggravated by their previous lawless mode of life ; but taking into consideration all Ate circumstances of the act, estimating the general feeling as leaning to the side of mercy, and being made acquainted by experience with the ineffectual results, in the repression of crime, of the corrective of capital punishment, trusts that the Government will mitigate the penalty to perpetual banishment. In the course of my inquiries, I heard what perhaps may be conceived strong evidence for those opposed to the shedding of blood as a retribution. The sister of the deceased, a few days past, whilst conversing with some of her associates, ono of whom was my informant, said, after bewailing his untimely fate, which present circumstances bad brought more forcibly to her mind," If he lived, I'd be better off ; but now that it comes to it, I don't wish them to be hanged ; for sure, it would not bring him Eck again to me." The police, who, in this country, partake too much of a military character, have been generally heard to express themselves opposed to any commutation of the awful sentence ot the law. It is natural, from their association with the deceased, and the fact of his being a member of their corps, to view the transaction in a bad light ; and I am convinced, that had the circumstance occurred some years ago, when this force were of so amenable to public opinion, or civil restraint, as diey happily are now under a good Government, discontent would have been more loud at the course pursued by the Executive. The local community arc favourable to a coMmotation, and it is to be hoped, that the decision as Yo the fate of these wretched and degraded men will be with the majority. The distribution of the reward offered by Government for their prosecution was made in the following manner :—Roche, the npprover, 100/. ; Mantcy, in whose house Casey took shelter, 501. ; Corkery, watchman, 50/. ; Mary Thempson 501. • Constabulary Fund, 80/. ; Haves M`Carthy, 'and te ..two Longs, (51. each) 201. It is now confidently expected, that the convicts will be transported for life.