The Sun. — 1840-06-25 (London, England)

FRANCOIS BRNJAMIN COURVOISIRR. " Prison of Newgate, Jane 23, 1840." "This doclara• ion was made before me this 23d of June, 1840. " WILLIAM EVANS, Sheriff."  In the conversation which Sheriff Evans had on the day this declaration was made, and which lasted for an hour, the murderer assured the Sheriff that there was no truth in the statement that Lord William Russell had gone down stairs, and after charging him with dishonesty threatened to discharge him nest day without a character. Nothing at all of the kind had occurred. His Lordship never went down stairs at night at all, and never threatened anything of the sort. His Lordship had certainly spoken to him in a cross tone, and told him to be more attentive to his business, but that was all. There was no further provocation.  The Sheriff having expressed some surprise at the variance between the two accounts, the murderer said that his uncle had entreated him most solemnly to; tell the facts exactly as they occurred, and he determined to state nothing but what was accurately correct. He therefore acknowledged not only that he had committed the murder under the circumstances just described, but that be had contemplated the murder and robbery for a week previously. The Sheriff questioned him a good deal upon the acknowledgment that he had so long contemplated the murder as well as the robbery, and be persisted in stating that the murder was premeditated, and n►t, as he had previously stated, the suggestion of despair at losing his character. He declared, and he wished the Sherif to let it be known to the world, that the idea was first suggested to him by reaarig and seeing the performance of Jack Sheppard. The book containing the history of Jack Sheppard had been lent to him by one of the servants of the Duke of Bedford, and be lamented that be had ever seen it.  Upon being asked by the Sheriff whether he had committed any other atrocities, he replied that he had merely stolen two books belonging to Mr. Fector, when in that gentleman's service. " I am most anxious," said the Sheriff, ",to know whether there is any foundation in the report wlsich has got abroad that you had something to do with the death of Eliza Grimwood, who was murdered in the Waterlooroad. Have you an 3 thing to say upon that subject?" Courvoisier assured the Sheriff that he knew nothing in the world about that or any other murder, except the murder of Lord William Russell. He knew, he said, that he must die, and if he had committed any other dreadful offence he would not hesitate to mention the fact to the Sheriff. He expressed much regret that any imputation should for a moment have been cast upon either of the roor unoffending female servants who had been so unfor• tur.ate as to have been in the house with him.  The Sheriff then asked him how Lord William Russell's finger happened to be cut ? The murderer replied that when he drew the knife across the throat, his Lordship had started up as if by a convulsion, and must, at the moment, have come in contact with the knife, and immediately fell back again, for death was instantaneous. His Lordship never waked. " How," said the Sheriff, " did you get rid of the blood, for your hand must have been bloody ?" Courvoisier replied that his hand was bloody, but he wiped it on the towel which he immediately afterwards, placed on his Lordships face. He then, he said, went up to bed, but did not sleep. These were the strongest features of the conversation between the Sheriff and Courvoitier. The murderer frequently in the course of it stated that Lord William Russell never walked down stairs, as seemed to be the general opinion, but was taken off exactly as he (Courvoisier) described to the Sheriff, and he frequently, too, declared that be was indebted for the idea of committing the atrocious crime to Jack Sheppard.