The Sun. — 1861-04-24 (London, England)

EXECU:  'RECON.  The final sentence of the law was carried into effect in front of the county gaol at Brecon, at eight o'clock yesterday morning, upon William Williams, who was convicted at the Brecon Assizes, in March, for the wilful murder of his aunt on the 19th of October, 1860. The culprit had lived in the service of an uncle, on a farm about seven miles from the house where his aunt resided at. Fawydden, Talgnrth, about 20 miles from Hereford. Williams slept at her house on the night of the 18th October, and seemed on good terms with his relative. He brought with him a gun, which he Usually carried about his uncle's farm for bird-shooting. The next day, in the afternoon, his sister went into an adjacent field for some hay, taking with her a little boy, an_ illegitimate son of the aunt ; Williams was at this time in the fold-yard, and his victim was in the house, sitting in a highbacked chair by the fire, picking wool. Just as the sister was returning, she heard thd report of firearms, and ranning forward met her brother aiming out of the house, who exclaimed, " That his aunt had shot herself." On entering the room the body of the murdered woman was found in the chair, in a sitting posture, and the muzzle of the gun had been placed so close to her that the flame from the powder had absolutely set her dress on fire. The Slugs, with which the gun had been loaded, passed completely through the-body of the unhappy woman, entering at her back, and passing through the heart out of the body. Whnn into custody, the, prisoner said, " The off by accident while hie was passing through the door,'' but he subsequently told the superintendent of police and his wife, and also the chief constable of the county, that he shot the poor. woman, his-+ words being," I did it ; I did it with all my heart to get possession of her property, for I had no home." It will be remembered that the testimony given by the sister, a young woman more than 20 years of age, exhibited a lamentable degree of ignorance. She was not aware of the nature of an oath, and her belief in a future state was merely to the extent that perhaps there was one. She did, however, believe in the existence of a God, and his power to punish her if she did wrong. The moral character of the murdered woman was very much tainted. Since the culprit's sentence, which was accompanied by a recommendation to mercy, but -which Mr. Justice Ryles warned him could hardly be expected to avert his doom, the miserable youth (for he was only 19 years of age), for the first time subsequent to the crime, appeared to realise his awful situation. He has been attended with the most sedulous earnestness by the Rev. David Price, B.D, chaplain to the county gaol, and his ministrations awakened the unhappy man to a sense of his atrocious crime. He has constantly prayed most fervently for pardon of hii sins, and was fully sensible that all hope for him in this world was gone. He has been visited by his relatives, the final parting with whom was one of the most agonising description. He attended. Divine service in the chapel on Sunday, and heartily joined in the responses.. He rose at an early hour this morning and requested to see the rev, chaplain, who at once attended him, and continued with him until the last. Upon the arrival of Mr. Maybury, the under-sheriff, shortly after half-past 7 o'clock, that gentleman, accompanied by Mr. Lazenby, the governor of the gaol; proceeded to the cell, and informed the wretched man that the hour was come when he must meet his fate. His fortitude quite forsook him, and he burst into a bitter and passionate flood of tears, which the exhortations of the Rev. Mr. Price could not allay. The process of pinioning having been •gone through with much difficulty, the culprit rallied a little, and shook hands affectionately with the governor, thanking him for his great kindness, and also for that of the officers of the prison. He acknowledged the justice of his sentence, but expressed himself in penitence and hope of a belief that he would receive pardon for his crime. The procession having arrived at the drop, the fatal knot was quickly adjusted, and while most earnestly joining in the Burial Service, as read by the chaplain, the bolt was withdrawn, and after a momentary struggle the wretched youth ceased to exist.  2HE