The Sun. — 1842-01-27 (London, England)

THE CONVICT DELAHUNT.  . This wretched man, as we have already said, made a full confession of his horrible crime some days since. The following account is given in the Dublin Morning Register of Monday : " The Governor, when making his usual inspection of the prison on Saturday morning, visited the prisoner, about nine o'clock. After referring to his interview with his parents on the preceding day, the Governor said he had heard that his father had given him some good advice, and-expressed a hope that he had profited by it, to which he replied in the affirmative. The Governor then said he did not wish to press him to make any communication, but if he was desirous to make a voluntary statement to him ho was prepared to listen to it. Delahunt then made the following statement :—IIe said, that for about a month previous' to the commission of the crime, he was nightly oppresied' iVith the feeling that he should commit murder, but then formed no definite purpose with respect to his victim, except this, that he intended it should be a child, as it would be less able than a grown person to offer any resistance to his murderous designs. He said that he endeavoured to shake off the feeling that thus oppressed him, but it clung to him with such tenacity that he was unable to expel it from his mind. Having procured the knife at his brother's house, as stated on the trial, for the purpose of committing the murder, he wandered about the streets during the day, in search of his' prey. At length he perceived the 'boy Maguire playing with some other children, in the neighbourhood of Plunket-street, and his attention was particularly attracted to him by observing bim make several ineffectual attempts to jump on a coal-cart that was passing through the street. He called to him on the pretence that he wanted to send him of a message, and promised to reward him for his trouble. They proceeded together to the several places stated on the trial, with the exception of the publichouse at the corner of Capel-street, where it was deposed on the trial they were seen taking coffee together. He said they were not there, and they did not take any coffee, for he had no money to pay for it. At length he brought him to the lane near Pembroke-road, and there perpetrated the bloody deed. It appeared on the trial that a large stone had been used in committing the murder ; but on being questioned about it he denied having made use of the stone. He was then asked how it occurred that there were no spots of blood on him, and he said that on committing the murder he had guarded against such result. Ile seized the boy by the forehead, and having pressed his back forcibly against his thigh, drew the knife quickly across his throat, and then flung him from him. The boy made no resistance, and, he believed, was unaware of his intentions. He then ran away: and did not hear the boy scream or give any other indication of vitality. When questioned as to his motive for bringing the boy to his sister-in-law's house, he could not account for it ; but it is probable he was waiting until night, to enable him to effect his object with greater certainty. He was then asked if he intended to implicate the boy's mother in the murder ? He said lie did not, that he did not know her ; and, in describing the dress of the female by whom he alleged the murder was committed, he did not mean to implicate her or any other person. It will be recollected that, in the former statement, he said his object in committing the murder was to be taken care of in the Lower Castle-yard, and to prosecute some person for it ; but, on the present occasion, he denied being actuated by any such motive. The Governor said be hoped he was telling him the truth ; and he declared he was doing so, as sincerely as if he were making the disclosure to his spiritual adviser."