The Sun. — 1832-08-11 (London, England)

MURDERER.  (From the second edition of the Leicester Journal of Friday.) From an early hour this morning the population of the surrounding districts cable pouring into Leicester; and the whole of the labouring classes of the town struck work for the day, in order that they might have an opportunity of witnessing the execution of this wretched criminal, which was appointed to take place at ten o'clock. As early as five o'clock a great crowd began to assemble round the County Gaol, and their number kept increasing until ten o'clock, when they amounted to nearly 40,000. Since his coodemnation on Wednesday he has appeared quite prepared for his fate, as, after retiring to rest in the evening, he slept soundly from nine till six o'clock the next morning. He was visited the same day by Mr. Denton, attorney for the late Mr. Paas, and earnestly requested, that as his doom was now sealed in this world, to tell the truth with regard to the remains, and if any were yet concealed, to make the only atonement he possibly could, by informing them of the. fact. Cook replied that he had told them all that he knew, and requested that he might not be interrupted in his religious devotions. The time appointed for his execution was half-past nine o'clock ; about a quarter of an hour previous to which time the Under Sheriff (Mr. l3erridge) and retinue arrived at the gaol. We were then admitted, and found Cook,lin a condemn d cell, devoutly praying, to the Almighty to give him strength and fortitude to bear him up under his execution. The Rev. Dr. Fancourt and the Rev. Robert Burnaby were in the cell with him ; after a few minutes longer in prayer, he said, " I am quite ready," and the room being cleared, he was pinioned. At about half past nine, the culprit, preceded by the Under Sheriff and Clergyman, followed by the town and county gaoler, walked with a firm step to the drop. On coming out on the scaffold, the unhappy culprit gazed intently round, and waived his hand on recognising several of his former acquaintances. He appeared t.tally engaged in prayer, and uttered the following pious ejsculaion, " Lord remember me when thou comest to judge the world." The rope was then placed round his neck, and he immediately threw away a white cambric pocket-handkerchief. Everything bing ready, the drop fell, after considerable difficulty, and James Cook, the murderer, was very soon no more. He struggled violently for the space of about two minutes, during which he gave some terrible convulsive heaves, and from the experience of an old officer who stood by, we are authorised in saying that he never witnessed a criadnil die so bard. The crowd continued very orderly during the whole of the ceremony ; several persons fainted away. After hanging the usual time the body was taken down and put into chains, pursuant to the sentence. The gibbet, we understand, will be erected in Saffron-lane, leading from the Aylestone Toll-gate to Countesthorpe, and within a quarter of a mile of the former place.  He was dressed in a blue coat, black waistcoat, white gloves and trowsers ; holding in his left hand the handkerchief, which Richards and Jeffrey (the two constables who attended him during his confinement in the Borough Gaol) picked up, according to an understanding they had while in prison. He shook hands very heartily with the town and county gaolers. It appears the light fingered gentry were on the alert, a gentleman having his pocket picked of his pocketbook, containing a variety of memorandums, &c., while standing very near the drop.