The Sun. — 1844-01-22 (London, England)

WEBSTER.  ARREST OF MURDERERS AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS. —About fourteen years ago a most brutal murder was committed in the town of Maryborough, in the house in which Mr. Turpin now resides, the perpetrators of which have been arrested, and, it is hoped, will be broughr to justice. As the circumstances of the case may not be known to many of our readers, we may here give them as concisely as possible. A respectable old couple, named Cowen, resided in the house, with their nephew, and a servant girl named Grimes ; a man and his wife, named Drennan, whowere in the habit of working for them, alto resorted to the house. A con. spiracy was entered into between the nephew and the others to take away the lives of his relatives, that he might get their property ; and on the evening of the murder he took his uncle to evening prayers, leaving his aunt alone in the house. Grimes took the dogs out of the way, and Drennan entered by the back door, and with a loaded butt drove the poor woman's spectacles into her brain, as she sat reading. He then dragged her towards the hall door,lthat it might appear she had fallen down stairs. Drennan's wife then went over to see that the foul deed was accomplished, and finding that she still breathed, she chopped her face nearly off with a spade. Circumstances came out which at. tached suspicion to the nephew, and he was tried, but for want of evidence was discharged on his own recognisance. Grimes has since led a wretched life; and having been some time ago arrested for some crime, she was put in gaol, fell dangerously ill, and has made a full confession of the foregoing facts. She has since got better, but still persists in her statement; and on her depositions Drennan and his wife have been arrested. For two years subsequent to the murder, Drennan, though repeatedly sought for, could not be found; and it is reported that Cowen, the nephew, was killed in • drunken row shortly after the crime. But it is earnestly hoped that the perpetrators of this diabolical deed will soon be brought to deserved punishment.—Minster Eepress.  EXECUTION OF JOIIN ROBE/tn.—On Saturday this unfortunate man, convicted of the murder of Lord Derby's gamekeeper, suffered the last penalty of the law at Liverpool. About half-past eleven the prisoner, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Appleton, Mr. Amos the late, and Mr. Gibbs, the present Governor of the gaol, entered the chapel, where he partook of the sacrament. On leaving it be embraced, in the most affectionate terms, his companion, Jim Hunt. He placed his arms round Hunt's neck, and pressed him most warmly. At this leave-taking his firmness, which was so marked during his subsequent movements, appeared for a moment to desert him—but it was only for a moment, for when the Chaplain on the one side, and one of the officers of the prison on the other, moved forward, he took his place between them, and walked with as much apparent nerve as those about him. After the usual ceremonies, the bolt was withdrawn, and the prisoner fell, the crowd setting up a hideous yell, the expression, apparently, of their feelings of horror at the shock rather than of bad feeling towards the dying man. He struggled violently for a few seconds, and then ceased to move.