The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1874-10-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF THE CAMBERWELL MURDERER. John Walter Coppen, aged 37, a coffee-shop keeper, who had reaided in Church-row, Camberwell, London, and who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of his wife, Emma Skevington Coppen, 3 4years of age, was executed on Tueaday morning at nine o'clock, within the walla of the Surrey County Prison, Horsemonger-lane, in the preaence of Mr. John Keene, the governor; Mr. Whitely, Mr. Sim, and Captain Scovell, three of the county magistrates; and Mr. C. Abbott, the under-sheriff of the county.  The culprit was addicted to drinking to excess, and he returned home drunk on the night previous to the murder, His wife, in consequence of his condition, stayed during the night with her sister, who was living in the house. On the following morning she came down stairs, dressed, and was in the act of leav• ing the house, when the culprit rushed at her, and inflicted a wound with a butcher's knife, which he had borrowed the same morning of a butcher named Bowles, who lived opposite. The woman died almost immediately. but before her death she made a statement to the effect that she had aggravated him to do it. There did not, however, appear to be the slightest ground for believing that this was the case. Strenuous exertions were made by Mr. Ody, the prisoner's solicitor, and other parties to induce the Home Secretary to recommend the prisoner to the mercy of the Crown, but on Monday, when Mr. Keene, the governor, and Mr. Abbott, the underaheriff went to the Home Office to ascertain the result, they were informed that Mr. Cross declined to interfere, and that the sentence must be carried out. Whilst the culprit was in custody he conducted himself in a becoming manner, and he never at any time seemed to have any hope that he should escape. He was most attentive to the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Jessopp, the chaplain of the prison, who expresses an opinion that he was sincerely penitent for his crime. He frequently spoke in terms of deep affection for his wife, and said drink was the cause of his crime. The prisoner was visited on Monday by his sister iwho WM one of the witnesses at the trial), his aunt, and a cousin. The interview was most affecting, and, before they left, at the request of the prisoner, they all knelt down, and the rev, chaplain offered up an appropriate prayer. Later in the day the culprit wrote a letter, thanking the Rev. Mr..Tessopp for his kind manifestations, which he said had brought him to a true sense of his condition.  The Standard gives the following account of the execution:— " Coppen retired to rest on Monday night at nine o'clock. At five o'clock on Tuesday morning he rose, and at eight breakfasted. The chaplain was the last person whom he saw at night, and the first in the morning. The prisoner is described as sleeping soundly all night, and he ate his breakfast with appetite. For about an hour before the execution small parties of men, women, and children commenced to gather in the streets skirting the outside of the gaol. The numbers continued to swell every minute, until, towards the doomed hour, they had increased to several thousands. They lined every point of vantage, discussing the question in all its bearings, peering with an idle curiosity at the flagstaff on the roof of the gaol, and watching the figure of the offiier whose duty it was to hoist the sombre banner when the signal was given that the soul of the condemned man had been launched into eternity. It is not surprising that so many people assembled on this occasion, for the murder and all the circumstances remotely or immediately connected with it have formed the chief topica wherewith the majority of the inhabitants of Camberwell have e.ercised their minds and tongues lln the weeks that have intervened since it was committed.