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Northern Star (1837-1852), 17th November 1849, Edition 3 of 3, Page 7

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      N<Wemto« 17, V849. _^ The Northern . Sta...

      N < _WEMto « 17 , V 849 . __^ THE NORTHERN . STAR .

      The Bermondsey Murder. The Cosdemsed See...

      THE BERMONDSEY MURDER . THE COSDEMSED SEEMOX . _The-wieMied convicts , _Manning and his wife , attended divine service in the chapel of _Horsemonger _laae Gaol on Sunday , for the last time , Ytliett the _Eer . W _. Sloman Howe , chaplain of the prison , preached an eloquent and most impressive sermon , in the course of which he made frequent and pointed allusions to the unhappy criminal- - , and exhorted them , by all their hopes of mercy hereafter , to unburden their consciences , and trath ' nlly confess the enormity of the crime for which they have been bo _ilgbieausly _cosdemne " . The nsaal service of the prison chapel commences at nine o ' clock in tbe morning , and there was no deviation from the rule

      on this occasion . The other felon oris mere and the itebtors confined in the gaol having entered the Chapel and taken their respective place * , the condemned _prisone-. s were introduced in charge of the respective male and female officers appointed to attend upon them . The culprits were so placed that the one could not ob-erve the other ; Manning being seated on the male prisonera' side , and bis wife on the opposite side , where the female prisaners sit . The visitors gallery was exclusively confined to the ""siting justices , of whom _« h-re were several present . Mr . Keene , the governor , occupied his usual pew . Mr . Moore , the deputy governor , and all the Other officers of the pri _< o-i , were also in attendance . Tb . 3 convicts , on entering ihe chapel , toak their

      sears wttftont betraying any extraordinary emotion ; nut as the service proceeded they became much distressed , and daring portions of the reverend chaplain ' s _^ sermon they both wept bitterly . The nsnal morning service was read by the reverend chaplain , who took occasion to desire the prayers of the _congregation on _behalf of the two convicts . The prayers having been concluded , and a hymn sung , the rev . chaplain entered the pul pit , and commenced his sermon , selecting as his text for illustration , the second verse ef the 65 th _l _^ alm : — " 0 thou that hearest prayer , _nnto Thee shall all flesh come . " The rev . gentleman opened his discourse by remarking that if all his hearers knew how short a period existed between them and eternity thev would each

      feel the necessity of so living as to be able to assist each , other , and thus entertaining a well-grounded nope of assistance hereafter , through the heavenly and divine grace which the blessed Redeemer had graciously thrown in the way aud placed at the disposal of all who chose tt embrace it . How much more forcibly did this apply to tbeir unhappy _brother and sister , whose days were numbered , and - who had but a few hours to live . lie _imidored them well to consider this , and so to conform themselves that they might hope to be assisted __ and strengthened to meet their approa- hing end ; and above all , he beseeched them to banish every thonghtof this world , and confine them selves to the consideration of that which wonld so

      shortly open upon them . The reverend preacher then proceeded to dilate upon the importance of repentance to all sinners , after which he _addres-red the two convicts especially , expressing an earnest hope that they wonld , loth by contrite repen ; ance and an undisguised confession «> f their sins , prefer the only claim they could have to be forgiven their transgressions , and made fit paitakers of that heavenly place where none but truly _repeetsut sinners could emer . The reverend _s : e . _tlernau tben proceeded , in a very impressive manner , to point ont the ne 3 _ESSlty _ofau £ tt « g « tie repentance , in _Thich the whole heart should be lai 1 bare—contrasting this , the oniv proper course for ihe Christian , with that adopted by

      hvnocntes and dissemblers , whose punishment _hereaffc -wonld be everlasting misery . The reverend gentleman , after further Illustrating the text in a general _jraawer , again addre ? si d the convicts , _asarring them that tbeir hope of salvation depended solely _tipwi their repentance , and beseecbuuV them to « nrbrace tkeoppo . tunilywitkont delay "flaying ( heir iiearts open before Go ";} , w 1 h > then invited them , and not to Jose one moment of the short period allotted to them for _exis-ence > n this world . The reverend preacher concluded an eloe / jent discourse in these -words , "" God be merciful to yon both , and to all -of us ¦ shiners _, teach us to look to Jesus , the sinmr _' s friend , a * the only true Somce of absolution for our _transsressions . "

      The two convicts , as before stated , were deeply affected during ths delivery if the sermon , _« n < l occasionally w hea the rev . preacher addressed them per sonalty , they gave ntterance to the intensity of their sufferings by sobbing audibly . Ewn after the _' r removal from the . chapel they remained exceedingly depressed , and hopes are entertained that Ihe rev . chaplain ' s forcible address will wt be without iis elTect on the consciences of both the criminals . We should mention also , tbat not only the two convicts , hut also the istber prisoners , aud the magistrates present w * re verv mnch affected bv the sermon .

      ATTEMF 7 a . V SUiClOE OT MKS . _MAXSJ-Vff . "Mrs . "Manning attempted suicide on Sunday morning by forcing her nails into her throat . Her convulsions startled the watchers , who hastened to her bedside , and found her almost black in the face . On finding the watchers by her side , she seemed to rally , and put her head under tbe clothes .

      MAXXISG S LAST _ArPEiS . TO HIS "WIFE . The reverend chaplain of the gaol visited _Manning at an early hour on the morning of Friday week for the purpose of offering the wretched man all the consolation in his power . Manning received the reverend gcanleaiaii _' s _exhortations in a very becoming manner , and during the interview added much to tbe statement he had before made to Mr . Rowe on the _enbjcct of thc murder . This statement -covers twenty _^ ve pages of foolscap paper . During the convict ' s interview with the chaplain he again urged the reverend gentleman-to use his utmost-endeavonrs to induce bis wife to -see hira , wbich Mr . Rowe promised to do . At a later hour he _addressed the followinsr . letter to the chaplain , reiterating Siis request on this subject : — Friday _Evening .

      3 Ir _beab _SBV-SFeeliKT an earnest desire to be at peace -wilhallineii , _anasvilliJ * hy wife in particular . Before the close of our earthly _course _. vliich is so rapidly approaching may I ask it efrouss an act of kindness , toleara from her ¦ _whellier an interview may not take _f _Saee , as it is truly atrial to _contempkic the wickedness _« f = _any one who _= " _*•'" * enter tlie presence—Hie awful presence—of God without _lein » at peace * tith sll men . As such interview would , 1 _thini" , tie calculated io _bringpeace ana « omfort to us both in tlie nest world , do . in the name of God , let me implore of ¦ von to ask Iter to grant this last request ior the sake of her poor soul . Sir , if yoa could venture to -do this for mel ¦ hope vou will promote st _ I remain , my < JcarSnr , yours oheaiently . _Fbederick _Geusge _itsssrso . Tlie Rev . TV . & Howe , Chaplain .

      This letter was handed to thc female convict on Fridav ni « dit , but it had no effect , as she persists in her refusal to _srrant her . husband an _interriew unless he first commits himself to the version of the circumstances set forth in her reply to a previous "i _pttor Mr Binns had an interview with Manning on Saturday morning , and communicated the result of bis endeavours to obtain a commutation of tbe capital smteneeon his behalf . Manning had entertained < rre . it hopes of his success and when-he learnt ipat 111 the means which had been tried had faded he -mneared _ereniiy dispirited . Jr LAST miaiTiEW _TOTD his _nnoinen .

      At four o'cloek on Saturday afternoon last the convict ' s brother . Edmund _Scanning , had an mter _Tiew to take his final leave ofthe wretchedI man . He was introduced to thc condemned ceil by the chaplain and Mr . Kcane , the governor . On _observin-his brother enter the convict arose and _advancing _towards him , said , " Dow do you do , Edmund ? I am < dad to see rou . " In reply to his brother s _MIS '" he _^ id that he felt perfectly happy and Sed to his f « _tc . lie dded thai be slept yell , and was not at all disturbed daring the night , in Proof of which _heappealed to _turnkeys m attendance upon him . He asked hi s brother if he had 2 S Binns , and whether he was aware ofthe Svou _raEcsult which had attcndedtheapplica _, _Sns Sc in his favour to the Home Secretary .: He then told his brother that he had written another , _^ _ItZ hL wife . _BDlieitins a * interview , but he

      _' _e-ired she was as hardened as ever , anu wm ™ _tHSr _iirfcrrin « tothe subject ofthe murder , _Kretcedfpil sketch or the hack kitchen , _itoS the position of O'Connor ' s body when ( as _Se-es ) he first saw it . He took especial , care * o 3 am this sketch to his brother , and evinced _^ _anxietv to satisfv him that he was notaparti-Sorln tle actual ' murder . Mer some other _^ _. Wrsation on general matters he requested his _wKSaU hfs love aud last blessing to _hisrela-S e _^ ifall y the sister who visited him on _Tues-S ' mt after whom he inquired most p articularly . _Sso ' _desii-ed his respects to his former master , Mr _lSevcs , acoach builder , of Taunton , and _rc-* S his best thanks should begiven to that _Slete for all his kindness to him when a boy _fufbro her _bcing aboutto leave , Manning requested ' _£ XSc . offer up a prayer before they parted , _*? : ? _, L _iverVnd _-enUemau did in a _veiy _impres-^ _liSer aU _^« t kneel ing and joining » this _f-fj _dSof After the chaplain had concluded get of _««™ tio » . - _™« " * _^ if lw Su 0 _tttd come

      _« would be of no use for him to do so ; m mc * , no _SoS IrimcrVl , he did not ; The final separation _¦!? _T *«* _i-5 ace , thc convict remarking to .: _» _T rt _^ A be was only going a / uort time before hun ? S honed he should meet him m another and _^ * _% _LaT _iii ! _asG's _ArpKtt to una _^ _resir . _; a _„ Say , t _^ 5 th in stant , the female convict a _« _^ VnTemoriaI to the _Queen _implonn- her _& _* ?? to savc herfrom thc scaffold , and reiterated >! a _^ _^ of O ' Connor s death . Thismemoral her in _^^ fJ ; ietter addressed to the Duchess of she enclosed m a _tejr _. a asasked _^ _ft Sntberiand ffl _^ _vrhicn n _„ _^ _^ ft liefore J IS S unpaid it was rejectedon _presenappcars hut bem tmp _^ _^ ifc _tation at _S / f _^™^ . _^ in tbe Dead _Jitter _Ofcec _^ t _^ _tolc-Graud . The wretched woman ; Srge Grey , requcst _" n iis _intension .

      The Bermondsey Murder. The Cosdemsed See...

      ATTEMPrS 10 SAVE _MASSESC . Amon | the foremost to take steps to appeal to the Throne for mercy for the unfortunate man , and who at the same time are deeply impressed with the belief that Manning was only accessory to the murder , and is , therefore , innocent of the actual crime , we may mention the benevolent family of the Gnrneys of Lombard-street , the bankers ; Mr . Sudlow , ofthe eminent legal firm of Sudlow , Sons , and Torr , of Bedford-row ; and Mr . Sergeant Wilkins , who have been unremitting in their exertions to save the unhappy convict . _Horaemonger-lane presented the appearance of a fair on Sunday , and the housekeepers in the neighbourttood , netted a large sum by letting seats , business in this particular not being suspended on the Sabbath . l

      On Saturday afternoon , Mr . Rowe , the chaplain of Horsemonger-lane Gaol , waited upon Mr . Seeker at the Southwark Police-court , and informed him of the disgusting state of Horseraonger-lane , especially that part facing thegaol . He stated to the magistrate that nearly all the inhabitants in that iocauty had raised a number of slender scaffold poles in front of their houses , to which they tied side pieces , and placed planks over them for the purpose of accommodating persons to witness the awful spectacle on Tuesday morning . He was certain , from the manner in which these platforms were erected , that some serions accident would occur _, unless the magistrate at that court interfered . So great was the curiosity of the public that many persons had paid as much as a guinea to witness the execution ; aud other places were publicly let

      so low as half-a-crown . In fact , the state of Horsemonger-lane vras of so disgusting a nature that he " _lopja the magistrate -would exercise his authority and order the stands to be pulled down . —Mr . Seeker asked the rev . gentleman whether the stands were erected on public property ?—Mr . Rowe replied in the negative . —Mr . Seeker said that if such was the ease he could not interfere . He was , however , sorry to hear that people should act iu such a disgusting manner , lie hoped the people would have more regard for their morals , and not patronise such people . —Mr . Rowe inquired that if accidents of a fatal nature occurred in any of those places , -would not the owners be liable to be indicted for manslaughter ?—Mr . Seeker replied that he had no doubt but fhey would . He , however , hoped the public would not endanger their lives to witness the execution of their fellow-creatures .

      _Arr-HCATIOJi' FOB _JfAKXIXG S PISTOL . Daring the afternoon of Saturday , Mr . Adams , the pawnbroker of Bermondsey , attended at the Sonthwark police court , to demand from Mr . Seeker , the pistol used by Mrs . Manning in shooting O'Connor . —Mr . Seeker told thc applicant that the pistols were pledged at his shop after one of tbem had been used to commit murder ; consequently they became tbe property of the Crown . In fact all property belonging to convicts is forfeited to the Crown . —Mr . Adams : But not before conviction . I advanced money upon f h & m in a fair way , not knowing that one of them had been used to commit murder ; consequently I ought to have them returned tome—Mr . Seeker : I really cannot

      assist you . Thc property is in thc bands ' of the Government , and if you particularly wish the pistols , I should advise you to apply to the Treasury . —Mr . Adams :: There is no proof that either of them were used by the murderers . —Mr . Seeker The male convict has confessed that they were the actual pistols , and that he pledged them at your shop on the Uth of August . It has also been proved where tbey were purchased , therefore itis quite clear tbat the Crown has a right to detain them . —Mr . Adams r I shall take your advice , then , and apply to tbe Treasury immediately . _Moxoay . — The vicinity of Horeemonger-lane prifon . ana all the streets In ihe neighbourhood , presented a verv _estraordinaryscene . At aa early hour

      in the morning-crowds of spectators , from all p 3 rts ofthe metropolis , began to assemble in the localif y , and before ne . on upwards of 10 , 000 persons had con gr * _-gated in front _ofand near to the saol . The morbid curiosity , which had attracted them found little , however , wherewith to gratify itself until after twelve o ' clock , wlien the black timbers forming the dismal apparatus of -death became visible on the summit o thc prison roof . —A number of workmen \ rere emphryed at an early hour in erecting Strong barricades along thc front of the prison , leaving a space of about twelve feet , to be kept clear forthe officers on duty . Barricades were also thrown up at shori intervals acro-s thc main thoroughfare , and in several of the streets leading thereto , in order to hssen the

      _pressure of-the ero * d , _ar-d prevent the occurrence ol accidents—The sale and hire of seats was carried on with great activity by the occupants ofthe houses in Winter-terrace , a row of small tenements fac _' _insc the _iraol . ' 1 he prices rose as thc demand _increased , and during _thciifternoon large premiums were nffered for pteces in _favourable- situations overlooking the gallows Mr . _Cha . dwick is the owner of this property , and throueh his agent he has informed _tife tenantry that he _wiilaot allow any scaffolding or scats to be thrown upon the roofs of the houses . The prospect of present -gains , however , appears to have destroyed all fear of future consequences among Mr . ChadwieK ' s tenants , and there is scarcely a _honseifl the row _acainst which a ladder has not been placed to

      afford the means of access to parties who may wish to occopy places on the ronf . The systematic and business-like manner in which the whole affair is carried out -by . these "Winter-ten ace householders is most repulsive to all good feeling . Mr . A . Beckett , the sitting magistrate at the Southwark Police Court , was engaged nearly the whole of the -day in hearing complaints from the parish authorities respecting the stages erected in front of _Iloramonger-Iane gaol , and the great nuisance tbey = caiised to the inhabitants . The clerk to tbe comroksioners of pavements for thc "Borough and Dover-rosd districtswas in attendance , with the

      respective _suwejors . —The worthy _magistrate , after _consulting the several acts of parSanient supposed to confer the power o ' pr- curing « n abatement of these _nui-ances , said tbat . after a mature consideration , he was of _opinion that tbe _Naw Building Act could ba put in force He should , t & erefove , recommend the awtlwric _' es to serve notices-on the owners of those buildings , and inform them that unless they immediately pulled them down they vrould be _fineo £ 200 . He thou _<& t the parties would soon dear the ground of such disgusting places . —The surveyors , assisted by Mr . _Superintendent Hapes , left thc ¦ court with a number ol officers ; and in a short time _«! _1 the _stases : were rased to the ground .

      A meeting of the visiting justices was he . d at the _gasl at ten o ' c ' ock on Monday , in order to make the final arrangements fur the execution . Mr . Keene , the governor of the g & ol _, was present , and explained to the magistrates Ihe steps he had taken , all of which were approved . The erection of the scaffold was ordered to be comEienceJ at once , and all the _neceesary preparations w « re directed to be completed before nightfall . At the meeting it was resolved to apply for a very large additional force of police , several of the justices _espressing an opinion that from tbe excitement at that time prevailing outside the walls of the _prison , unless a very strong bodv of officers were in attendance , great mischief , and _' profcablv some loss of life , wonW take place . Mr . _Superintendent _Hajnes Of the hi _divi-ion _tvassent ibr soon afterwards and remained in consultation with the magistrates for some time .

      Tbe "drop" was finally completed before four <> 'clock in the afternoon , and tbe noiss of its erection must have been plainly heard by the female convict , whose cell is situated almost opposite . We may add that it was found absolutely necessary to barricade the windows of her apartment in order to prevent the possibility of her seeing the men at work—The noise of the multitude which crowded the vicinity of the ° ao \ was also distinctly audible in the cell , and from a _remark which she made to one ofthe turnkeys during the afternoon , it was quite evident that she was perfectly certain as to her fate . She observed that when she was brought ont she would not let the mob see her face , for she would cover it over with a handkerchief .-The reverend chaplain had several

      interviews with the convicts- Manning is stated to be perfectly resigned to hie fate , and he says his only regreSis that bis wife should be so hardened . The female culprit , on the contrary , is greatly excited at her impending doom . —On Sunday evening she retired to hed early , and did not rise until late on tbe foUovfisg morning , but she slept for a short time only . She expressed great indignation at having several women watching over ber bed all night , ' and said thev should not do so again , for on the next night ( her last ) she would not go to bed at all . It was hoped that tbe impressive address delivered by the chaplain on Sunday would have brought her to something like penitence , especially as during its delivery she exhibited an appearance cf contrition ; but within an hour after she left the chapel she resumed her former air of indifference . In tbe afternoon the rev . chaplain had an interview with her , but she declined his spiritual assistance , and as obstinately refused to

      have any interview with her miserable husband . She continued to manifest the same bifcicrfeeling towards him , but inquired hoff he was and how he _^ looked ; an d on being told that he wag greatly _emaciated and cast down , she jocosely remarked that shesuppsed his " fat oldjuwl" wasthinner . Up to Monday she was not cognisant of the confession he had made to the ehip _' n _' n M » e " -as often _alloded to the _railway robberies , wiih which he is _supposed io have been connected , andhas declared that she was tbe means of saving him from transportation , at the same time _expressing her regreat'that she did so , for she insists _thstiifbe had been sent out of the country at the time she would now he a happy woman , enjoying her libertv , instead of a prisoner in gaol under sentence of death- She refuses all spiritual consolation , but has writfea several letters which she desires shall he forwarded to her _friei-ds . It has been ascertained beyond a doubt that the wretched woman made an attempt on ber life in the ear _* y part of Sunday

      morning . : At eight o ' clock on Monday evening the neighbourhood of the prison was densely crowded by parties who had evidently taken np their position for the n _' glit . to await the dreadful ' exhibition .

      The Bermondsey Murder. The Cosdemsed See...

      DISCOVERY OF THE MISSING CKOWBAR . A crowbar has been found , and there is very little doubt , from the _aopearances , that it was the instrument by which O ' Conuor _' s death was finallveffected . Manning ' s statement that it would he found at a railway station turns out to be perfectly correct , for the instrument was discovered on Monday _» t the Lewes station , on the Brighton Railway , where a parcel had been lying for some considerable time addressed "Mrs . Smith , Lewes , " and bid been put aside amongst other things which -were expected to be called for . The parcel was carefully wrapped in brown paper , and when opened it proved to contain a crowbar , with human hair and spots of blood plainly disceruable upon it . Mr . Weafherhead , a clerk on the _Brighton Railway , left Brighton on Monday with the crowbar in his _possession , which he deposited with the authorities in T . tmiWi

      TIIE EXECUTION . The last scene of this horrible tragedy , which , during the past three months , has occasioned so much painful excitement in the public mind , closed on Tuesday , with the ignominious death on the scaffold of Frederick George Manning , and Maria , his wife ; two culprits whose atrocities may truly be described to have been rarely , if ever , equalled in thc criminal annals of Great Britain , The vicinity of the gaol presented a scene of great uproar and confusion throughout the whole of Monday night . The mob , which was chiefly composed of parties ofthe lowest class , bore with some degree of patience and good humour the first few hours before midnight , and beyond an occasional outburst of _laughter at some casualty amom ? the crowd ,

      there was little calculated to disgust tho observer . Occasionally the roar of voices which always accompanies the assemblage Of large numbers of people , swelled into a chorus to the burden of some vulgar doggerel—a sort of " gallows Marseillaise " —which thc depraved multitude caught up < _rith avidity ; but there were exceptions to the rule , and the b ehavlour ofthe crowd . altogether was rather more decorous than is usual on similar occasions . Thc same remark , we regret to add , will not apply to the more favoured sightseers whose purses bad enabled them to secure places ia the adjoining houses . In many of these habitations the boisterous mirth of revelry was heard throughout the night , and large parties—including men whose position in society might have induced them to avoid appearing in such a character , were constantly observed parading the gardens in front of Winter-terrace .

      As the day dawned , the dark timbers of the scaffold , which had been partly hidden during the night , loomed drearily over the prison walls , a bright starry sky forming the back-ground . As the morning advanced the crowd increased in an alarming degree , and but for the excellent arrangements of the police several dreadful accidents must have occurred , Passingfrom the exterior of the prison we now proceed to record the incidents attending the last moments ofthe wretched culprits within its walls . Tlie reverend chaplain , who has been unremitting in his endeavours to bring the convicts to a due sense of their awful position , visited the female prisoner at eight o ' clock on Mondav _ninht . and

      remained closeted with her for mere than two hours . During this long period Mr . Kowe impressed upon the wretched woman the importance of making her peace with God , and as the only means of doing this effectually he urged upon her the necessity of relieving her conscience of any guilt that might affect it . The convict received the reverend gentleman ' s exhortations in a becoming manner , but instead of making any admission of her guilt , she repeated a statement so utterly inconsistent with any reasonable hypothesis , that Mr . Rowe found it quite _impossible to attach any credence to what she said . The gist ofthe statement was , that the murder had been committed by , a young man from Guernsey , whom her husband knew , and that she herself was

      wholly ignorant of the circumstances . She gave io description of the individual sho referred to , nor did she attempt to account for her possession of O'Connor ' s keys and property after his death . It must be manifest , therefore , that no credibility could attach te her statement , and Mr . Rowe left her for the night without having _oSected any favourable Change iii her conduct . Before taking leave the chaplain again mentioned the desire of her husband to have au interview with "her , and Manning ' s great anxiety to know that she bore him no ill-will . She replied , that she thoroughl y forgave him for all that he had done , but that she must decline to see him unless he relieved her from the charges he had made against her . "' After the chaplain had left she undressed herself and retired to bed , but slept

      very little , rising up occasionally and exhibiting great uneasiness . After leaving the female culprit , Mr . Rowe proceeded to Manning ' s cell for the purpose of offering him spiritual consolation . Manning , in reply to the chaplain , expressed himself quite resigned , but at the same time said he had a great desire to know whether his wife had confessed . Mr . Rowe , not feeling it his duty to satisfy him on this point , Manning became very petulant , and complained of the reserro exhibited towards him in this matter . The chaplain very kindly pointed out to him that , whatever his companion in guilt might have said , could not concern him in his position , that he had . only one all important duty to perform , and that

      was to make ms peace with God . After passing nearly two hours with the conviet , Mr . Rowe retired for the night , Manning remarking as he * left tho cell , that he hoped to see him at five o ' eloek in the morning . Tlie wretched man exhibited great uneasiness after the chaplain had left , and could neither be prevailed upou to _vetwe to vest , ot to sit down and lead . After some time , he did attempt to do the latter , and opening the Bible , read aloud a portion of theSlst Psalm , which be . Baid he considered very applicable to his ease . He still . manifested great disinclination to go to bed , and taking up a pen , wrote several little memorials for presentation to the officers of thc prison , in acknowledgement of their kindness to him since his incarceration .

      One of these , _adda-essed to Mr . Moore , the chief -officer of the prison , ran tlillS : — " Frederick George Manning , born at Taunton , in the county of Somersetshire , in the year 1 S 2 I , April 16 . Died at Horsemonger-lane prison , on Tuesday , _JN ov . 13 , 1 M ) . May the Lord have mercy « a his poor soul , amen . With Frederick George Manning ' s compliments to Mr . Moore . To Mr . Taylor , one of the turnkeys of the prison , who has been very constantly in attendance upon him , the convict presented a small Bible , on which he inscribed his name and the date of its presentation ; and to Mr . Maynard , another of thc officers , he gave a memento in his handwriting as follows : — "Frederick George Manning died at Horsemonger-lane prison on Tuesday , jYovcmber 13 , 1840 : I have now only three hours more to live in this world . "

      The wretched man threw himself down on the bed two or three times , hut would not undress , and his attendants state that they believe he did not close his eyes during tho night . He made frequent inquiries as to the degree of bodily _suftesing occasioned by the death he was doomed to die , and appeared to dread it very much . At seven o ' clock ' the visiting magistrates , S " rT , Newby Reeve , Knt ., Mr . T . Puclde , Mr . _Frcshfiejd , Mr . Ledger , aud Mr . Francis , with Mr . Abbott , the _under-sireriff , arrived at the prison ( which thoy entered by the Sessions House ) , for the purpose of attending to their official duties . The reverend chaplain was early in his attendance upon the male convict , visiting bis cell at half-past six o ' clock .

      Manning appeared pleased to sec Mr . Rowe ,, and remarked , in reference to what had passed on the previous night , that he feared he had been very petulant " , but he hoped the chaplain would forgive him , and make some allowance for tlie situation in wjiich he was placed . ' Mr . Rowe assured the wretched man tbat he freely forgave him , and regretted that the sacred and awful duty he had to perform rendered it necessary that he should he firm as well as kind in his monitions and instructions . Afterjoining in prayer the chaplain left Manning to visit tbe female prisoner , the male convict , meantime eating sparingly of breakfast , consisting often and bread and butter , and subsequently taking walking exercise in the yard . "While doing this he for thc

      first time heard the , distant roar of the populace assembled outside the walls . He made no remark to his attendants on the subject , but . appeared faint , and very soon , at his own request , retired into the chapel , where he sat down until thc period arrived for bim to receive the sacrament . The rev . chaplain , on entering the female convict ' s cell , found her in a very depressed , state , arising from the irregular rest she had had during the night . His first act was to importune her solemnly , as she . was now so ubon to appear . before a God , when no falsehood could avail her , and . when the opinions of mankind would be no longer of . any importance , that if she had anything to say or , to unsay , or any request to make , that she would at once do £ 0 . ' She replied that she had nothing to add to her former statements , tiie . truth of . winch she asseverated , but . she had one request to make , _namelr . that thc chaplain would write a letter to

      two noble ladies , whose names she mentioned , conveying to them her earnest and heartfelt thanks for their kind consideration and exertions on her behalf , though , unhappily , ihey had not a , ailed her . The chaplain promised to accede to her wishes , and having offered up a prayer , left the ccjl , while the convict partook of breakfast . . At half-past seven o ' clock , the prison officials appeared on the roof of the gaol and tested the security ofthe scaffold by letting the drop fall two or three times , a proceeding which appeared to excite great interest among the . mob . : Having assured themselves of its completeness , the officers retired . The interval between this period and the appearance ofthe culprits oh the roof of the prison was one of continued uproar and excitement , the crowd at some points being so dense that parties fell down in a fainting state , and wore only rescued by the extraordinary exertions of the police . Manning , while in the chapel , expressed to the turnkeys in attendance a very strong ; desire to see

      The Bermondsey Murder. The Cosdemsed See...

      his wile , and at twenty minutes past eight o ' clock , oy a previous arrangement , the wretched woman was introduced and took her seat on tho same bench with hev husband , one male and one female turnkey being seated between them . While in this position , and before the reverend chaplain had entered , the nrst friendl y recognition between the convicts took place . Manning , apparently unable to control his ieehngs longer , leaned forward towards Ills wife , and , in the most imploring accent said , "Ihope you are not going to depart this life with feelings of animosity towards me''" The appeal was too much for his guilty partner ; and , leaning towards him , sho said , " I have no animosity towards you . " He said" Will not kiss methen ? " The

      , you , female convict said , " Yes ; " and , both parties having arisen , they shook hands , and kissed each other several times . The reverend chaplain here entered in his robes , and having taken his place at the altar , he administered the sacrament to both the convicts . 1 his sacred rite occupied nearly half an hour , and at its close tho wretched pair were permitted to meet again . _Mannins embraced his wife with great lervour , and said , " God bless you ! I hope we shall meet in Heaven . " Eis wife returned his embrace , , _-md sobbed audibly . As thc prison- bell had now pealed forth its solemn tonesfoi" some minutes , Mr . ICeeiie , the governor of the prison , was under the painful necessity of reminding Manning thatthe time had arrived . Havinetaken a navtinff embrace

      the male prisoner was conducted to an adjoining room , in order to undergo the process of pinioning . On entering ho observed two or three persons in the apartment , upon which he inquired of the turnkey who was the hangman . Caloraft at once stepped forward , and Manning resigned himself into his hands . While undergoing tho dreadful process . - Manning asked Calcraft if he should suffer much pain ? Calcraft said if he would keep himself still be would suffer no pain at aU , an assurance which appeared to give the culprit considerable satisfaction . Tlie convict was now conducted to thc chapel yard , where ho awaited the arrival of his wife . The female prisoner had retired when Manning left , and was conducted to a room on the _oonosito

      side ofthe chapel , where it was arranged she should undergo thc process of pinioning . When Calcraft entered this room , and her eye first rested upon him , the wretched woman nearly fainted , and it was found necessary to administer some brandy to her . On recovering herself she took out of her pocket a _amali black silk handkerchief , which she requested might beplaced over hev eyes before she left the room . Mr . Harris , the surgeon of the prison , who was in attendance , took the handkerchief from her , and bound it carefully over her cyes , after which , a * her request , fie threw over her head a black lace veil , which was tied ti ghtly under hev chin . Calcraft then approached and performed his painful office , which the wretched woman bore with great

      fortitude . The hangman suggested that the Convict should wear a cloak over her shoulders , in order to hide the ropes with which her arms were pinioned , but she objected strongly to do this , and , at her earnest entreaty , it was dispensed with . At this awful juncture , the scene was so affecting that ono of the female turnkeys wept audibly , upon which the convict remarked , with _ai-eat coolness , " Do not cry , but pray for mo ! " Everything being in readiness , the unhappy woman was led out into the chapel-yard , where her husband had awaited her . Tho procession now moved towards thesoaffold , headedi by Mr . iveeno , tlie governor of

      the prison , Mr . Moore , the chief officer , and Mr . Garland , the high-constable of the district . The chaplain walked immediately in advance of Manning , who was supported hy Taylor and Halletfc , two of the turnkeys ; and about two paces behind him came the female convict , supported on one side by Mr , Harris , the surgeon , and upon thc other by Mr , Wheatley , an officer of the gaol . The wretched creature ' s strength-somewhat failed her as she walked along thc passages of , the prison , and Mr . Harris was more than once compelled io support her . She walked with some hesitation from being blindfolded , and move than once requested Mr ; Harris to be careful that she did not come in

      contact with anything . She complained also during her progress to the scaffold tbat tho cords with which her bands were tied hurt her wrists . In the progress of the wretched pair through tho chapel corridor thoy passed over the spot where only twelve hours after there bodies lay mouldering in ; i coating- of lime—an awful instance of retributive justice "' or tho crime of which they had been so righteously convicted . The ascent of the narrow staircase to the roof of the prison was a dreadful undertaking , but it was accomplished with far less difficulty than was anticipated . On reaching the top of the staircaise , a momentary delay took place while Calcraft removed Manning ' s ncck-handkcvciiief—the next instant the pale face and emaciated figure of the

      miserable man were observed by tho crowd , from whom , though there could not have been less than 50 , 000 spectators within view of the prison , not a murmur arose . The culprit was assisted on to the scaffold and placed immediately under the fatal beam by the turnkeys . Calcraft then advanced , and pulling the nightcap over his face , adjusted the ropo-round the neck of the convict , and secured the other end to'the beam . While thus engaged the female culprit was brought upon the scaffold . Her appearance , contrary , to expectation , excited no outburst of . feeling j and , in truth , they must have adamontuie hearts who could have witnessed unmoved the dreadful scene presented at this moment . Manning , whose head was enveloped in a

      nightcap , finding that his wife was . also on the scaffold , leant over as far as the rope would allow , and whispering something to her , held out his pinioned hands to bid her : a last , farewell . One of the turnkeys brought them into contact with those of the wretched woman , and the dying pair took leave for the last time . Calcraft having now completed his attendance upon Manning , turned to the female , and pulled a cap over hev head , but , we regretted to observe , with considerable difficulty , in consequence of the handkerchief and veil in which it was already enveloped . Tho chaplain all this time was' standing oh the scaffold , and reading the service for the burial , of the dead , which he . had commenced when the procession left , the . chapel .

      "When Calcraft had completed his dreadful office , Mr . Rowe leaned forward and asked the female convict- if she had anything to say . Tho wretched woman , then on- the brink of eternity , ' . replied firmly , " _Nothing , except to thank you for all your kindness . " The next moment the drop fell heavily , and both the convicts appeared to die without a struggle—at any rate , there was far less muscular action than is usual . , Tho male convict wore a dress of plain black , similar to that in which he appeared at tho tr ial . Mrs . Manning was , attired in a handsome black

      satin dress , and even the distortion consequent upon the mode of death she suffered could not destroy the remarkably fine contour of her figure as it swayed to and fro by the action of the wind . After hanging an hour the bodies were taken down , and , casts . having been taken of the heads , the remains of both were interred during the afternoon in the corridor leading to the chapel . The sincerity of the female convict ' s forgiveness of her wretched partner in guilt may be estimated from this fact , that at a late hour on the ni ght previous she addressed a , letter'to , her guardian , in which , reiterating her _itmocence , she says that he will have to answer , to God for her blood .

      ; CONFESSION OF MANNING . After the execution , the chaplain of the gaol , tbe Rev . Mr . Rowe , read to the representatives of . the press the following doeuinent ,. wbicb had . been ., prepared by Manning before bis execution , and left b y him for publication after liis death : —• On or about the 15 th of March , in this present year , I left _. my residence , 15 , Castle street , Regent _, street , for Guernsey , where I remained three weeks . During my absence , my wife took possession of the house , No . 3 , Minver-place . I returned from Guernsey on or about the & th of April , landing at Southampton from the Despatch steam-packet . Mr . John Coleman , the owner of No . 3 , Minver-place , required a reference , and my wife referred Him to

      the deceased . On _the-Sunday after entering No . 3 , Minver-place , O'Connor slept there , and-he promised to return on the following night with hiboxes , hut did not keep his" promise . On the fol lowing Thursday he returned , and told my wife he could not keep his promise , as he did net-think , that he and I could agree / as he said I mi ght return home drankand make a disturbance with . him . She replied that be ( O'Connor ) was no man , or worthy of the name ; that this- , was not the first time that he had served her in this manner ; that he was the sole cause of her taking the King John ' s Head , by which £ 100 was lost ; tbat he had once before induced her to take a house , and he might depend on it that be should abide the consequences , slating that she was the same as hev own po ' _.-r father , who _dwpised a man on whom he could not _depsnd _, and that she hcrscll would as soon see the devil as a man

      upon whom she could not _ri-lv . Shortly after the three weeks from : the 3 lst of March , my wife wadp a _cla m upon O'Connor for the payment of what she _considered due ' _fioin l , i for tiJree Wsfks' _lodging * and . summoned liim to the County Court for the same . The'day previous to ihe time for appearing to the summons , O'Connor paid , to my wife 30 s , for the three weeks , in my presence , and apologised for not taking _the _hid gings _, and trusted that we shou d _iioVbe bad friends in consequence . I replied that it was a matter of iBdiflVrence , as the object of his lodging there was of little moment ;• V then said I had been informed that . be had spoken disrespectfully of me , and that if I could be certified of it I ivould briag an action for defamation . He almost shed tears , and said he had always spoken of me in the highest terms , and shook hands with me . lie begged of roe to take a glass of porter and smoke a pipe . I then said , O'Connor , I owe yon

      The Bermondsey Murder. The Cosdemsed See...

      not the slightest animosity , I never did . He frequentl y asked who told me he had spoken _disres pectfully-of me , but to this question I gave no ieply ; it was , however , my wife who had said it to me , but begged me not to name it to O'Connor that such had been the case . O'Connor left , and we parted g ood friends . When he left , my wife said , 1 That old villain has been the cause o my losing much money , and I ara determined to have ray revenge ; I will shoot him , if I am hanged for it . " I then expostulated with her on tbe impropriety of her conduct . She said there was bo more harm shooting him than a dog—tbat he was a perfect brute . I said , '' In the name of God , banish such thoughts from your mind . '" The answer was , " 1

      will now inform you of the plan I shall adopt . I shall frequently ask bim here to dinner , and go to his house to ascertain thc amount of money he has , and also the railway shares—that she was quite certain lie had foreign bonis to the amount of £ 6 , 000 , and that she could dispose of them , as there was no name . " O'Connor came frequently to dinner , and she went to the house about twice a week , and she found O'Connor on one occasion quite drunk _, behaving taken brandy at the docks as a remedy 'or cholera ; she said he went into his bed-room , and brought out all his script and bonds , and showed them to her , solemnly declaring to her that he had made a v _»\ U , leaving to her £ 1 , 300 , and that it was so left that I should not have anything tn do with it after his death . She said what the old villain

      had said to her was a great lie , as she ' relieved he would never leave her a shilling ; that she was contented , having seen the amount of money be _pos _sessed , and now , she said , I shall begin to get things ready . At this time I was promised a situation at Messrs . Gover , the stationers , at Holbornbars , at a salary of £ 2 per week , and five per cent _, on the property sold . I then said to her , banish all thoughts from yew _roiud with regard to O'Connor , as this is a very excellent situation , and I shall lie enabled to save money . She said , you fool , you will never be able to save as much money as I shall get by murdering , O'Connor , and I had better let her carry out her plans , as she was determined to have her revenge on that old vagabond . 1 insisted on win * to see Mr . Gover . She said I shall now

      prepare his grave . She , purchased a shovel at a shop in Tooley-street ,. and began next day to dig his grave , which was completedtbree weeks before the murder . O'Connor had been in thekitchen three or four times before the grave was finished , and on passing over frequently made observations as to what was being done . She told him the landlord was having the drain altered , and O'Connor observed that it was a long time . in action . She said there was a great deal to do , and the men were not constantly at it . The reason of his going to tbe kitchen was to wash his hands previous to his taking dinner or tea in tbe bouse . On the 26 th or 27 th of July ray wife got Mr . William Massey to write a letter to O'Connor , which was to the following fffp . nl : —

      Dear 0 _'Coj . woit , —I shall be happy to see you to dine with me and my sister , as she has come from Derbyshire to remain a few weeks with me . She will be most happy to be introduced to you . Dinner will be ready at half-past five . If you are engaged drop me a Un «—I an \ , Mv . O'Connor , yours faithfully , Wil . Massei ' . 3 , Jiinver-plaee , Slew Weston-street , _Tiermoiidsey . O'Connor came on Thursday , the , 26 th , the time specified , in the note . When he came , into the house he asked for Miss Massey and the brother i my wife said they had just gene out , but that she expected them to return in time for dinner . I was sitting in the parlour , relating my intention to bring an action against two men of Taunton for

      defamation of character . During the time my nife called mi out and asked me why I did not leave tha room , as She wished to get him into the kitchen to cook his goosa . I said I would not have anything of the kind done . While this conversation was going on O'Connor left the house . She ran after him and said , ' Patrick , what made yoH leave in such a mean way ? " He said he did not like my observation a bout bringing an action , as he believed it was my _intention to entrap him in the same manner , and therefore he declined returning to the house . She urged him repeatedly to do so , but he would nor .. When she came back she said to me , " You coldhearted villain , you have prevented me from carrying out my plan , " and she cried bitterly . She said ,

      " You will stand for it , font never wiirb ? . found nut . I ara now quite certain he will never come h « rs again . " I tben asked her what would _become of ber soul if she committed an act o ' iflwrdtt 1 To which she said " We have no soul ; after we are dead wc are like lumps of clay , and there is no more thought of us , and I shall never have to suffer hereafter for murdering that man . ' . ' The next morning ( Friday ) she said to Massey , ' O'Connor was here last evening , and I informed bim that you were out with your sister . I wish you would write me a note to O'Connor . '' He said , " Certainly ; but you must dictate it ' . ' Massey then sat down , and said , " Now , Mrs . Manning ,, let me know what you wish tne to 8 av , " upon which he wrote aa follows : —

      Deab O'Connor , —After arriving home late last evening and _being informed that you had been at my house , lam truly sorry that my sister and myself wero not able to come home to dinner . We went to our uncle's in the afternoon , and during the time we were there lie was talten dangerously ill , and my sister was compelled to stay all night . I hope I shall see you next Sveck . Trusting you are quite well , I am , yours fuithftdly , W . AUssEy . 3 , Minver place . On Monday , about ten days afterwards , my wife wrote to him to come to dine . He never came until fen o ' clock that evening , as he did not receive

      tbfin « te _bfefore seven . He was accompanied by a person named Walsh , and _appeared to be quit drunk ' He lay upon the sofa , and appeared like in a fainting state . She got a bottle of eau de _cologue and applied it to his nose , and washed his face , and implored Mr . Walsh to go strai ght home with him . We all shook hands and parted as the best of friends . The next day , Thursday , the 9 ; h of August , at nine o ' clock ,, a . m ., she wrote a note to O'Connor , and took it , to the post-office herself , telling me that there was a certainty of his getting it , The _IVltt was as follows .-

      _jveak 0 'Co . v . vob _, —I shall be happy to see you to dine with us this day , at half-past five . I trust you ave Quite well . lours truly ,. . Mama Manning . . ' He came at ten minutes past five , previous to which she bad laid the ( able for five , with the dishcovers donn , hut nothing had been prepared in the way of food . When he entered the house , he asked , where are Mr . and Miss Massey . My wife said , dressing for dinner . He inquired how long they had been up stairs . My wife replied " They are only just gone up ; they saw you come to the door . " At this time Massey was not in the house , nor was his sister in London , nor do _t believe she bas ever seen London . My wife asked O'Connor ( 0 go down and wash his hands : he declined , and she said

      "Patrick , Miss Massey is a very particular lady ; do come down and wash your hands . " I heard him go down stairs , " wing at that time in my bed-room , washing . In about a minute after I heard the report of a pistol . She then came up stairs to me , and said" Thank God ! I have made him all right at last . As we are on such , extraordinary good terms , no one dare ever have , the least suspicion of my murdering hira . " I replied'that I felt certain she would be hanged ; and she replied , " It will not he you that will have to suffer ; it will be me . I think no more of what I have done thau if I had shot the cat on the wall . '' She-insisted upon my going down , stairs . Upon my reaching the kitchen , I found O'Connor resting on the grave . He moaned ; and . as I never liked him well , I battered in his

      skull with a ripping chisel . She toOK from his trousers pocket the keys of his cash-box , and at twenty minutes to six she put on her bonnet and mantle and proceeded to his house . I said , it -will be impossible for me to stay in this bouse , and 1 went out and smoked ray pipe on the wall , and codversed with the landlord of the next house . M y wife returned from O'Connor ' s , letting herself in , at about twenty minutes lo eight p . m : She appeared much excited / She said I have the whole of the shares and bonds with me . I knocked at his door , and Miss Amies let me in . I then asked if O'Connor were'in . Miss Armfs slid no , he has not come irom the docks yet . My wife said , I will go up stairs , as 1 have come on _busincs ? . After she had

      been up stairs about fifteen , minutes , she went from the drawingroora to the bed room , and took all the shares she could see . and two gold waiches' _^ nd _cbainti She saw tha haulier ' s back , by which tt appeared there were . £ 3 , 000 in the banker ' s hands but as the book was useless she left it .. She staid at Miss _Arraes' ' about an hour ; when she returned she said she had not thei foreign bond , which was worth £ ' 2 , 000 or . £ 3 , 000 , that she would go back and get it ; she was quite sure he had it ; as she had . _seen it before she knew me . She went the next day again , and then she said to Miss Armes , j f It is very strange that O'Connor has not been home . " On the following Saturday she said to me " I want jou . to go to a sh arebroker with these Eastern Counties shares . " I asked the use of my doing so , as I should have fo commit a forgery . She said the man is dead , and there wiil be no wit .

      The Bermondsey Murder. The Cosdemsed See...

      ness against you . I said , " It wiil be ; - ; : o . sible to sell these shares , as fifteen days _uoticft _<;' " ¦ _"• _¦ ' _& > s re * quired . " 1 however , went to Messrs . Kiii _:-: ' . _iid Co ., and said I wanted to borrow £ 120 upon _iV-v shares . They asked me by whom I had been i :.. ' ...-ed . I said a gentleman who bad been in iheluV _.. - uf doing business with them . The party asked m ;« u , y name . I replied , "Patrick O'Connor , No . 21 . O -nwoodstreet , Mile-End-road . " I was told that . _i'l-JO could not be advanced , hut that I mig ht have _£ i ' , 0 ; that their rate of interest was £ & lor six months . I said I should not want it for more than a m _os- !; . They produced adocument , which I signed P _* t _•' , O Connor 21 Greenwood-street . They gave r _= _* a £ 100

      , , note and ten sovereigns . I left and _v _* : _r . to the Bank , had the note changed for fifty _sovereigns and a £ 50 note , t TetOTneu home and gave th 2 ; v _: oney to my wife . There were other shares with OYonnor ' s name . My wife said I had better take c ¦ :. shares , go to another broker , and turn them _i-r money . The last named shares were six of the Li _^ : ter and Birmingham , an India bond for £ 5 an *' - _i ' .. ouUw scrip ofthe Bordeaux Railway . I _tleclii-. _-. i o comply ; she declared there was not the lea _^ _- - _Isiger , as the man was dead . I put on my hat a :-. ' - .. _.-nt out , _?

      as if going to a broker . I returned in ' ¦¦¦¦ hours , said I had been to a broker , though I lw . 'i : nt , who would _advance money on Thursday . S _bs v-marked . that it was very strange that be woul i _^ "t do so then , and she had her doubts about my _f _-lr _.-j there . On Monday , the 13 th , I went out ; when 1 r .-turned my wife said two persons had been the ¦ ¦ _i quiring for O'Connor and myself . I said I _ti-.. i ... Mtthey were policemen in plain clothes , and I tor : _er said , "As sure as you are a woman , both you c-. r , ¦ _:, myself will _bs apprehended for this crime . " _£ e said , -- _«» * . .. 11 .... it-- * . _. r . 1 . . 11 f * .-Llf * . _' . _fllrtVlAM t tell that shall faint Aidinner

      "Don' me ; I . " _^ r she said to me " You had better go to 1- : ridge ' s , and get him to take the { urniVure , so . ' * e may go off by the mail train to night for Lv _.- ; . . ol , and take the packet for New York . " I we . ¦ ¦> Bain _, bridge ' s , and after waiting two hours I ¦• .: it home and knocked , but could not maie any i -. ' ¦ - 'h hear . I inquired of . aparson opposite , and v : r - .. Id that my wife had left with her boxes . 1 _; . ' . vn went through the house No . 4 , and found _evi-rvr ' _.- ' ng , except the furniture , taken , away , and win - . _i'ercfoTe left penniless . In about half an hour i ~ r _trned to Bainhridge _s , and observed to Mis . Bainl _:- _- ! _- " : _•> ., "My wife has started for the sea-side , and 11 ' : ;\ -1 shall

      rjmain with you a fortnig ht" I remai- _--i _ibere till the Wednesday morning , rose at six , au ; declared my intention of going into tbe country f :: a month or so . I sent Bainhridge ' s girl for a cab . * :.. [ quitted the house at half-past seven . I did not _^ ive the man any order where I was to be taken 11 . until he bad driven me a quarter of a mile down ' . ' v . street , I then told him to drive me to the So :: ' : ; Western railway . I took a ticket for Souihani | :: ! . I left there by the Dispatch the same mght I went to the Navy Arras Tavern Jersey . I "her _vtrraoved to Prospect Villa , where , after rem &' mto ; - ' rV- ) days , I was visited hy Langley and others . Thr _i . at ofthe statement , which was very voluminous , _'io ' _-ailed at

      great length his proceedings at _Jersey until his arrest . In consequence of information « . _- >; n to the police it appeared tbat the ripping chisi : _' . _* _-. is left at the Dover station , to be called for , in Mv ; name of Mrs . Smith , it having been sent _fror > Bri ghton , having been sent there to avoid suspicion . The confession then went on to state that on the day of _themurdev , about half-past nine , Mo . Manning went down s ' airs into the _back-ki ' cb .. ; _. . / ter partaking of some bread and _chees" * nd ale . She took a large pair of scissors v . h _' 'er , and cut the clothes from off the body . S _' _je lit & large fire and burnt them , an opcratv w v _> ' . ic " l _VfttS not completed until the next day . Th

      slippers which the murdered man wo-. ' * , were also burned . Some strong pieces of chor i were then procured by his wife , and between _thi'm they tied the legs back to the haunches , They then nut lime _, over the body , making it wet . They wee engaged in treading down the grave for a _considerable time , and it was close upon midnight before » Ley retired . Indeed tha burial was not completed uniil he next morning . _Rrae between five and six . _iwd completed it between ten and eleven , his wife _remarking at the close , " It is all right ; no one _vs-ill ever think of looking for him . Tho lime « ii ! destroy the body in a fortnight . " A pint of vitriol which had been purchased at an oil _mercbam ' s epposite

      Bermondsey Church was poured over tbe body after it was buried . His wife _exiaimed tbat she was _novr happy , as she had put away one of the great . est villains that ever livfd . She said she . should live twelve months in the house , put the money out to interest in railway rents , and advised hira to fake the situation at Messrs . Grover ' s , as that , and residing in the house , would lull suspicion . She said , " If any one inquires after O'Connor , I will answer them , for I have a nerve like a horse . " She assured him that if the murder was found out he

      would be served the same as her . She spoke at times of the French revolution , and of the fine fellows who had been destroyed , and asked him what he had to live for if be had no money , for to live in the world without money was miserable . After the murder she said , " I regret I did hot read the prayers over the body . " He said , ' What is the use of the murderer reading prayers over a murdered body—you should ask God to forgive yen . " She said , " I should not ha "> 'e liked to have _sefiD his face after I shot him . "

      After some other facts , Mr . Rowe , the chaplain , said he did not feel at liberty to give , the _atateraent _, for it cannot be called a confession , closed as follows : — " I do hereby solemnly declare that the foregoing account , as written hy thc Rev . "W . S . Rowe the chaplain , at roy dictation , is correct and true . _Fbedeiuck & _eohgb Manning . Condemned Cell , Horsemonger-lane Gaol , Nov . 9 , 1849 . Signed in the presence of W . S . Rowe , G . _Hallett _, S . _Deax .

      Letter Of Mr. Charles Digress On The Exe...

      LETTER OF Mr . CHARLES DIGRESS ON THE EXECUTION . TO THE EDITOR OP THE TIMES . Sir , —I was a witness of the execution at Horsemonger-lane on Tuesday morning . I went there with the intention of _observing the croTd gatheredto behold it , and I had excellent opportunities , of doing so , at intervals all through the night , and continuously from daybreak until after tho spectacle was over . I do not address you on the subject with any intention of discussing the abstract question of capital punishment , or any of the arguments of its opponents or advocates . I simply wish to turn this dreadful experience to some account for the general < rood , by taking the readiest and most nublic moans

      of adverting to an intimation given by Sir O . Grey in the last session of Parliament , that _tllC government might be induced to give its support to a measure making the infliction of capital punishment a private solemnity within tho prison walls ( with such guarantees for the last sentence of law being inexorably and surely _administei-eu as should be satisfactory to the public at large , ) and of most earnestly beseeching Sir G . Grey , as a solemn duty whieh he ovjcs to society , and a responsibility which _, he cannot forever put away , to originate such a legislative . change himself . I believo that a sight so inconceivably awful as the wickedness and levity o f the immense crowd collected at that execution on Tuesday morning

      could be imagnied by no man , and could be presented in no heathen land under the sun . The horrors of tho gibbet and of tho crime -which brought the wretched murderers to it , faded in my mind before the atrocious bearing , looks and language , ofthe assembled spectators . "When I came up on the scene at midnight , the shrillness ofthe cries and howls that _wereraisedft-omtirae to time _. denoting that they came from a concourse of boys and girls already assembled in the best places , made my blood run cold . As the ni ght went on , screeching , and yelling in strong chorus of parodies on Negro melodies , with substitution of "Mrs . Manning"for "Susannah / and the like , were added to these , When the daydawned _, thieves , low prostitutes , ruffians and

      vagabonds oi every kind , flocked oh the ground , with _evei-y variety of offensive and foul behaviour . Fightings , faintings , whistlings , imitations of Punch , brutal jokes , tumultuous demonstrations of indecent delight when swooning women were dragged out of the crowd by the police with their dresses disordered , gave a new zest to ihe general entertainment , mien the sun rose brightly—as it did—it gilded thousands upon thousands ' of upturned faces , so inexpressively odious in their 1 . ratal mirth or callousness , that a iu . _iii had cause to feel ashamed of the shape he wore , m ; d _w > shrink from himself as fashioned in the image of ihe Devil . When the t . vo _miserablecrcitttrc-:- who _attraefed all

      this ghastly sight about them were _tui-ued quivwiug into the air , there was no more emotion , no more pity , no more thought that two immortal souls had gone to judgment , no more restraint in any ofthe previous obscenities , than if the name of Christ had never been heard in this world , and there were nobelief among men but that they perished like the beasts . . 1 have seen , habitually , some of the worst sources of general contamination and corruption in this country , and I think there are not many phases of London life that could surprise me . I am solemnly convinced that nothing that ingenuity could devise to he done in this cits—in thc same compass of time —could work such ruin as one public execution , and

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 17, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_17111849/page/7/