Monmouthshire Merlin

EXECUTION OF WILLIAM BATES. I The convict William Bates, the highwayman, was executed i on Saturday, at Chester. It will be recollected that at the recent Chester Assizes, William Bates, aged 20, and John Walmsley, aged 20, were convicted of highway robbery and murder under circumstances of great atrocity. On the 18th of February last, a corn-dealer named Enick was returning home from Maccles- field, wht-n he was stopped by the prisoners, who presented loaded pistols at him, and demanded his money. Enick being a powerful man, a desperate struggle took place between them. but he was eventually overpowered and knocked down with the butt-end of the pistols, and lay on the ground bleeding, when a labouring man coming up, the prisoners took to their heels. The news of the outrage reaching the ears of some men at an adjacent farm, who saw the highwayman cross the fields, they went in pursuit, and were soon gaining on them, when the two suddenly turned round, and presenting each a brace of pistols, swore they would send any one to everlasting eternity who daied to lollow them. Their pursuers, however, increasing in number, they placed their backs against a fence, and presented their pistols again at the mob. Two brothers, of the name of Wyatt, more determined than the rest. sprung forward to seize them and were instantly both shot—Bates shooting Willliam Wyatt in the abdomen, and the other Wyatt receiving Walms- ley's fire in his arm. William Wyatt died a few hours alter- wards. The prisoners were instantly secured. On Thursday a reprieve for Walmsley was received by Mr. Dunston, the go- vernor of Chester Castle, during her Majesty's pleasure. Be- tween twelve and one o'clock in the marning the convict Bates was temoved from the castle to the place of execution, by the city sheriff (J. Trevor, Esq.), the Rev. Mr. Carbery, and a strong body of police under Mr. Hill, the chief constable. At eight o'clock the execution took place. The culprit, when led forth, appeared perfectly firm, and prayed fervently, being quite penitent. Every necessary preparation being completed, the bolt was withdrawn, and the wretched man died apparently without a struggle. There was an immense concourse of persons, but the utmost order prevailed. DISCLOSUHES nv THE MURDEKER BATES.—Before bis death he made important disclosures affecting the present position of two persons tried at the late Liverpool assizes, and now under sen- tence of transportation. The following has been published Bates and Mawdsley, alias Walmsley, have confessed that they have been implicated in various highway robberies, and there is reason for believing that they are the parties whn caused such apprehension in the minds of the inhabitants of this neigh- bourhood during the last winter. At the last Liverpool assizes, two persons were tried and convicted of highway lobbery, and sentenced to 15 years' transpoitation. These parties, it now turtss out, are quite innocent; for Bates and Mawdsley have confessed that they were the really guilty parties. The reason why the culprit Mawdsley is respited is stated to be, that some iuquiries now on foot may be perfected, after which it is proba- ble the law will be allowed to take its course. Two more des. perate characteis have very seldom, if ever, been brought to justice. The following is a more detailed account of the confession made. We learn that several times at the confessional the prisoner Bates declared to the priest that two parties who were convicted at the late Liverpool assizes of highway robbery were innocent of the charge and the prisoner desired that this statement should be made known to the authorities The reply of the priest was, that he could not divulge what was told to him at the confes- sional, and desired the prisoner, if he was anxious that this statement should be made public, to solict an interview with the authorities of the gaol. This interview accordingly took place, when the prisoner's statement was taken down in writing. It was to the effect, that two persons convicted at the Liverpool assizes of an attack and highway robbery upon the Rev. Mr. Germon, of Prestwich, near Manchester, were entirely innocent of the charge, and that he (the prisoner) and otheis were the guilty parties. This confession has been despatched to the Se- cretary of State. At the trial at Liverpool several persons swore distinctly to the identity of the parties now said to be in- nocent. RECENT EXECUTIONS IN IRELAND. Within the past week there have been four executions in the south, two in North Tipperary on Saturday, two in Limerick on Thursday. At the latter, the clumsiness of the hangman was again manifested. The two men died in the utmost torture, one ot them having exhibited signs of life, his body being convulsed, even after he had been suspended half an hour. All this toiiure seems to have been produced by the position of the rope, the knot having in each case reached beyond the neck to the, side of the head. A WOMAN SHOT. HERTFORD, SATURDAY MO::NING.—A most deplorable occur- rence took place on Thursday last in the vicinity of the Water House, a secluded spot, situate at Hertingfordbury, two miles distant. The Water House, as it is termed, is an old-fashioned building, erected over a running steam, formerly a keeper's lodge, and is occupied by aa agricultural labourer named Clark. About twelve o'clock on Thursday forenoon, a shepherd, who was attending his flock in a neighbouring field, heard the report of lire-arms in the direction of the Water House, and soon after- wards saw the son of Clark, a boy of about fourteen years of age, running to a female who was sitting on the ground, but no alarm being given of anything serious having occured, he took no notice of the circumstance. A short time after, the boy, it appears, went to the residence of Miss Roberts, a lady living in an adjacent farm, and told her some one had shot Mr. Huckle (who, it should be observed was 63 years of age, and who had con e to Clark's house, during the absence of Mrs. Clarke, who, we understand, wasin Lonoon) but who had done it he did not known. Mrs. Roberts immediately went over to the house, where she found the unfortunate woman weltering in her blood, and in a dying state. She exclaimed, Un, Lord I must die —it was Bill who did it." The boy eon'radicted her, saying "No, it was not me." Before medical assistance could be procured, she expired. The boy was taken into custody. An inquest was held on the body by Mr. Turner, the coroner, which las'ed several hours. Ultimately the boy came forward, and admitted, with stolid apathy, that he was the accidental cause of the poor woman's death. He said he was shooting at birds in a walnut tree, when the gun wer.t off accidentally. The Coroner having severely reprimanded him for the false- hoods which he had told, The jury, after considerable discussion, returned a verdict of "Accidental death." The boy, however, still remains in cus- tody of the police. MYSTERIOUS MURDER NÈAR RUNCORN. On Sunday evening last, a mysterious affair occurred in the neighbourhood of Rocksavage. Three boys, who were strolling in the fields near the dilapidated buildings of that ancient pile, picked up a pedlar's box, which they found empty and bespat- tered with blood. Proceeding onwaid a little, they found va- lious jewellers' trinkets of little value, scattered in different places along the foot path of the fields. Marks of blood were also traced in the course of the track. Two of the lads brought the box to Runcorn, and went with it direct to Mr. Richardson, the constable of the town, who immediately took active measures for the discovery of the murderers and on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the fish-ponds in the vicinity of Rocksavage were dragged for the purpose of finding the body of the victim. Active measures were persevered in, but up to Thursday evening the body had not been found. It is a remarkably lonely path from Runcorn to Frodshara, through the Rocksavage fields. It is supposed that the murderers flung away the less costly jewel- lery, and took away with them the more valuable trinklets. Six constables, under Mr. Richardson, are on the alert to discover, if possible, the murderers and the body of the murdered. The various pawnbrokers in the immediate neighbourhood, and at Liverpool and Manchester, will do well if they can assist in the discovery. The person who owned the box is pretty well known to several of the inhabitants of Runeorn he was a young Jew, about 17 years of age, with black hair. and a rather light complexion. The affair has caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood.—Manchester Guardian• DISTRESSING SUICIDE. Pr.YMOCTH, THUKSDAY — An inquest was held this afternoon at the Sohool-room, Plvmoutb Citadel, before J. Edmonds, Esq., the coroner, on the body of William Robinson, a colour.ser- geant in the 3ath Regiment. The deceased hadiisen that morn- ing at gun-fire, and called the roll of his company. A private soldier, about six o'clock, went to the privy at the sergeant's mess, and there saw the deceased on his knees. He at first thought it was a s< ldier, who, after being intoxicated the night previous, had repaired there for the purposes of nature and, acting on that conviction, he said to the deceased, Come, come, you have been long enough here." The soldier, after re- maining there a short time, saw deceased's braces were round his neck; and on a closer examination, he found that he was suspended from the door. He immediately gave infoimation of the circumstance, and deceased was afterwards cut do.vo. A tdwel had been fastened over the door, and a pair of braces com- municated trom the towel to the deceased's neck, and he then hung on his knees. The deceased, while in the Mauritius, at- tempted suicide by cutting his throat, the mark occasioned by the act being perceptible on his neck. The jury returned a ver- dict of Temporary insanity.