Virginia Argus

February 23.

Execution of the murderers, and most dreadful accident.

Halloway and Haggerty, for the murder of Steel and Elizabeth Godfrey, for the murder of Prince.

The concourse of people that assembled this morning to witness the execution of the murderers was immense. By six o'clock every house and avenue was crowded. At five minutes past eight o'clock they were brought out from prison--Haggerty came first--Halloway next, and Elizabeth Godfrey, for the murder of Richard Prince, last. Haggerty was dressed in a light colored great coat, such as are worn by soldiers --Halloway in a jacket. Haggerty appeared deeply affected, and mounted the scaffold with an unsteady step and pale countenance. Halloway behaved with much effrontery ; seemed regardless of the horrors of his situation, looked round him with unconcern, surveyed the multitude with as much indifference as if he had been one of the spectators, and bore no marks on his countenance either of fear or contrition--Haggerty seemed to shrink from his hardened associate. The poor woman was deeply affected; they were attended by two clergymen, a Protestant and a Roman Catholic, Haggerty being a Roman Catholic. The Catholic priest prayed by Haggerty, who joined in fervent prayer. The Protestant Clergyman prayed with Elizabeth Godfrey: Haggerty refused to join. Almost as soon as they came upon the scaffold, Halloway turned to the multitude and said with a sound voice, "gentlemen, I am innocent." This he repeated three times--he then spoke to Haggerty, and said to him, according to the account given by those who were nearest the scaffold; "take no notice of the Clergyman." Haggerty seemed to pay little attention to him. Whilst the rope was fixing round their necks, Halloway preserved his usual effrontery: Haggerty trembled--the countenance of the poor female assumed a death-like paleness, but there was on her features a mixture of remorse and resignation. Twice or thrice Halloway was invited to pray—he invariably refused, and with a look of impatience.

We have not heard whether either of the men confessed their guilt, though it is reported that Haggerty did. About ten minutes after they had been on the scaffold, the Clergymen descended--the signal was given and they were launched into eternity. Haggerty struggled much for some minutes. Halloway scarcely moved--the sufferings of the poor female seemed to be short.

A most dreadful scene now took place— never, as we have already said, was there such a crowd assembled to witness a public execution. Streets, lanes, houses, all were crowded almost to suffocation. After the murderers had been hanging about five minutes, the pressure of the crowd above the platform, and near the Skinner-street side, was so great, that some persons in the midst of the crowd, overcome by fatigue, fell down—to raise them was impossible--they were instantly trampled on; others fell—to extricate them was equally impossible--they were trampled on also. Screams were heard from the poor sufferers, and from the persons who witnessed the scene from the different windows : help was called for, but the crowd was so great, that no person could penetrate it for some time. About fifty persons in all were trampled under foot, ten of them women— a considerable time elapsed before the constables could clear the way; at length they effected a passage ; on raising up the poor sufferers, some were found with broken limbs; others with dreadful bruises; some were quite dead. It is said that six were killed; other persons state that thirty were killed. All the sufferers were immediately conveyed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where surgical assistance was administered to those to whom it could be of any use ; the dead were deposited in one of the wards, till their friends or relations take them away.

One o'clock.--On further enquiry we are sorry to find the above account does not state the calamity to its full extent. Twenty-seven persons lay dead at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, the gates of which are shut against the populace; four lay dead in the yard of the Saracen's Head ; three in St. Sepulchre's church ; and two or three in other places. In the Hospital there are three women, a child or two, and several young men, apparently clerks. Some persons in business, who have missed their clerks this morning, have been to examine the dead bodies; but we do not find that any of them have been owned.

Persons within twenty or thirty yards of the platform were squeezed, till with fear and pressure they could not breathe; it was extremely warm; the weakest fainted and dropped, others fell over them; the shrieks and confusion were tremendously horrible. It was as much as the strongest could do to support themselves--the doors of some houses in the street were burst open; hundreds rushed in, sweating, panting, speechless, and almost expiring. There was no possibility of assisting those who dropped, and near forty were trampled to death, besides hundreds who were bruised, some more or less, limbs broken, the flesh torn off the legs of others, &c. &c. When the mob was cleared away, several hundred pairs of shoes were picked up in the streets, with boots, cloaks, bonnets, &c.

When Halloway and Haggerty came into the press-yard for execution, there were many noblemen and gentlemen of distinction.--Halloway went on his knees on the pavement to protest his innocence, expressing confidence that he would be forgiven his sins in heaven--Haggerty also protested his innocence, but did not go on his knees. On the platform each addressed the populace, protesting his innocence, even while the caps were pulling over their faces Halloway was attended by the Rev. Mr. Knight, of Rowland Hill's Chapel; Haggerty by a Roman Catholic Clergyman.