The Newport Gazette

LONDON.

August 7. Yesterday morning eight malefactors were carried in three carts from Newgate to be executed at Tyburn, among which was John Whitaker, who was convicted with Edward Lynch of breaking-open the house of Mr. Sims, and rescued under the gallows. As there was something unusual in the mode of saving Whitaker, we state it to our readers: When the Ordinary of Newgate, as usual questioned the criminal previous to the cart's drawing away, respecting their criminality, and their acknowledgment of the justice of their sentence, Lynch (who was convicted with Whitaker on a charge of burglary in Widegate Alley) affirmed, in the most solemn manner, that Whitaker was altogether innocent of the crime of which he had been convicted, and for which he was about to suffer, and that he had no concern whatever in the burglary either before, at, or after its perpetration, but that he alone was guilty. When the Ordinary returned to his coach, he reported what had passed to a friend who was in the carriage, and declared himself exceedingly uneasy, and much puzzled how to act. His friend, alarmed at the thought of an innocent man's losing his life wrongfully, urged the Ordinary to question the criminals once more, and if Lynch persisted in his story, to apply to the Deputy Sheriff (who attended) to stay the execution. The advice was followed; Lynch again solemnly protested that Whitaker was unjustly convicted, and that he alone was guilty. Mr. Villette then informed the Deputy Sheriff of what had passed, and begged some steps might be taken to save the man's life. The Deputy Sheriff agreed to wait till an answer could be obtained from the Secretary of State's office, whither the Ordinary, his friend, and an officer, were instantly dispatched to report the matter. On their arrival at Lord Weymouth's office they learnt that his Lordship was out of town, and that his Majesty was also out of town. After arguing for some time on the dreadful predicament of an innocent man, and the horrid cruelty of taking away his life, after it was evident that he had not merited death, they were told that the Sheriff must act as they thought most advisable. With this unsatisfactory reply they returned to Tyburn, and the Deputy Sheriff, as Shakespeare says, "To do a great right, did a little wrong." And from a laudable risk of censure for doing somewhat from the strict line of duty, where humanity, equity, and every reasonable consideration warranted him, ventured to stay the execution of Whitaker and sent him back to Newgate; where, in the course of the afternoon, a respite arrived for him till the 17th of September. Lynch declared, a few minutes before his dissolution, that nothing gave him more satisfaction than the respite obtained for Whitaker, who was perfectly innocent of the burglary laid to his charge.