Nicholson's parents were Irish, his father a Protestant, his mother a Catholic; but he was doubtful of the place of his birth, though he had a complete Irish accent. He was a man about the middle height, not bulky, but well fixed and muscular; his countenance bore evidence of a decided resolute character, but his features were neither unfavourable nor unpleasing; his age was twenty-nine years. His acknowledgment of his guilt and its causes relieves us from the necessity of comment upon his case. To irreligion and habitual drunken ness he rightly ascribed the momentary infatuation which preceded the dreadful crime, for which he was afterwards exhibited as a warning spectacle to others; for, it is to be observed that, the day before the murder, he had been frequently seen in the beer-cellar, and no doubt the effects of intoxication might have produced a paroxysm approaching to temporary insanity. What an example! Let others learn from it that the habitual drunkard can never account for his own actions; but let him also learn, from the fate of Nicholson, that intoxication is no excuse for crime. WILLIAM HOWE, ALIAS JOHN WOOD, EXECUTED FOR THE MURDER OF MR. ROBINS. THE following case, while it exhibits the utmost depravity and wickedness, affords a consolatory instance of the persevering industry of two officers of justice, whose conduct merits the highest praise, and well deserved whatever reward had been offered for the apprehension of the murderer. On the evening of the 18th of December, 1812, as Mr. Benjamin Robins, a farmer of Dunsley, near Stourbridge, was returning home from market on foot, he was overtaken by a man, who, under pretence of inquiring his way, walked with him for a mile, when he suddenly fired a pistol at him, and robbed him of twenty-six pounds and his watch. Mr. Robins reached home in great agony, when the wound was found to be so serious, that, after languishing eight days, he expired. The alarm caused by this atrocity induced the magistrates of Bow Street to send down Adkins and Taunton, two most active officers, by whose extraordinary exertions the wretch was traced to London, where, after a patient watch of many days and nights, they at length succeeded in securing him. He was conveyed directly to Stourbridge, where he was identified by those who saw him on the day of the murder. At the Stafford assizes, March the 17th, 1813, he was put upon his trial, when, in addition to other facts, it was proved that after his apprenension he had sent a letter to his wife, directed Mrs. Howe, wherein he told her to go to a rick near Stourbridge, to search for something. Vickers and Astou went to the rick, and in a hole, apparently made by a hand, they found three bullets and a pistol, a fellow to the one found in the box. A watch, which proved to have belonged to Mr. Robins, was also found to have been sold by Howe; and, after a trial of ten hours, his guilt was fully established by the corroborating testimony of between thirty and forty witnesses. The judge passed on him the awful sentence of the law; after which Howe, who did not call a single witness, exclaimed, 'My heart is innocent!' He appeared quite indifferent during his trial; but at the time of his execution, Monday, the 20th of March, he seemed to be impressed with the awfulness of his situation, and manifested corresponding symptoms of repentance. ANTONIO TARDIT, EXECUTED FOR THE MUrder of a fellow-prisoner. WE have, in the progress of our work, exhibited many a monster of atrocity; but it was reserved for us to crown the climax of wickedness with the case of Antonio Tardit, the deliberate murderer of his countryman, his fellow-soldier, his fellow-prisoner, in a strange country, where both endured all the privations of captivity; and for what? because he suspected the victim of his long-cherished vengeance to have supplied materials for a satire, in which Tardit considered himself ridiculed! In the year 1811, a French prisoner in Porchester depot composed some verses; and, among the characters introduced in the poem, one, very unfortunately, struck Tardit, who was also a prisoner of war, as expressly written to satirize him. This idea, whether erroneous or not, invariably operated upon the demoniac spirit of the wretch, who sought numerous opportunities to glut his vengeance on another prisoner, named Leguey, who, he imagined, had given the hints to the writer of the verses, enabling him to delineate the characteristic traits in question. Fifteen long months, with all the irksomeness of a prison, were unable to cool the fiery vengeance which burned within his breast; and, early in the year 1813, he prepared to sacrifice his victim. In order to render his weapon, a large sharp knife, more certain in its operation, he first sharpened it, and then bound the handle with a thick cord, that the grasp might be more firm. This knife he denominated his guardian angel,' and slept every night with it under his pillow. The dreams of this monster so much disturbed a fellow-prisoner, who slept in an adjoining hammock, that he asked Tardit if he should not awaken him whenever he became so dreadfully agitated. 'No!' replied this demon of vengeance, for I am then dreaming of a deadly enemy who has dishonoured me; and, although he appears to conquer for a time, yet the vision always terminates by giving me his blood.' On Monday evening, March the 1st, 1813, about eight o'clock, Tardit found the long-wished for opportunity; when rushing upon his victim in the privy, he literally ripped him open, when the bowels, in consequence, obtruded themselves, and the unfortunate man bent forward to receive his entrails, exclaiming, I am murdered !' Oh, no cried the murderer, ironically, it is merely a scratch; then twice plunged his knife in the back of Leguey, exclaiming, Take that-and that!' He was proceeding thus to inflict additional wounds, when his murderous arm was arrested; on which the villain exclaimed, I have now completed my work, and am content; you may take the weapon and me where you like!' While they were binding his arms, he desired those around him to stand aside, that he might glut his vengeance by looking on his immolated victim, remarking ironi cally, I have sent you before me on your journey, that you may provide me a lodging. One of the prisoners then inquired why he did not prove that he, at least, possessed one noble sentiment, by plunging the weapon in his own breast after the perpetration of the deed, in order to escape the gallows. 'It was,' replied the wretch, originally my intention; but it after wards struck me that I might expire first, and then the certainty of taking away his life would not have been known to me, and nothing less would have gratified my heart.' Soon after the villain was ironed he fell into a sound and tranquil sleep, from which he did not awake until late the following morning, when he said he had not had so undisturbed a repose for the last twelve months. Tardit was tried at the ensuing summer assizes for Hampshire, and found Guilty. In his defence he said Leguey had dishonoured him, and reduced him to despair. Sentence was immediately passed on him, and the next day but one he suffered the penalty of his diabolical crime. AZUBAH FOUNTAIN AND GEORGE TURNER ROWELL, EXECUTED FOR MURDER. WE should readily admit that some men are naturally depraved, did we not know the power of habit, whether good or bad; and this should be an inducement to parents to impress upon the minds of their children those principles of moral rectitude, which are generally found to lead the mind from such actions as bring in their train ignominy and disgrace. We are persuaded that neither of those malefactors, whose case is before us, heard in their youth many useful lessons, or received, before their minds were depraved, much wholesome advice. We allude particularly to Rowell, who seems to have been habitually vicious; but the unhappy woman who shared his ignominious fate appears more imbecile than wicked, more weak than criminal; her conduct was perfectly unaccountable; and, though we must execrate her crime, we can scarcely refrain from pitying her; for she appears to have fallen a victim to the arts of Rowell, working on a weak mind, irritated by the brutal conduct of an unfeeling husband. At the Lincoln assizes, on the 3d of August, 1813, Azubah Fountain, aged thirty-six, and George Turner Rowell, aged twenty-three, were indicted for the wilful murder of Robert Fountain, the husband of Azubah, by administering four ounces of laudanum in some elderberry-wine; and, thinking this quantity insufficient, a further dose of two ounces was given him in a cup of ale, of which he died. Rowell, who at the time of the murder was, as we have observed, only twenty-three years of age, was a native of Melton-Mowbray, at which place he bore a very bad character. From 1807 to 1809 he worked, being a cooper, with Mr. Skinner, of Bingham, who frequently told him, when reproving him for his evil practices, that he was fearful, when he left his employ, it would be his lot to suffer the vengeance of the laws;' a prediction which was too truly fulfilled, for this vicious and irreclaimable young man was not to be advised. In 1813 he went to lodge with Robert Fountain at Lincoln, and had not been in the house more HENRY MORRIS, FRAILTY, thy name is Woman,' says Shakspeare. The immortal bard is right; or how could we find them, in spite of precept and example, still the victims of the dissolute and designing; clinging to their destroyers with a devotional tenacity, which, like their beauty, almost makes us pardon their indiseretion; so accustomed are we to VOL. IV. expect virtue where appearances promise all that is commendable But, if we must lament the infatuation of the frailer sex, in what terms can we express our detestation of the villain who calculates on their weakness and simplicity and, like the veiled prophet of Korassan, exhibits not the hideousness of his natural character until 105 the victim is secured? But, alas! not even then has infatuated woman resolution enough to evince the diguity of insulted virtue; for we too often find them, as in the present instance, become more attached, as their destroyer becomes more worthless. Henry Morris, in 1813, was indicted at Green Street, Dublin, for marrying Mary Anne Murphy, on the 15th of May, 1811, having previously been married to Maria Fontaine, on the 7th of August, 1805, who was alive at the time of his second marriage. Both marriages being proved, Dennis Murphy, the afflicted father of the last of the prisoner's wives, (for he had several,) came forward, and detailed a narrative of wrongs, that sensibly affected the Court. He first knew the prisoner on the 15th of October twelvemonth, at a billiard-room, in Dame Street. He told him of his being deeply in love with his daughter, who was then only fifteen years of age; and represented himself as a teacher, of great respectability. Morris was then introduced to Mr. Murphy's family, and continued his visits for five or six months; at the expiration of which period he persuaded the credulous girl to elope with him. Two months after, the villain Morris wrote the unfortunate father a letter; expressed much contrition for what had occurred; and attributed it to the violence of his love, which would not brook delay.' He begged God's and Murphy's pardon; and requested a meeting. A meeting accordingly took place; the parties were reconciled; and Morris and Miss Murphy were legally married. But, before the wounded feelings of the father had been healed, he accidentally acquired information which caused them to bleed afresh. He learned, too surely, that his hopeful son-inlaw had several wives; and that he had abandoned four young girls whom he had successively married. The poor man, with tears which bespoke the anguish of his heart, here mentioned that Maria Fontaine had died of a broken heart three weeks before the trial; and said that his unfortunate daughter still continued so attached to her destroyer, that she spent the whole of her time with him in Newgate, coming home occasionally for support, which was given to her; for the unhappy parents could not bring themselves to desert their poor child, under any circumstance; and, if they were to do so, would consider themselves accountable in the eye of Heaven for the crimes she should fall into; as, in case of being turned from the paternal door, she had no alternative but street prostitution. This wretched girl, lovely as unfortunate, was in court during the trial, and remained close to the prisoner. When the verdict was pronounced, she burst into the most outrageous expressions of grief; cried out most violently to save him; tore her hair, and clung round his neck, declaring that she would not be separated from him. The judges, however, ordered her to be removed, but directed that it should be done as gently as possible; and she was accordingly carried out of court in a state of utter distraction. Morris was then sentenced to transportation for seven years; the judge remarking that he had often ordered a man to be hanged for an offence much less heinous. We cannot omit this opportunity of saying a few words respecting the virtue of prudence, which may be called the guardian of all the other domestic virtues. Without expa· tiating on its general importance, |