SENDING A FORGED REPRIEVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 129, 31 May 1880, Page 4

SENDING A FORGED REPRIEVE

Mr Caleb Charles Wbittford, a member of the medical profession, wbb charged at Ihe Old Bailey with misdemeanour, for having sent a false and forged reprieve to tbe gaol of Newgate, io reference to a prisoner named Charles Shurcty, sentenced to be executed for murder. — -This case was one of a singular character. A prisoner named Charles Shurety, was convicted at the December sessions of this court, of the wilful murder of a child two years old, belonging to a widow named Piper, wilh whom he cohabited, and the day appointed for his execution was Monday, Jan. 5. The defendant, who is a medical man, residing in Albany-sf., Regenl'a Park, appeared to have tbken a most extraordinary interest in the fate of the criminal, and he had writ-t-n several letters to Mr Cross, the Home Secretary ; Mr Liddell, the Under-Secretary, and Sir Stafford Northcote, for the purpose of endeavoring to procure a commutation of the capital eentencp, but od the 3rd of January he received a final communication from the Home office, to the effect that the Secretary of Sl&te could not recommend her Mhjesty to interfere wilh the sentence thai had been passed upon the prisoner. Notwithstanding the receipt of this cotnmonicatioc, the defendant, on Sunday, Jan, 4, the day previous to the one appointed for the executitn, seems to have endeavored to obain an interview with Mr Cross and Mr Liddell, at their private residences, but failed to do so, and on the following morning, a few minutes before eight o'clock, while the sheriff*, 'the povernor, and the chaplain were in the cell with the piisoner, and tbs bjll was lollin?, and tbe execution wa9 about to take place, the defendant made his appearance at Newgate, and handed to the warder at the entrance an apparently cfliciol document maiked "Immediate,' and addressed to the Governor. The document upon being opened, purported to be eigned by Mr Liddell, tho Under-Secretary of State, and was iv the following terms: — "Rutland-gate, January 5. To the Governor of Newgate, — From information jutt received and laid before me, iv the name of her rnoet gracious Majesty the Queen, I countermand the order for tbe execution of Charles Shurety. Will coin-

murrieate further in the course of tbe day. — (Signed) Octavius P. Liddell, pro R. A. Cress." The forgery was, however, discovered, and ihe execulion took place. — Mr. Fulton said he bad had an opportunity of conferring with the defendant and his friends, and, under bis advice be would plead "Guilty" to tbe charge. On being interrogated the prisoner at first said he bad no recollection of tbe affair, but subsequently pleaded " Guilty." — Mr. Fulton then addressed the Court in mitigation of punishment. — The father of the prisoner and a medical gentleman were then examined, and they spoke to the extraordinary interest the prisoner appeared to have taken in the fate of tbe condemned criminal, which they said they bad no doubt for a time unsettled his reason. — Mr. Justice Denman, in passing sentence, said defendant bad been guilty of a most serious and mischievous offence, and he had placed the Governor of* the prison in a most cruel and painful position, and but for bis fortitude and determination in resolving to carry out tbe sentence, notwithstanding the supposed respite, tbe most serious consequences might have resulted. He would give some effect, however, to what bad been proved on his behalf, and order him to be imprisoned for t.w^o months without hard labour, and to "pay a fine of 501.— English Paper.