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THE STANFIELD HALL MURDERS
The career of this ill-fated assassin
has nom closed ; and we present to our
readers a few details touching the career
of the criminal and the close of his life.
In the course of a lengthy memoir
published in the Norwich News, the
following passages occur : —
"If had been well for Rush if he had
withdrawn from dangerous associations
abroad : but, unfortunately, Paine's
"Ag of Reason" early became his study,
and, as he drank in the draughts of
poison it contained, their pernicious
influence became visible in his whole
demeanour. He no longer sought and
delighted in the society of his friends
and equals, but almost wholly addicted
himself to the companionship of persons
of low taste and depraved habits.
Political discontent, which was rife
amongst the agricultural labourers, he
delighted rather to foster than to quench,
and being let loose from the restraints
which had previously, in some slight
measure, held him back, he gave freer
vent to his depraved desires. He was
known among his companions as a
libertine, and we believe few have more
regularly and remorsely followed out,
' in this particular, the desires of a
depraved and sensual appetite. He :
made a boast of seduction, and many a
heart and many a family have been
saddened by his criminal atrocities.
When thoroughly set on a purpose of
this kind, he was not to be deterred by
any difficulty. He would undertake
journeys, lay plans, execute manoeuvres,
resort to artifice, persuasion, flattery,
or falsehood.
"In Michaelmas term of 1835 an
action was brought ugainst Rush at the
suite of a female named Dank, who sued |
in 'forma pauperis', for breach of promise
of marriage, having become enciente,
and compelled to seek the shelter
of a workhouse, in consequence of Rush
positively refusing to afford her any
assistance. The action was tried at the
Norfolk ssizes, after Hilary term.
1839, when a verdict was returnrd for
the poor girl, and the costs were taxed
at £26 2s. 3d. This illicit intercourse
must have taken place during the life
time of the convict's wife. Another
instance of his infamy is mentioned in
the "Brighton Herald. Rush introduced
himself into the house of a
respectable family residing near that
fashionable watering-place, and proffered
marriage to one of the daughters.
Fortunately, however, inquiries laid
bare his character and frustrated his
diabolical designs.
" Another instance of the same kind,
though referring to an earlier period of
his life, may here be given. Not Iong
after his wife's death he succeeded in
seducing the daughter of a most respectable
man in somewhat humble circumstances,
a mere girl, whom he templed
down to his residence, under the pretext
of teaching his children music.
The father, who made no attempt to
disguise his feelings of indignation for
the injury Rush had thus inflicted on
her and on her family, was walking on
the road one day, when Rush, as though
nothing harl passed between them,
coolly offered him a ride, an offer,
which we need hardly say, was indig
nantly rejected.
' At the death of his wife, Mr. Rush
engaged a respectable middle-aged person
as housekeeper, who lived in the
family ; he also put an advertisement
into The Times for a lady to lake the
educational charge of his family. The
applicants for the situation were met
by appointment at some respectable
house in Loudon ; and, as the
representations of Rush, his manners, and
general appearance excited no suspicions,
he found it not difficult to
secure his object. Four educated
young women in succession undertook
the proposed charge, of whom Emily
Sandford was the last, and not the only
one who fell a victim to the treachery
of this unprincipled seducer.
"It was during this partial residence
in London that he conceived the
design of assisting the Larners and
Thomas Jermy, whom he represented as the
rightful owners of the Stanfield Hall
property. To prepare the means of
gaining possession, avowedly for them
but really for himself, sundry documents
were engrossed for him by Emily
Sanford, and signed uy her as witness,
after the signature of Mr. Jermy had
been affixed by Rush. There seems
little doubt that the death of Emily
Sandford must have been contemplated
as a part of this diabolical plan."
Deeds of darkness so daring and so
brutal as those perpetrated by Rash at
Stanford-Hall were not accomplished
without much previous practice in crime
and'there is reasoo to suspect that it
' was not the first or the second time that
his Hands had been imbrued in blood.
At the time of his bankruptcy a very
suspicious-looking claim was put in by
Rush on behalf of his mother for
£,1700, and the examination before
the court was adjourned, that she might
be brought up in reference lo this claim.
She was to have been examined on
Thursday. On the previous Monday,
however she was found dead in her
bed. Rumours wer.e audible in many
quarters that there had been foul play ;
and those who were too charitable to
think Rush' a' murderer deemed it pas
sing atrauge that she should have died
at such a juncture.'
A Norwich-- correspondent of the
Globe supplies a probable reason why
Rush after he had shot Mr. Jenny, -sen.
went round by the servants' door aiid
risked detection by ' passing along the
passages. Me says It is explained by
the fact that in a box in a closet at the
end nf the passage leading to the stair
case hall Mr. Jeriny kept his papers
and the mortgage de- d relating to Po
tash Harm, iiud thai Rush's intention
was thus to secure those deeds at all
hazards, for, according to the fug''!
documents cancelling the mortgage, ari
the deeds and papers of a prior date re
lating to Potash Farm were to he burn
ed. Young Mr. Jermy just reached the
door opening into the recess when Rush
reached it, and therefore Rush fired at
hint. After shooting young Mr. Jermy
he very likely went into the dinner,
room to shoot any person there, and
thus to prevent the possibility of his
being interrupted while he was em
ployed in securing the deeds. The two
women ran to the same recess, and fur
ther prevented his purpose being carried
out ; and when he came out of the
dining-room he fired at them, doubtless
H1UI it »IC»> Ui r3Ld|JIII UflPCllUlli
The Doncastcr Gazette also re
lates an incident in Rush's lile : —
" The convict Rush was pre
sent at Donca«ter two or three
years ago in the capacity of nuc-
ioncpr, offering for sale by auction a
quantity of taipatiling for agricultural
purposes. These articles were put up
for sale at the west end of the covered
1 com market. The police, who were
watching his proceedings, interfered,
and intimated tu him that it was con
trary t" tire rules of the market to he
allow d in carry on the sale in that po
sition. Rush immediaely handed to
them his card stating that he was a
licens d auctioneer, and entitled to sell
anywhere. He was desired to remove ;
but rtated in reply, that he would nut
do so unless through the interference
of sup rior officers. Superintendent
Etches was- immediately sent for, and,
oil his arrival, explained the matter to
Rush. lie did not appear satisfied;
and he wai immediately taken before
the magistrates, and after acoosultation,
ivji discharged on the und -rs'and-
tug that he would not persist in the
sale.''
The story that a Norwich newspaper
offered to settle a considerable sum
upon the family of Rush in the event
of his writing and handing to the jour
nal in qustinn his memoirs has been
flatly contradicted. No sue!) offer has
boon made or dreamed of.
Tiie conduct of Hush during the week
has formed a topic of large interest in
the columns of the public journals.
Tho following are the chief details re-
ported : — On .Monday afternoon Rush
was visited by the whole of his family
of nine children. The account which
has appeared as to liis interview with
his children is very incorrect however,
as will be seen by the following extract
from the Norfolk Chronicle .- — " On
Monday last Rush had an interview
with his children at the Castle, the
younger ones coming to take their last
sad leave of him. Mr. Somes, their
uncle, did not accompany the famil.y
as has been stated ; nor did tho governor
of the Castle introduce them into the
cell ; nor did the prisoner offer up any
prayers either during or alter the visit.
Ollt.ir Tittrhftilnro ftii'nn ntn diflnr Ihi-nn.
ton. Tho family came from Potash
and Fcltningham, on Monday morning,
and the two parties met at the Bell Inn,
Orford-hill, whence they proceeded to
the Castle. The interview did not take
place in the cell, but in a room appro
printed for the use of those visit >rs who
may wish, and are permitted to sec any
criminal ; in Rush's case this-has not
been given except to his nearest relations
and the members of his own family.
When the latter arrived on Monday lie
was informed of their being in the
Castle ; he buried his face in his hands
as if he was much affected. Being
taken into the visit.ors'-room and placed
in such a position that the governor
could hear and see everything that
passed, his children were immediately
ushered itto the apartment, and as may
be supposed, a natural outburst of feel
ing ensued ; but on this occasion though
the wretched man protested that he was
innocent, he was not guilty of the reli
gious hypocrisy described. He did not
offer up any prayers, nor recommend
his children to the care of the Almighty
as slated. After nil interval of hali-an-
liour parent and children were parted,
some of them not to meet again in his
world. When the family left the C'uslle
a crowd of people collected outside to
witness tnoir departure, inoy repaired
to the Hell, where Miss Rush remained;
the other daughters, after partaking of
refreshment, returned to Felminghatn,
where they are residing with their go-
verness in a house which Rush built
there about four years ago. Mr. James
Hush and his younger brother returned
to Potash ; but the former returned to
Norwich on Tuesday, and accompanied
by Miss Rush, had another interview
with his father the same evening. This
interview was repeated on Wednes.
day."
A Norwich correspondent of The
Times, writing on Friday reported ' the
guilty man who is to meet
liis ,ate to-morrow continues to eat and
sleep well and to enjoy life to the last.
The accounts tbat have appeared from
time to time as to his depression of spi
rits are entirely without foundation. He
exhibits no sign of repentance, nor any
desire to purge his breast of the tre
mendous crime which must be preying
on it. Those who have the best of op
portunity of judging are strongly of
opinion that he will die without confes
sion. Me perseveres iu the most so
lemn declarations of his innocence,
and upbraids Emily Sandford most bit
terly, asserting that she forswore her
self at the trial, and that had it not
been for Iter evidence he should have
been acquitted. Yesterday he asked
the turnkeys if they had begun to fix
the machine ; but no answer was made,
lie then expressed. a hope that it might
be a fine day. The Rev. Mr Brown;
chaplain to the gaol, the Rev. Mr An
drews, and the Rev. Mr Blake, of Fel
minghatn, have all been most assiduous
efforts lo bring the unhappy criminal
to a due sense of tho awful position
in which lie stands. But these efforts
have been attended with very little ap
parent success, and, to use the strong,
but no doubt the accurate language of
a gentlemen to wit -m 1 have npplied
for information on the subject, Rush
has exhibited sincerity in nothing but
deception. The expression appears to
be a contradiction, hut it is difficult to
analyse the workings of a murderer's
mind, and the same idiosyncracy of
character which led Rush to purloin so
dexterously the £-10 cheque from the
uote-book in n crowned court, with all
eyes upon him, may account for liis
realizing the old aphorism, that a man
who begins by deceiving others often
ends by deceiving himself. Last night,
as previously, lie slept soundly. '
A correspondent of the Rail//
A'ctvs, wrote, ' The city is already fud
of persons who have a'rived from differ
ent parts of the country to be present
during the proceedings. There are also
many visitors from London, the Eastern
Counties Railway Company having run
a 'cheap pleasure rain,' issumg
tickets which nre returnable at any
time during the next three clays. Some
of the visitors nre of very questionable
character, but they are closely watched
by Mr Yarringtou, the superintendent
of the city police, and Mr Lnngley,
one of the London Detective force.
Those officers were present on the an i- !
val o, the several London trains to day
ami carefully scrutinized the passen
gers. The convict Rush lias undergone
little change. lie eats heartily sleeps
well, and seems unmoved by the posi
tion in which lie is placed. He has la
boured hard lo cenvince the Rev. \V.
W Andrew and the Rev. P. Brown,
who have been in attendance upon him
of liis innocence ; but both those gen
tlemen have expressed to him their
conviction of liis guilt. Since that de
claration the convict lias treated them
with marked coolness. It docs not
seem probable that Rush will make any
confession. He perseveres in affirming
liis innocence, and frequently calls
upon the Almighty to prove liis inno
cence, ane to fix tho crime upon those
who really committed the murders. He
confidently asserts that in two years the
real murderer will be known.
" On being informed that the univer
sal opinion throughout tile country was,
that he was guilty, lie appeared angry.
He wrote n letter, asserting his inno
cence, which he wished to be signed
by liis daughter, and sent to the editor
of the ' Times," but Mr. Pinson declined
forwarding it.
" He is watched by ten turnkeys,
who receive each other every two hours,
and very precaution is taken to pre-
vent anything taking place to rob jus-
nf nn victim.
EXECUTION OF THE MUIUVEHKTl.
Norwich, Saturday.
James Bloomfield Rush, who has
been convicted by n jury of perhaps the
foulest crimes which the pages of our
country's history reeord, suffered death
this day. Many hold attempts were
made to obtain a commutation of liis
sentence ; nnd signatures to petitions
for mercy were canvassed with extra
ordinary zeal and diiigLMice : but the
course of the law was not interrupted.
Saturday morning is always one of
great bustle and excitement in Norwich,
and the surrounding country. One
tnay, therefore, form some slight con
ception of what was likely to take olace
when, in addition to tiie business of the
market, there was to be witnessed the
execution of so atrocious a criminal as
James Bloomfield Rush Not by do.
'/ens, or fifties, or hundreds, did the
people (lock into tiie city on this event
ful morning, but by tons and twenties of
thousands, by every avenue north, east,
west, and south ; — the cry was, " still
they come !'' and by ten o'clock the
streets were tilled with eager people,
passing to and fro, and vet the rattling
of cart3 and carriages, the rumbling of
wheelbarrows, and the quick tread of
noilnstrinns nrmhnntxl tn inrn:»ou
The excitement by no means dimi-
nisiied towards the time appointed for the '
execution. As tiie hour approached when
the criminal was to meet his doom a !
feeling of overpowering oppression per- i
vaded the crow. I. The gallows was
erected upon the Saxon Bridge, span
ning the Castle moat, nnd its dreary and
dismal appearance accorded well with
the purpose for which it was designed.
Over the entrance to the Castle a large
black flag floated, raising in the minds
of all thoughtful persons feelings of
deep emotion. The city police made
tho most efficient arrangements for
preserving the peace of the city. In
consequence of the influx of London
theives, about sixty constables of the
rural force were stationed thirty yards
apart in the garden-walk of the Castle
During tiie previous evenin" and
night there had been no alteration
whatever in the prisoner's conduct.
He went to bed between nine and ten
o'clock, and got up again at two o'clock
and when lie arose lie said, ' Thank
God for a good sleep"; but it was
evident to those who were watching
him that he did not sleep, and that his
rest had been greatly disturbed. Be
tween two and six o'clock in the mor
ning his time was occupied cheifly in
reading a religous book, in which he
made notes and underlined various
passages. During the night he did not
assert his innocence, nor ditl lie make
the slightest disclosure. He had sent
for the Rev. Mr. Blake, a gentleman
with whom he had quarrelled, and he
received his ministrations witii those of
the other clergymen, hut showed no
signs of contrition on account of tho
great crimes with which lie was charged
In tiie morning lie asked for some hot
water to wash himself, nnd to have a
clean neckcloth and clean shirt : and
ami lie expressed a wisli that he should
bo buried in his shirt.
At eleven o'clock the weather became
fine, and many thousands had collected
in front of I ho drop. They were nearly
all of tho lower orders of the country
people. A large porporlion were females
At lialf-pasL eleven the number of
people on the hill greatlv increased,
and before twelve the hill all around
presented a dense mass of human beings
I sinnuing as close as possimc upon llio
ground. At eleven o'clock the repre
sentatives of the press were admitted
into the Shirehall from whence they
passed along the garden walk and up
the steps at the bridge, to the Castle-
walk. From this elevated position they
hud an excellent view of the mass of
people, and of all that passed.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock
j the hell of St. Peter's MancroR toiled
; the deatli knell of the criminal. As lie
came from liis cell to the receiving-
j room, he walked with n firm steady step
In that room he was pinioned by the
cxecu'ioner, (Calcraft,) whom he re
quested not to do it too tightly.
A procession was then formed to the
scaffold, the chaplain (the Rev. James
Brown) lining in front : Mr. Pinson and
| the prisoner followed. The High-Slie-
j rift' was present, and also the Utider-
Simriff and the Deputy-Sheriff.
Within two or three minutes after
twelve o clock the mournful cava'cade
proceeded from the interior of the Cas
tle lo tho spot on which the gibbet was
erected. Ihe distance between the
Castle door and the gallows was about
sixtv yards.
When the procession left the Castle
gate to proceed to the gibbet, Rush
presented a most melancholy and de
jected appearance. He was dressed in
a plain suit of black, wearing no neck
handkerchief His short collar was
turned down. Fur about twenty yards
lie walked wi'h a firm unwavering step,
hut in a moment afterwards he raised
his pi no ed hands to his face and vio
lently trembled. He then removed liis
hands from liis face, and, turning up Ins
eyes to heaven, assumed the attitude of
penitence and prayer. On reaching the
foot of tiie gallo ns the reverend chap
lain offered praye r, the condemned con
vict seeming to be deeply impressed with
the awful clr nacter of his situation.
Immediately on the cluse of tiie prayer
lie beckoned to M'. Pinson, the govcr-
nor of the Castle, who was immediately I
by his side. The following '-brief con- I
versa' ion ensued—
Rush : Mr. Pinson, I have a last re
quest to make to you. It is t fiat the j
holt may be withdrawn while the chap- !
lain is reading the benediction. "The
Grace of our Lord Jesus Ciirist, and i
the love of Cod, and the fellowship of j
the Holy Giiosl be with us all ever- 1
more."
Mr. Pinson: I will immediately com-'
municate your wish to the chaplain, 1
and I have no doubt it will be attended
to. |
In conformity with his promise, Mr. !
Pinson immediately communicated with j
the chaplain, and it was intimated to ;
Rush that what lie wished should be
complied with, j
l'be convict, accompanied by the 1
officials, and Calcraft, the hangman,
then ascended the scaffold — a clumsy
and inconvenient structure, as badly
arranged, and as unsightly in appear
ance as any one conld "conceive. It
seemed to be the work of a m ist unskil-
ful designer. On to this plat'orm Rush
ascended. He looked ghastly pale and
dreadfully emaciated. Either con
science op fear had done its work. The
| hangman then placed the unhappy con-
, vict under the beam on which he was
. to hang, and affixed the fatal rope
j around his neck. Rush aaid, "For
, God's sake give ine rope enough !" and
with liis own hand adjusted the cord
upon liis neck.
I Tile reverend plljlnlain nrnnnorlarl ti.i.l.
the prayers, and on arriving at the J
words, " The grace of our L rd Jesus
Christ," &c., Calcraft withdrew the bolt, .
lie platform went down, and the tin- j
i happy convict fell literally like a lump
of lead, shaking the gallows by his fall. |
; He remained perfectly quiescent for
about two minutes, then there I
I w'ts a short convulsive struggle, |
and all was over. lie never
; moved again. From first to last his
! bands were closely clasped together.
He appeared to have lost all sensibility
immediately on his fall from the fatal
, beam. His death was greeted with
loud applause by the immense crowd
, who had nsaembled to witness the ex.
| cution. At one o'clock he was cut
; down, removed from tbe scaffold to the
coffin, and buried within the precincts
of the gaol. '
| To the visiting magistrates present
: during the morning at the Castle thu
representatives of the press were in
debted for affording them every facility
, consistent with Government regula-
I tions, to witness the proceeding outside
. the walls ; whilst it is due to them to
say, that the greatest care had been
.taken to prevent anything like intrusion
; of aov parties upon the prisoner
: beyond the members of his own
! family.
i Mr Pinson, the governor, during the
whole anxious period since the first
committal of the prisoner lo his execu
tion, conducted himself inos t admirably ,
showing great forbearance a rid patience
with the criminal, wlio gave much
trouble and nlways appeared dissatisfied
with whatever was done for him. Mis
behaviour was nt times so unbecoming
that it was necessary to have a double
guard upon him.
The mass of people remained for some
time iiponLhe bill, vast numbers keeping
their places until he was taken down at
one o'clock.
The representatives of the London
press had ati interview in the evening
with Mr Pinson, the governor of the
gaol, who read to them u statement
drawn up by the chaplain respecting
Rush's conduct during the last few
days of his life. He had clearly dissem
bled from the very first; so much so,
indeed, that nt last whatever he said or
sugges'eu was loosen upon as suspicious
and with distrust. He daily proclaimed
his innocence, saying, " God knew
liis heart; lie made his peace with
Him ; lie was prepared to die." At
last, finding that the visiting clergy
men would not believe him innocent,
lie became dissatisfied with them, and
almost disrespectful. Two or three
days ago he wished to have the sacra
ment administered to him in private,
hut he was refused by the chaplain.
He then wrote a letter to her Majesty,
lint finding he could not get it out
of the Castle, he burned it. At bis
parting farewell with his family, on
Wednesday, he said, "I hope the
Queen will not be in a hurry to hang
me,"
He attended chapel service this mor
ning. The e'etgytnan, convinced of
his guilt, endeavoured to elicit cotifes.
sion. AbrnpLly however, as upon
former occasions, he said God knew
his heart ; that He was his judge ; and
that they had prejudged hitn. When
conducted to the turnkey's room to be
pinioned, lie met Calcraft, whereupon
he said to Mr. Pinson, " is this the man
that is to do the business ? " The
reply was, " Yes." When he was
pinioned he shrugged his shoulders,
saying, " This don't go easy." Upon
the scaffold, fooling Calcraft tremulous
while fixing the noose around bis neck,
be said, ' Don't be in a hurry : take
your lime.' I lien moving his head
about lie said, " put the knot a little
higher up. Don't hurry."
During last night (Friday) lie un
dressed, went : o bed, dressed, and went
to bed again several times, pretending,
whilst in bed, to sleep, but in fact
watching the turnkeys all the while
intently. There is no doubt that he
intended self-destruction ; but he de
clared that lie had very refreshing
sleeps. His last request was, that the
drop niiglit f ill at the utterance of
certain words given above.
| Rush r'c-ived a letter on Friday
from his eidesi daughter. It deeply
affected him. He shed tears on the
occasion. He burnt it, as he did all his
other writings and papers. We saw
the body to-night. The face was calm
and placid t there was no appearance of
a violent death. His bust was taken.
The only thing he left w is a leligious
| book, which he had interlined. He
j loft directions for it to be handed to his
| family. He was buried at eight o'clock
at uight, in a deep grave in the prison
grounds, next to the remains of Yarliam,
who was executed four years since for
the Yarmouth murder.
Emily Sandfucl stll remains at Brid-
well. The subscription on her behalf
amounts to £210 10s. Eliza Chestney
lies in a suffering and dejected state at
Slatifield-hall. The subscription for
her amounts to £3GG 8s Rush's
eldest daughter (whom decease was
confidently reported) had an interview
with her father on Monday. She and
the rest of ihe family are as we'l, as
under these melancholy circumstances
can he expected. Miss Rush and the
younger branches of the family are still
at Felmingham, with the t xceplion of
one son, who with the eldest brother,
Mr. James Rush, is at Potash,
j rush's antecedents.
Much has been said respecting the
frequency with which Mr. Jermy and
Rush were seen riding or conversing
j together, even at the lime when they
' minhl Kd PnniMovail mnaf niiinnlal.Ki nt
£» wwiibpjiilu niuJk teVlllfSICtG I J Sl>
variance with each oilier. We believe
that the secret of this will be found in
the fact thai Rush had succeeded in
persuading Mr. Jeriny that he (Rush)
had in his possession certain documents
which wornd be of the highest value lo
Mr. Jermy in sustaining his right to the
estate and which on the other hand
might have been most formidable iu the
hands of any other claimant to the pro
perty. .Mr. Jermy Jermy could never
conceal his strong antipathy to Rush,
nor his low estimate of his character,
and thev were frequently in altercation;
we believe thai it was for this reason
that Mr. Jermy, senior, rather inclined
towards a more conciliating policy.
How Rush came in possession of those
documents, with reference to the Stan-
field Hall property, which he has given
in his pamphlet, is not certainly known.
Having been much and frequently cull,
suited by tho Reverend George Preston
(the late Mr. Jenny's father) on matters
of business, it is not unlikely that lie
managed to secure the documents, ui
copies of documents, which Mr. Predion
had in his possession ; but Rush him
self has stated 'hat they were found by
liirn in a secret place at the mansion,
sftcr he had purchased it of Mr. Jermy.
Not a litile of the seeming intimacy that
existed between Mr. Jenny and Rush
may a'so have been attributable to the
coolness and effrontery with which
Rosh contrived to cloak his malignity
and evil designs. At a time when it
was well known that they were almost
" at daggers drawn," Mr. Jermy was
one day walking to Wymondham on
business, when Rush overtook him with
a horse and gig, and offered him a ride.
Mr. Jeriny accepted the offer, and they
were seen riding in company to
Wymondham- much to the astonishment
of the inhabitants, who were just then
prepared rather for tidings of a very
serious quarrel.
death of rush's father-in-law.
The following paragraph, relating to
to the death of Mr. Rush, who married
the prisoner's mother, has appeared in
Norfolk papers.
Horrible Accident. — On Thursday
last, (the 25th October, 1844), Mr.
Rush, a respectable farmer, at Fleming-
liam, was shot dead on the spot in his
own kitchen, by the accidental discharge
of a gun. It appeared that ihe son had
been over the father's farm at Fleining-
hatn, shooting, having paid his father a
visit for a day's sport ; and having re
turned home lo liis father's, had been
admiring his gun, and directing the at
tention of his father to it as a very
superior one. The son retired into
an- -r ronm and left his father without
exs . miiig the gun. Almost directly
after, a report was heard, and when the
son went to see what was the matter, he
found the bleeding corpse of his father
lying prostrate in the kitchen. It was
found that the gun had gone off, lod
ging the whole contents in the head of
his father, entering the left cheek.
Instantaneous death was the conse
quence. An inquest was held on the
following day before Mr. Dench, coro
ner for the liberties of the Duchy uf
Lancaster, when the jury returned a
verdict of Accidental Death,
mrs. mary rush.
Rush's mother died in the month of
August, 1848. She had been for some
time ill, and Rush had engaged a nurse
to attend her. On the evening before
her death, he told this person that he
would sit up with his mother, and she
might go to bed. She remonstrated,
but he insisted, and she went to the
room allotted to her. Af'er she had
been in bed some time she saw Rush
come into the room, apparently as if he
wanted to ascertain whether she was
asleep. She noticed his walking across
the room, but made no remark, and he
went out. About four in the morning
he came in again, and then she asked
him how her mistress was? " Oh !" was
the reply, " you need not trouble your
self, she has been dead these four
hours!" The poor woman jumped up,
and ran into her mistress's room, where
she found the vital spark was indeed
extinct I Rush had laid her out, nnd
performed all the necessary offices him
self ! — This is the story told by the
nurse, since the Slnnfield Hull murders ;
but as she never mentioned the circum
stance before that occurrence, we do not
place implicit credit in Iter statement.
To say that the most intense excite
ment prevailed would be to convey a very
inadequate idea of the state of feeling in
tbe city and neighbourhood. People
are perfecriy frantic on the matter.
They run to and fro with every scrap of j
ioformatnn they can collect, and per- j
sons congregate in large groups, with '
horror depicted upon their countenances, I
to discuss the conduct of the convict, and ,
the atrocious crimes of which lie was the I
perpetrator. Business is suspended, and
everything is unheeded save the ap- ;
preaching execution of this enormous
criminal.
erfonts to save rush.
It is a remarkable fnct that many bold
attempts have been made to obtain a
commutation of Rush's sentence. The
Norfolk News, a highly respectable
paper published here, takes the lead in .
this vain movement. It says : — " There j
is hardly a man or a woman within the
walls of our city, who, if assured that .
no practical benefit will be attended by
the execution of Rush, would not gladly
see the sentence remitted, and the cri
minal enjoying the fullest possible op
portunity for that repentance which his
crimes pre-eminently require. There is
hardly an inhabitant of Norwich who
would not breathe more freely, and
inexpressible burden, on Saturday nt
noon, if informed that, without injury
to Ihe public security, Rush's sentence
was commuted. Every one feels in
stinctively that, its supposed necessity
apart, an execution is nothing better
than an ontrage on public decency— a
saturnalia of blackguardism — a violation
of every sentiment of humanity aud
religion." A parly has been formed,
which has been very active in the
county, issuing handbills, addressed to
" men of mercy," praying them to peti
tion against the execution of the convict
Rush. The bill states that " James
Bloomfield Rush (convicted upon doubt
ful evidence) is about to he made the
victim of a tyrannical and bloody law,
which is a disgrace even to the Pro
testant Reformation ; therefore, let all
who do not wilfully countenance legal
murder, now and at once petition for
Rush's life," &c. These persons have
been very active, and have obtained nu
merous signatures to their petition. —
Their statements have been replied lo by
a clergyman in the following terms: —
" The first point I would notice is the
assertion that Rush is convicted upon
doubtful evidence I Who is the man
who had the hardihood to pen
words like these? If he has read
the trial attentively, a conclusion like
this is a proof that ho is utterly incom
petent to weigh evidence, nay, that he
is little bctterthaii „ i
»ot read the evid l'c- lfl
Tnio,i»a3::,cc' i«i
julitim upon as deli! Rtlenipt 3
just a verdict as the e'ate « td
investigation record """j115 of jl
attempt to cast innn!' ' i'J
whose deeds aro so J'1' aroM I
nff'unst h„ma„ity "tr.oclo«s, hi, j
'"'"im family in !orrib|e,
extending a symnati0 y libel J
Rush is to be forni',. !mvard'hil
offended Ai,illor8of u l|
Uy has been , ' , 13 be»ig-4|
smile upon 80 p?eP'j uinJ
Rush not guilty i Ty,e,0Us ? J
Snnford under J 8c<1um1
ami justified t|le17SC-of
P 'unions appeal eJ0UCl,»bjl
nt one time «,t - "" 1
another time -lmB' an
mise to rnarrv his I
wd'cil to hi. mother' , 1
"very sixpence 0f hi c ,.1,1
pcrty, and forced the, , -M
f'cpless .nndpe,,ni|csVg,bl
entered into n coik,,;. , a'|
landlord ? Who fori i"y cbl
ments w f
Jcrmys lived ; Ln„lUw»l
dentil, which could benefit!
much as himself and „ n|
secured to him the tdnnnoy oVkl
flJ»n I«nrm or the
and wore disguises that « lI
would keep ? Why did h
after „ightPheavilyyaite»l
disguised? How is it that arifl
persons who saw a man at ,h J
declare it was Rush, while the i
been so short a time there >,|
know him at nil? Why L J
"ess, Jesse White, £ J 4
quaM-ted with Riish's
that the papers found in the'h.fl
writ cnby Rush? And whi j
of the books from which ft, |
were torn when the two often I
ingto the set were found infl
muse? What induced bin, J
his chamber on his return, and I
Linily bnnfurd to shut herself nil
room, then light a. urge SI
the police surrounded the |,oniel
turn to Snnford and say, "J
Say wa, only out ten minutesl
will hear of something " Whvl
tremble nnd look ghostly JJ
was it that, when he . J
he said that Savory and Sanfordl
ho was out only i„ his slipper,, al
this fact would clc-ar him, when 1
mitted in liis defence that hewj
m his boots ? And what has becl
these boots ? The other pairs aJ
— llieso only are missing! Whrl
bury the cloak in the yard, M hi
fosses he did, lest he should H
pcctcd How was it that he d|
tell the tale of Joe and Dick d
lawyer when he was apprehended
morning f And having tried
trial to inculpate these men, nhyl
yet admit that they did id
petrate the murders? Who col
benefited by these horrible ml
excepting Rush, Larner, sod I
and when the t-vo latter wcrcpil
the witness-box, simple anduiitl
men, how is it that Hush admittfl
innocence by not asking them il
questiun ? Who, besides Rul
written letters about the Jerm;i,|
ing.igiinst them the most mil
hatred and threa'euing to hitl
tnary revenge ? I might go on
questions of this kind ad inU
but I forbear. Hiring myielfil
the trial aud listened attentively H
most overwhelming evidence oH
that ever appalle I ,lhe heart o|
vinced the judgment, I cannot bl
idea that any one should be weak I
tu set up a plea uf innocence in I
of a man "hu is steeped in gnH
most li rnble, for the simple ptuH
advanci ig a popular moremfl
favour of the abolition of capitfl
isliinenls. If deatli for mutdttH
remitted, for pity's sake find oifl
Other case than Hush's lo refer tfl
who would cuinmil seduction, H
and robbery — who could go lfl
English mansion and literally bfl
the hearts of two gentlemen, anfl
best to murder two females— »hfl
cover over his guilt by appeals
Bible, and in his defence call tifl
God to aid hitn in establishing ®
hood and in a multitude of
invoke the Deity to ivilneii to
of his blasphemies— he who cM
these things must find no intuefl
sympathies of those beings rrhjfl
ness he lias unfortunately b«fl
To make liis case the loeeofl
pe- itioning for a repeal of deat«
merits is not only out of >
ridiculous, but it is insulting
temptuous to the great (Wm fl
$