The execution of William Lees, couvicted at the last session
of the Crinnual Court, of murdering his wife in a fit of drunken phrensy, took place at the Old Bailey on Monday. There was an immense crowd of persons in the street fronting the scaffold, many of whom had secured standing-room as early as three o'clock in themorning. There were the 'usual scenes of intoxication among the crowd, iucreascd by many noted thieves. An attempt had been made to prove the murderer in- sane, 'but upon slight and insufficient grounds. He fully confessed his guilt, and recounted the particulars of the crime. He knocked his wife 'down, out her throat with a razor, and then battered her head with a poker which she had seized to strike hint with. Letters, written by Lees shortly before his execution, expressing penitence and confidence in an immediate translation to everlasting happiness in heaven, have been published in the newspapers and hawked about in the streets.
• An inquest was held on Wednesday on the corpse of James Lewis, an artist, who lodged at No. 11, James's Place, Hampstead Bond. He died from inanition ; having literally starved himself to death, though , possessed of a considerable sum in ready money, and other property. The Jury agreed that his death was occasioned "by refusing himself ,nourishment necessary to sustain life."
• An inquest was held on Monday on the body of Charles Molloy, who had been refused admission into St. Luke's and into St. Andrew's .Workhouses, though in a state of extreme destitution, because he did not belong to either parish,. and the Relieving-officersdid not consider him to be absolutely dying from want of food.
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