TWO DEATH STONES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 8

TWO DEATH STONES.

GRUESOME LONDON FIND.

WHEN DICKENS WAS SHOCKED

Tho discovery of two small memorial stories in tire London County Council weights and measures office, Sonthwark, which stands on the site of the old Horsemonger Lane gaol, has thrilled thousands of Dickens lovers. These two 'stones, measuring 14in. by 9in. by 2in thick, and marked "F.G.M., Exd. 13th Novr., 1849," and "M.M., Exd. 13th Novr., 1849," are the gravestones of Frederick George Manning and Maria, Manning, the central figures in one of tho most famous murder trials of tho nineteenth century, whoso execution was witnessed by Charles Dickens and 50,000 Londoners. The .stories, which wero unearthed fiy Mr. George Young, a governor of the Soulhwark Polytechnic, and an authority oti Houlliwark history, while inspecting tho site of the old gaol, have been in the ollice, unrecognised, for many years. It. was as 'a result of Dickens' experience at the execution that he started an agitation against public hangings, which, according to Dickensiars, had the effect of ridding London of these ghastly specUric.'. Dickens wrote to the Times on November L 5, 1049: "I was a witness of (he execution at llorsernonpor Lane this morning. I we ill," there with Hie intention of observing the crowd gathered to behold it. . . . I'he horrors of the gibbet and of the crime which brought the wretched murderers to it, fad'-d in niy mind before the atrocious bearing, looks and language of tin; assembled spectators. . . Fightings, faintings, whistlings, imitations of Punch avid brul.il jukes added a new zest to the entertainment. "When the two miserable creatures who attracted all this ghastly sight were turned quivering into the air, there was no more thought that two immortal souls had gone to judgment, no more restraint in any of the previous obscenities than if the name of Christ had never been heard in this world: . . . .And when in our prayers and thanksgiving for the season we are humbly expressing before God our desire to remove the moral evils of ♦ r,o laud, .1 would ;isk your readers to consider whether it'is not a time to think of this one and to root it out."