MURDERERS END.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10908, 28 May 1929, Page 7

MURDERERS END.

FACES EXECUTION BRAVELY,

FINAL SCENES IN LIVERPOOL

TRAGEDY

The solemn striking of a deeptoned bell, that sent a spasmodic wave of emotion over a large crowd, composed chiefly of Avomen, and girls, standing outside AY a 1 ton Prison, Liverpool, last month, announced the execution of Joeepli Reginald Clarke (20), the “hypnotic” youth, who killed Airs Fontaine and then made a murderous attack upon her daughter Alary, his sAveetheart. Long before the time fixed. for tho execution over 200 .people gathered outside the prison. Aliss Alary I*outaiue arrived -at St... Bernards Church. Kingsley Road, at /.JO a.m. for Mass,- and left an hour later a pathetic figure, with tear-stained face, dressed in deepest mourning. Clarke had stated in a filial interview that he'would face' his execution bravely. He kept his word, and when Pierpoint and liis assistant entered the cell he did everything to expedite their grim Av-ork- From the condemned cell to the scaffold,is but a few yards, and this space Avas tiavrrsed V)y tho litle procession m /V few seconds. WOAIAN’S STRANGE RE'AIARK. As the prison hell announced the carrying out of f the death sentenceseveral women in the crowd were seen to be in tears. Two warders came out soon afterwards. followed by Father Lane, the Roman Catholic prison chaplain, who had been offering consolation to Clarke, who joined the .Roman. Catholic faith a few days before the end. A woman ran to the priest and spoke excitedly to him. “f cannot talk to you now,” replied Father Lane. Turning to her friends, the woman exclaimed. '“1 believe a miracle has happened.” It; is not known Avhat she meant. The executioner tvas William Pierpoint. assisted by Henry Pollard. Dr. J. M. Ahern, medical officer at the prison, said, in answer to the Coroner, that death was instantaneous. The jury brought in a verdict of “Deatli by judicial hanging .in accordance with the law.” A letter to Clarke from the Home Secretary stated that lie was not able to interfere- with the sentence of death, was produced. The tragedy Avhich brought Clarke to the gallows occurred on. Sunday morning, October 28, in a house in Northbrook Street, Liverpool, Arliere he had been lodging. He attacked Mrs Alice F'ontaine, a widow aged fifty-five, and strangled her. He then ivcnt upstairs to the bedroom of Aliss Alary Agnes Fontaine, her daughter and his sweetheart, and attempted to kill her by similar means. The girl escaped and ran into the street. Clarke immediately confessed his crimeAliss F'ontaine. who had paid frequent visits to him tvhile in .the. condemned eel], sent, a personal letter to the King appealing for. his_ life to he spared. She had a final interview with Clarke the day before- ho tvas executed.

LESSONS IN HYPNOTISM. Clarke was a young man of remarkable character. Aged only 20. lie was a. wireless engineer, born at King's Lynn. Norfolk. At the age of sixteen, after showing great promise at school, he Avent to America, where he. took lessons in plisyehology and hypnotism.’ ... Returning to England, lie gave out that he Avas a hypnotist, and started love-making on a wholesale scale. A number of girls avlio" knew him lun-e declared that he laid a magnetic personality. He became knoAvn as the youth Avith a hundred lovens, and boasted that more girls were in love Avith him than there- are days in the vear.

Letters and poems which he wrote show him to have possessed considerable- literary ability.. and his drawings displayed much talent. . He insisted on pleading “Guilty” at his trial, and Air Justice Finlay sentenced him to death. It was ono of the shortest murder trials on record. lasting only four and a half minutes.