EXECUTION OF JOYCE

Grey River Argus, 5 January 1946, Page 5

EXECUTION OF JOYCE

LONDON, Jan. 3 The last people to see William Joyce before his execution, were his wife, who was brought specially from Holloway prison, his brother, Quentin, and his sister. Each saw him separately and said good-bye. The execution was carried out by Albert Pierrepont, who hanged the Belsen torturers and John Amery. Joyce was wearing a navy blue suit that he wore during the trial. He was able to walk to the gallows, although he 'was rather shaky. The hanging took place at 9 a.m. A bus load of sailors passed the prison gates shortly before the. execution. One shouted: “Hang him as high as you can.” Extra police were on duty, but there was no demonstration. A crowd of about 250 lined the frosty pavements outside the prison until a warder posted an official announcement that the -Sentence had been carried out. r out sympathisers of Joyce were among the early arrivals. The sympathisers walking behind a clump of trees, stood with their hats raised as the clock at a distant church struck nine. Qne told a Press Association reporter that he visited Joyce in Brixton prison, where Joyce “behaved as you would expect a man of destiny to deport himself—in a manner in keeping with his place in history, io hang Joyce is ridiculous He is a German citizen. It is like H lll ® l hanging one of our men lor derending his own country. PRAYERS FOR JOYCE. (Rec. 8.0.) LONDON, January 4. Relatives and friends of William Joyce, including his brother Quinton, gathered at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrow's, in Fulham Road, London, and there attended a private Mass, while his execution was in progress. One of the prjests said that the relatives and friends prayed for the repose of Joyce’s soul while the death sentence was being carried out. It is possible that the authorities will bury Joyce in the cemetery of Wandsworth prison.