SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT AN EXECUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6829, 6 October 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT AN EXECUTION.

A sailor, named James Burton, 33 years o f age, was executed within the walls of Durham Gaol, on August 6, for the murder of Elizabeth Sharpe, at Tunatall, near Sunderland, on May 8. Wlu-n the drop fell a violent swinging of the rope indicated that somethino was wrong. Marwood caught hold of the rope, and with the assistance of a warder pulled it up. It was found that the rope had slipped up from the man's neck half-way over j the white cap upwards, and had also got round his arms. His face wore a fearful expression of pain. The rope was again adjusted round his neck and drawn tight,_and the executioner pushed him down the pit. One account stateß that this time death ensued at once; another that the man struggled violently for fully two minutes be-cu-k e Burton made a full confession of his guilt on the previous morning. At the inquest on the body Marwood was called and, m answer to quistion, stated that thecul'prit was fainting just at the lever was about to be raised, and that his leaning over to one aide caused the slack of the rope to become entanged with his arm, and it required a sitting position before the rope could be put right. The whole work, he said, did not occupy more than half a minute loncer than usual. A similar accident mi-'ht be avoided in future by a couplo of planks beins placed across the cavity. The jury returned the usual formal verdict, and blamed no one tor the occurrence.