GHASTLY SCENE ON A SCAFFOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

GHASTLY SCENE ON A SCAFFOLD.

Alfbfd Sowery, the young man who murdered his sweetheart at Preston in May, was executed at Lancaster on a yecent Monday. The Lancashire Evening Post has the following account of the closing scene in Sowery's life " The scaffold was built in the chapel yard immediately in front of the chapel entrance, and was largely occupied by the awful looking structure. Our representative and two other members of the Press were admitted into the Castle at twenty-five minutes •jo eight by the iron gateway, which is built singular to say, in the very point where prisoners made their exit on the way to the scaffold when the executions were public. At a quarter to eight o'clock St. Mary's Church bell commenced tolling and continued till the black flag had been hoisted. In the ehapel yard was Berry, the executioner, in helmet and slippers, awaiting the summon! to the condemned cell. Berry, it appeared, after presenting himself at the castle on Sunday, remained all night at the Commercial Hotel, which he left shortly after seven o'clock on Monday morning. The prisoner went to rest on Sunday night about ten o'clock, up to which hour he had been attended by the chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. H. F. Smith. Shortly after six o'clock on Monday morning, Sowery, who had passed a restless night, rose from his bed. He was considerably agitated, exceedingly pale, and exhibited convulsive movements of his arms and legs. Indeed, he had to be supported for some time by the chaplain, who visited him by arrangement at seven o'clock. The condemned man seemed to have completely lost the comparative calmness which had characterised him the previous day.' He has taken' his food regularly and has gained in physical condition since sentence of death was passed upon him. At seven minutes to eight the chaplain left the cell of the culprit, passed across the chapel yard to the room ot the Visiting Justices, where he attired himself in his surplice. Meanwhile Berry entered cell, along with warders, and found the prisoner in a very excited condition. He appeared horror-stricken, and was ghastly pale, and resisted the process of pinioning somewhat violently. He had to be held by the atten. dant warders, so convulsed was he with agitation and fear. The chaplain having robed, went back to Sowery, and the solemn procession commenced to the scaffold. The prisoner made the most violent resistance all the way, and had to be held up by no less than five warders. He repeatedly put his foot down in front of him and tried to force himself back. He, however, was with every care and kindness quietly assisted along by the warders. The procession was headed by the chaplain : then came Mr. Artindale, the under sheriff; Mr. Shenton, the head warder ; Dr. W. WiDgate Saul and Dr. Clarke, the medical officers of the prison. Afterwards came five warders, supporting the prisoner, and Berry, the executioner. About two minutes to eight could be heard the solemn voice of the chaplain reading the burial service of the Church of England. In about a moment the procession emerged from the small door at one corner of the chapel yard. The condemned man was rapidly uttering exclamations of horror, but nothing of a coherent nature could be gathered from what he said. He lowered his head and resisted the warders up to the last moment; he had literally to bo carried up the seven steps of the chapel, and up two stairs leading to the scaffold. Considering the difficulties they had to contend with, the execution was conducted as humanely as it could be by all concerned. When on the scaffold Sowery threw his head forward, and it was with a giresit effort that Berry succeeded in placing the rope (around his neck and in pinioning his legs, so violent was his resistance. Instantly tbis had been accomplished, Berry drew over Sowery's face a white cap, and at once got off the scaffold, turned the wheels releasing the levers, and the man fell. Death appeared to take place directly. There were a few muscular twlt« cbea p apparent for about a moment, and then all was still. The executioner states that he has occupied the office for four years and has.never experienced so much difficulty in carrying out his duty on any previous occasion. Nothwithstanding this, he behaved himself with remarkable coolness and steadiness. So violent was Sowery's conduct in resisting the pinioning of his legs that Berry slightly strained his arm. The chaplain informs us that the prisoner behaved himself remarkably well, and so far as his own relatives were concerned, he had bid them adieu. In answer to an inquiry made by the Rev. Mr. Smith to the prisoner as to whether he had any message to leave, Sowery stated that he wished the chaplain to send a letter to the parents of the deceased girl in Ireland, expressing his deep contrition and sorrow for the pain and bereavement he have caused them. During a conversation, the chaplain had with Sowery, he (the Rev. Mr. Smith) had always represented the girl as a virtuous and good young womau, and the prisoner expressed his anxiety that Mr. Smith should in the letter also explain to the parents the high sense which he (Sowery) had of the girl s personal character.