Biddle Pays the Penalty.

NZ Truth, Issue 444, 20 December 1913, Page 3

Biddle Pays the Penalty.

Hangman 'q Farmer.

(From "Truth's" ClJrtstchurch P.cp)

At eight o'clock last Saturday morning m the .Lyttelton Gaol, AKred Mortram Blddlo was. dropped iulo eternity m vengeance of the murder of Rosanna liilley at May field on v •!•• tober 15. During Blddle'a respite of 26 days m the condemned cell at T-yttelton his only visitor, apart from the ministers of religion, was his father, who k-xw him shortly afl«r lie was sentenced to death. During his incarceration at Lyttolton Biddle was quite reconciled to his ! ultimate and t!»e night uefore the execution ho wunt to sleep at 9.30. Ho awoke at 6.30 the next morning and intimated to the Rev. Rulo that he was ready for the end and wouM "do ! his best" on tho scttffold. o« U> e scaffold, before the hemp was adjusted, Biddlo muttered that he had something to cay. The white cap was removed and ho said quietly but reso- \ lutcly, "I thank the Lord Jesus Chrint as my Saviour." The hangman was n farmer. .Ho said ho had volunteered to porform t!)e task, not on account of any financial benefit he might derive thereby, but from a sanso of public duty. It is stated that a hangman's fr>a ; ordinarily is about £25 or £30.