THE HORRIBLE SCENE AT AN EXECUTION IN KIRKDALE GAOL.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 248, 11 December 1873, Page 2

THE HORRIBLE SCENE AT AN EXECUTION IN KIRKDALE GAOL.

TiiEHK have been few scenes even on tbe scaffold, remarks the Manchester Examiner (Sept. 9), so utterly horrible as that which wns w.tnessed by a few sickened spectators yesterday morning within the precincts of Kirkdale gaol. Preparations had been made for the execution of a man named James Connor, who was convicted at the recent Liverpool assizes for a street murder. The prisoner exhibited great fortitude on the scaffold, but when the bolt was drawn the rope snapped, or the noose slipped, nnd the prisoner fell some dmtnnce to the ground. He fell heavily, and doubtless was in great pain. But, as may be imagined, his physical sufferings were mild compared with his mental agonies. All his fortitude deserted him, and he begged hard for mercy. But justice is rigorous, if her executioners are Ipitiful bunglers, and a fresh rope hiiving been procured, Connor was duly done to death according to law. It seems, however, that he was not satisfied with his ultimate doom. He had a confused notion that hai ing momentarily evaded his fate, he was entitled at least to his life. A murderer himself, he turned to his executioners, and exclaimed, "Don't you call this murder ? After this, you should let me off." There is something remarkable in the nice balance of the chances between life and death which occured in the case of thu prisoner. At the trial, the jury were desirous of returning jv \erdict of " Manslaughter," but, ailing on thendweeof the judge, they reconsidered the question. They afterwards returned into court, the foreman stating that they could not agree, but, being sent back, they found a verdict of "Wilful murder," after a protracted absence. The actual circumstances of the execution were of sufficiently depressing character, but they appear to have excited gratitude in one bosom, "Thank God, the rope was not our!" a highs official is reported to have ejaculated. The moral is not a lofty one, but tlie official mind would be sorely set to extract a better out of so deplorable an incident. There are some matters in which accidents simply cannot be permitted, and this is one of them. If Calcraft and those who employ him cannot between them guard against such a frightful breach of the spirit of the law under which they act, then the law must see whether it has no remedy againt them. Anything, even tho abolition of capital punishment, would be better than the risk of these mischances, which arc of a nature to make every individual in tho community sicken at the thought of hit indirect responsibility for their occurrence.