SCENE AT AN EXECUTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2122, 13 February 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCENE AT AN EXECUTION.

The execution of Robert Goodale, 45, gardener, for the murder of his wife, Bathsheba, an 15th September, at Waisoken, near Wisbeach, by inflicting wounds on her head and then throwing her down a well, took place inside Norwich Castle. Berry, of Bradford, was the executioner. Only one representative of the prcs3 was admitted. Since his committal, the prisoner's conduct has been most exemplary. He made confession of his guilt, but pleaded extraordinary provocation, alleging very immoral conduct on the part of the deceased The Rev. Thoiras Wheeler, a Bapist minister, attended upon Goodale during a week before the execution. At three minutes to 8 Goodale was brought from the condemned cell and met by the executioner, who quickly pinioned him. The procession then moved on towards the scaffold, which was erected over a deep pit. The acting iinder-sheriffand gaol surgeon were present. When the rope was put round the convict's neck, and the cap over his face, he was heard to exclaim, "Good God, receive my soul !" Berry then pulled aside the lever, and the trap door fell away, and Goodale, who weighed 13 stone and had a 6ft drop, disappeared. To the horror of the bj*tauders the rope rebounded, and it was thought that it had become unfastened, but upon the bystanders looking into the pit, they were horrified to see the decapitated trunk ofjthe convict. At the inquest on the tody, the executioner and the gaol surgeon were examined as to what had occurred. Both the governor of the gaol and Berry stated that the machinery of the drop was in perfect order and worked satisfactorily. Berry said that after pinioning Goodale he walked him towards the drop, when, being rather frightened he faltered, so he bad to push him forward. After the usual routine, he asked Goodale if he had anything to say. He answered, 4I No " Berry pulled the lever, and Goodale dropped from the top to the bottom of tho pit, which was lift Sin deep. His head came off as clean as if cut with a knife. The head and body fell together. Berry said the length of the drop was not unusual, for at Durham he gave Lowson, who weighed 16 stone, an Bft drop. The rope did not break. Berry could only account for what had occurred by Goodale having a thin vertebra. Mr Robinson, the gaol surgeon, said Berry, who «vas perfectly sober, carried out his duties coolly and properly. On the drop falling he saw the head separate from the body. Death was instantaneous. What occured could not have been foreseen, The long drop and decapitation was a most merciful death — much more merciful than a short drop and allowing a person to struggle. The jury found the customary verdict, and said no one was to blame.

The Murderer Thurtkll.— Policescrjeant Purkis. Herts Constabulary, in charge of the Police-station at Rickmanswoith, was on Monday presented with the handcuffs which were placed upon John Thurtell, the murderer of Mr William Weare, at the latter end of October, 1823, by Charles Foster, the parish constable at that time stationed there. Thomas Thurtell, the brother of John Thurtell, was previously apprehended by Foster in bod at GiU's-hill cottage, Aldenham, near where the murder was committed, and Foster placed the same pair of handcuffs upon him. The prisioner, it will be in the recollection of some persons, was discharged, whilst John Tburtell suffered the extreme penalty of the law at Hertford. Hunt, an accomplice, turned King's evidence, and was sentenced to transportation for life. Probort, another accomplice, was acquitted George Foster, retired postal letter-carrier, a son of the late constable, made the presentation to Purkis. Death From Running. — A. despatch from Chicago, dated Nov. 13, says a large portly man, about 70 years of age, boarded the Illinois Central south-bound train last night at Sixteenth street very much excited aud out of breath. The man's face was ghastly pale, but almost instantly became a deep dark red, and his head feli to one side. Trainmen and passengers sprang to his relief, but the man was dead. He was taken off the train at Twenty-second street, and carried into the station, Mrs Logan, of Hyde Park, who was waiting at the station, recognised the dead man as A. C. Boyd, of Worcester, Mass. His mysterious death had beeu partly explained by a person who saw him running to catch the train. He was late, and ran across the Lake-front as he saw the train slacking up at the station. Being a stranger, he did not know of the existence of a wire fence along the tracks, and did not see it iv the dark. He ran full against the wires and was thrown backward, but picked himself up and got on the train. He weighed nearly 200 pounds, and the exertiou of running, together with the shock of his fall, probably brought on heart disease or apoplexy. Mr Boyd leaves a widow and three married daughters in Worcester. In the Sailors' Hospital, at Greenwich, England, there is a collection of curiosities, among which is exhibited Nelson's coat, in which be was killed, at the battle of T>f*lgaj,