Shocking Scene at an Execution

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 14, 5 February 1884, Page 3

Shocking Scene at an Execution

Henry Dutton, 22, was hanged at • Kirkdale prison, Liverpool, oq 3rd December, for the murder of his wife's grahdmother, 71 years of age^ Binns the executioner, and the black flag was hoisted two, minutes after thp prison dock -had' struck eight. The mode adopted by Binns. " it is stated, unnecessarily prolonged; the agony of Dutton: -.'1 he convict underwent the ordeal of pinioning w^th the utmost calmness, imd ascepded ..the steps tp the" scaffold without any sfspn of weakness or agitation. When he arrived under the beam he glanced down at the small knot of people jo the eonvtyard, md then ih a voice distinct and witbput tremor, repeated prayers after .the chaplain. Just as he "mmid, "Lord, receive my spill," Binns stepped aside, and band on the lever, waited a few seconds till the clock struck, t'<en drew the bolt and ' the drop fell., The body turned round acferal, jip^w. and twitphed convulsively r for about two minutes. Ihe doctor said, " "I'hW'isj poor work ; he iinot"de«d~al all;*' and , then felt the convict's pulseVWhi<ih did not cease <_ heat for eight minutes ; after the » drop Ipil. At >the inquest Mr Baker j the. doctor, and the governor ofthe saol (Major Lejrg-^tt) both com-plnfi-ed bt the way in which Binns nil done the work, qtod said the rope was much too thick and the drop not long enough for the thickness of , •the rope, the result being •that the vertebra of the neck was not broken, and the nan died from strangulation In reply to tlie. coroner, -the <ioveriioi ttkityi that he -had no reason tc . t sopn^^n^;!w^not > fipber,, hut>;he oert^ntjo.^'^ n^ the way i in wn^chl'he ©arriedy out -the • exeoutior, He seemed to adjust the' rope in a ▼cry * bjangling!!.. mjin^iM^Jii (the governor) did not like it at all .-. Tb-Oi|y "I Vi '-isssMi. ? e *3 l fii^^taji^^ ;"; .tr.my '■ '.ii;*. i .i.i^vn-^.i.-.i^i^.''-"-''"-"-'' M:»,Mif-c y->£.;:--:-«--^-f-- ;t/ fA": - > +