EXECUTION OF A HARDENED criminal;

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 599, 18 November 1869, Page 4

EXECUTION OF A HARDENED criminal;

(Prom The Times.)

Jonah Dethridge was executed for the wilful murder of a warder at the Portland convict establishment within the walls of the county prison at Dorchester. The prisoner's life reveals a long series of offences against the law, and a considerable portion of his existence has been passed in gaol. He was a native of Wednesbury, and although only 20 years of age when sentenced to penal servitude by the magistrates at the Stafford Sessions iv January, 1865, it was stated that he had been summarily convicted no less than 11 times previously, The offence of which he was charged was that of stealing from (he person of Annie Morris Constable a purse, and the sum of Is lid, at Great Barr, on the 11th of November, 1864, and the Court, taking into consideration the number of previous convictions, sentenced him to seven years' penal servitude. During his six months' probation in Stafford Gaol his conduct was reported to have been good, and on the 15th of May, 1865, he was sent to Pentonville, where he remained six months before being transferred io Portland. Here the convict seems to have borne a uniformly bad character, and was so sullen and obstinate that the warders had frequently to report him for insubordination. On the 23rd of March last he was engaged with ■, others in the erection of a bastion on the Verne fortifications, when the warder in charge of the gang spoke to him in reference to his work, Dethridge sullenly i replied that he should do his work as he pleased, anil used other insolent language towards Trerett, who was then standing on the embrasure of the bastion, about Bft. from the basement, About an hour after the altercation occurred, the convict, armed with a heavy pointed stone pick, crept up the embankment, and, stealing behind the unsuspecting warder, dealt him a terrible blow on the head, knocking him insensible into the battery. The cowardly Attack was followed up in the most savage manner, the convict leaping down to the spot where the officer lay, and striking him two terrific blows, which completely battered the poor fellow's skull. The other convicts hastened to the rescue, but not in time to avert the dreadful outrage, and the unfortunate Trevett died while being conveyed to the prison hospital. The prisoner made no attempt to escape, and, after an official investigation at the establishment, he was committed for trial at the Dorset Summer Assizes on the 25th nit., when he was sentenced to death by Mr Justice Lush. He seemed to treat the affair with the utmost indifference, and even smiled contemptuously as the learned Judge assumed the black cap previous to delivering sentence of death. Since his condemnation he maintained a sullen, obstinate demeanor, which nothing peemed to ruffle, and up to the last he manifested no concern whatever as to the awful doom which awaited him. The Rev, Li B, Watson, as chaplain of the gaol, was unceasing in his efforts to impress upon his mind the solemnity of his position, but without avail. He was also visited by the Rev. J. Mann, Wesleyan minister, to which denomination the wretched man professed to have belonged ; but although ' he listened with' apparent interest while the minister read passages of Scripture to him, he became suddenly vicious when the faintest allusion was made tohiß crime and .approaching punishment; The spot selected for the execution Was what is known as the "Trial Ward, No. 2," and is completely shut in from public view. The scaffold Was about four feet from the ground, with the beam over head, and the only spectators were the Governor (Mr :J. D. V. Lawrance), his deputy, the Under Sheriff, a few of the warders, aud the representatives .of the Press. Calcraft arrived in Dorchester by the Great Western train, about 5 o'clock on Wednesday evening, and proceeded ,at once to the gaol. During the night the condemmed man slept well, anil the warders were compelled to awake him about half past six o'clock? He, ate a more h,e^rty breakfast than on any morning since hia, incarceration, and seemed Utterly indifferent up id the last moment. The Under-Sheriff (Mr Thomas Ooombs\ accompanied; by his officers, arrived at the prison at half-past 7, and was met at the tloor by the Governor (Mr L. D. V. Lawrance). Precisely at a quarter to 8 the prison bell was tolled,' and. the procession, consisting of constables, gaol officials, and reporters, proceeded to the misdemeanour- ¥fa.pd, where, the. convict Stood with his hands behind him, and apparently in a deep reverie. He looked sullenly at Calcraft during the process of pinioning, but never manifested the slightest sympton of fear. On reaching the yard where the scaffold had been erected the prisoner made an effort to run up the steps, but his bonds, interfered, ' and he fell heavily against the railings, He was assisted by Calcraft, find he placed himself under, the beam with the utmost self-possession, In reply to the entreaties of the Rev. Mr Mann he exclaiiried that he did not want any one to. pray for him, and looking round on the few whom duty had called to witness the spectacle, he exclaimed '■•"What «ffe_ all these fellows, here for ? Are they come, to save me r He reluctantly shook hands, with the minister and Calcraft, and the wardens having retired from the. scaffold, the wretched man was lauuqhed into eternity, Death was instantan§oui3, and Jthere was but little movement of the. body after the bolt was drawn. . . .After, hanging the usual time the body waa cut down, and an inquest held by Mr H, Lock, Deputy Coroner for the district, The body was. then buried in the ground attached to. the gaol,