Scene at an Execution.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1616, 23 January 1886, Page 2

Scene at an Execution.

' The execution of Robert "Goodale, 45, gardener, for the murder of his wife, Bathsheba, en 15tk September,, a$ Waispkeri, XnearT Wiabech.H -jbyj Hn*flictiiJj£} / wounds on her head and thwttirowing^ her, down a well, took place inside Norwich Castle. Beriy, J&jßfad^M,Owa* the executioner. Only one representative of the press was admitted. Sine* his committal, the prisoner's conduct has been most exemplary. He made con- . fession of • bis guilt, but pleaded extra/ I.'1 .' ordinafy provocation, alleging yiiryO'imV -i moral conduct on' the part of, the.d^-,' 1 ceased. The Rev. Thotnag -Wheeler*" a"; Baptist minister j attended upon Goodale . daring the week before the execution*/ At three minutes to 8 Goodale was brought from the condemned cell and met ; by thef executioner, who r quickly phsion.ea « jiunv j[ Tbi ! procesiiotf /tffenF ) moved on towards the jcaffold, J whicH -* was erected over a deep pit. The acting under-sheriff and jgaol JB^irgeon were present. When the rope was put round the convict's neck, and_the_cap over hi* face, he was heard to exclaim, •* Good Godj receive/ my,!soui!", , Berry then .., pulled'aside rhe lever, and the tra^p door ' ' fell a^ay, and' Goodale, .who weign«wl ; i{^. stone and 'had' a 6ft' drop,- disappeared. '•" To the horror of the bystanders the roppi-j rebounded, and it waa- thought thai it had; become unfastened,; . b.ut upon the the bvstanflers looking ! iatd tne pit, they were' 'hbrrified ; t6' see the decapitated trunk of the convict. r At* the ; inquest en the: body, the< executioner. and the gaol surgeon were examined as to what nad <: occurred. Both the governor of tfie~g4ol " : * and Berry stated that.the machinery of the, drop was m perfect order^nfl worked . satisfactorily;^^ Jßerry : r rsajd^iif after pinioning Gfodflai^ .., jife "^walked - him towards the^ dropj -wheii, being_rather frightened he faltered, so ho hadlS puth him forward; Softer she usaal he [asked Goodale if he hstd" anything to say. He answered, "No." Berry pulled the lever, and' Goodale' dropped froni thrff" top to the bgttpm of tiie,pit, .wbicii iri» life din deep. "Hig Head came oIE at clean ailf cu>i withj a knfie. The head rand body fell together/ Berry said ithef. length of the- drop was not nnusua], ,f or at Durham he gaye Lowson, who weifine'S'' 16 stone, anßrt drop. The ro^e did not breaK. p^r|jf cjould^ofilj aepQunt **fot , Jirhat had occurred by Goodale having/a/ thin vertebra. ' Mf-JRebirisonjithe gaol siirgeon, said Berry, who wai perfectly :spbef, carried^ but hit dutiei coo%uand" properly. Om, the ; .drop fi filing ■" he saw the head separfttn from the b °dy-i j: wasinßtantaneoas. W^** .pepurred could not liaye' Tbfecri fdrefeenvi* The long drop and^dec'apftation was a most merciful death-^mtrch more merciful than' a ; -Bhort -drop and? ' allowihe Jg pers6n t6 struggle. Thet juryv/pjand, the , ; customary iverdioti and. saidne, one" wa'ii " jto blame. ' ..._ ;..._ ;■"■ '•■'■"'• ■ i;,,; ,,i