SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT AN EXECUTION.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1088, 19 September 1883, Page 2

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT AN EXECUTION.

A sailor named James Burton, 33 years of age, was executed within the walls of the Durham Gaol, on August 6, for the murder of Elizabeth Sharpe, at Tnnstall, near Sunderland, on May 8. When the drop fell a violent swinging of the rope indicated that something was wrong. Marwood caught hold of the rope, and with the assistance of a warder pulled it up. It was found that the rope had slipped up from the man’s neck half way over his face, pushing the white cap upwards, and had also got round his arras. His face wore a fearful expression of pain. The rope was again adjusted round his neck and drawn tight, and the executioner pushed him down the pit. One account states that' this time death ensued at once ; another that the man struggled violently for fully two minutes before he died. Burton made a full confession of his guilt on the previous morning. At the inquest on the body Marwood was called, and in answer to questions, stated that the culprit was fainting just as the lever was about to be raised, and that his leaning over to one side caused the slack of the rope to become entangled with his arm, and it required a sitting position before the rope could be put right. The whole work, he said, did not occupy more than half a minute longer than usual. A similar accident might be avoided in future by a couple of planks being placed across the cavity. The jury returned the usual formal verdict, and blamed no one for the occurrence.— European Mail.