Date: 1871
An extremely disagreeable circumstance occurred shortly before the period which is usually allowed to men in their unfortunate situation.  The floor of the scaffold, from some previous misarrange ment, gave way, and precipitated into the area of the apparatus , Messrs " Vilette and Gaffy, the latter a Catholic priest, who attended Clinch, and thc two executioners; Mr. Sheriff Stains had himself a very narrow escape.  Mr. Gaffy being a lusty man was severely hurt, as were both the executioners : Mr Vilette escaped with a slight bruise.