The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-08-12 00:00:00

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THE FORDINGBRIDGE MURDER.

EXECUTION OF GILBERT.

The atrocious oriminal, George Jacob Gilbert, was
executed on Monday morning, at Winchester. The
details of the brutal murder of Miss Marianne Susan
Hall, the only daughter of Mr. Hall, of Midgham
Farm near Fordingbridge, Hampshire, must still
be freish in the recollection of our readers. For the
crime Gilbert was tried at Winchester assizes on the

18th ult., before Mr. Justice Keating, convicted on
strong circumstantial evidence, and sentenced to die,
without hope of mercy. For several days after
his conviction the condemned culprit main-
tained the same stolid and indifferent de-
meanour as he exhibited whilst on his trial;
but after some little time he gradually
became aware of his frightful position, although his
conduct betokened passive resignation rather than
contrition. During the last few days the wretched
man has been very attentive to the religious minis-
trations of the chaplain, and acknowledged that he
was the man who actually committed the murder;
but with reference to the .more heinous offence
alleged against him his statement agreed with the
' medical testimony given at the trial. There seems
to be one difference between the evidence and the
fact as to the dress he had on at the time of the
murder—his blouse being a brown one, not white
(the one in which he was executed) ; and another
man being mistaken for him.
He slept during the greater part of Sunday, and
was attended at an early hoar on Monday morning
by the chaplain. Shortly before eight o'clock
Calcraft, the executioner, was introduced to the
cell, the under-sheriff, the governor, Dr. by ford, the
surgeon, and the Rev. W. Rogers, the chaplain,
having previously informed the miscreant that the
time of his final parting with the world was at band.
The pinioning was soon done, the culprit betraying
but slight emotion ; but as the prison bell tolled
the fatal hour a visible change came over him. On
leaving the cell he was barely able to support himself
while passing through the passages to the court-yard
leading to the gateway; he, however, mounted the
stairs with apparent firmness. The appearance of the
melancholy procession on the scaffold caused a
slight movement on the part of the assembled
multitude in front of the gaol, and the unhappy
wretch cast a mournful glance on the crowd below.
Calcraft's dreadful duty was quickly performed,
and the drop fell with a dull, heavy sound, respon-
ded to by an audible groan from the crowd. The
miserable man was much convulsed, but died com-
paratively easily ; and, after hanging the usual time,
the body was font down and buried within the
precincts of the gaol
It was computed that nearly 10,000 persons were
present at the execution.
RINGWOOD. —FORESTRY.—On Tuesday last the
annual meeting of the member' of the Ancient
Order of Foresters of this town held their annual
festival. Having assembled in the lodge room they
formed a procession headed by a band, and bearing
flags, banners, and the usual paraphernalia of the
Order. On arriving at the church the Rev. Cl.
Harrison, curate, officiated ; and after divine service
the brethren again perambulated the town in the
same order as before. The dinner was served up in
a marquee erected in the park of J. C. Johns, Esq.,
by host Paull, in very excellent style. The chair
was taken by .J. C. Johns, Esq., supported by the
Rev, Cl. Harrison, and Dr. Dyer, the medical officer
of the Court. After dinner the usual loyal and
patriotic toasts were drunk with enthusiasm, after
which were proposed " Success to the High Court of
Foresters," "The South Western district of
Foresters," "Success to the Court 1881," "The
health of the Chairman and of the various officers of
the lodge," &c. Altogether a very happy day was
spent by the brethren and friends.