The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-09-11 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF THE ALDERSHOT
MURDERER.

On Monday morning, at eight o'clock, the final sentence of
the law was eairieo into effeet,utsbie the County Prison, Win-
eln-ater, on William Dix., who, it will be remembered was
condemned to death on the 18th of last month for the wilful
murder of Corporal Win. Brett The following are the leading
circninsiances of the case
The culprit was stationed with his regiment, the 7th
Royal Fusiliers, at the camp at Aldershot, and OCell.
pied part of in hut of which his victim was the corporal
in charge. Brett had to report Dixon several
times for trifling breaches of discipline, but not mole
than, or, indeed, so much as, other non-commissioned
officers had Mine, under whom Dixon was from time
to time. On the 211th of July some of the men of
, the regiment were engaged in filling the mattresses,
but the culprit and a comrade, named Hen-hall,
left their duty and went away to the canteen,
where they were found drinking, and from
whence they were fetched by Corporal Brett to com
tinue the work. After it was done Dixon and Hens
shall went and had more drink, and on returning to the
but Henshall got his rifle from the rack, and on being
asked what he was going to do made use of threats
against Brett, declaring he would "put his light out
before night." Seeing that he was under the influence
of drink he was removed to the guard-room, and very
soon afterwards Dixon was seen in the act of hand-
ling his rifle, and, as the deceased was approaching
the hut, he levelled the weapon at him. One of his
comrades, named Adams, called out to him to miud
what he was about, upon which the culprit pointed
the rifle at him, and said that he should have the I
contents of it if he interfered. Dixon then levelled
his gun at the corporal just as he was entering the
hut, and shot him through the bead, killing him on
the spot. After the occurrence Dixon quietly gave up
his rifle, saying at the time, "Now I am satisfied ; tve
done it." After his committal to the County Prison he
was asked what he was brought there for, and he Te-
-1 plied "for shooting Corporal Brett." The deputy.
governor of the prison said that was a bad job, and In-
quired how it came about, to which Dixon replied,
• Well, he was always bullying me." He also r,ferre, I
to the same subject when he asked the sch.silinaater of
the gaol to write a letter to his mother, and tell her
that Cirporal Brett had acted like a tyrant to him.
At that time such was the only reaoin he at all gave
for the commission of the not. It in only just to state
that at the trial the murdered man was proved to have
been a kind, humane, and conviderste man to those
under him. Subsequently, as Dixon was being brought
to Winchester to take his trial he Retuned to be very
unhappy, and spoke in most affectionate terms of his
mother, at the same time saying that drink was the
cause of what had happened.
The culprit was brougnt down the name evening he
was convicted, and ever since he has been under
charge his general conduct has been very orderly and
most attentive to all instruction given to him. o
was, however, exceedingly retsina d, but evidently fel'
his position a ivied deal, especialiy towards the loot
few days. On Sanday he received Holy Communion,
and afterwards wrote the following statement, and
made, as will be seen, an earnest request that his last
word. should be made public
Dixon, now tying under sentence of death for