The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-05 00:00:00

HORRIBLE SCENE ON THE
SCAFFOLD.

The execution of Robert Goodale, 45, gardener,
for the murder of his wife, Bathsheba, on September
15, at Walsoken, near Wisbeach, by inflicting wounds
On her head /aid then throwing her down a well, took
place on Monday morning inside Norwich Castle.
Berry, of Bradford, was the executioner. Only one
representative of the press was admitted. Since his
committal the prisoner's conduct has been most
exemplary. He made a confession of his guilt, but
pleaded extraordinary provocation, alleging very im-
moral conduct on the part of the deceased. A Bap-
tist minister, the Rev. Thomas Wheeler, attended
upon Goodale from previous Monday to his death.
At three minutes to eight Goodale was brought from
the condemned cell, and met by the executioner who
quickly pinioned him, and then the procession moved
on towards the scaffold which was over a deep pit.
The acting under-sheriff and the gaol surgeon were
present. Goodale, when the rope was put round his
neck and the cap on his head, exclaimed, 'Good
Lord, receive my soul." Berry pulled the lever, the
trap doors fell away, and Goodale, who weighed
15 stone, and had a six feet drop, disappeared. To
the horror of the bystanders the rope rebounded.
It was thought it had become unfastened. But
on the bystanders looking into the pit they beheld
on its floor the decapitated body with blood oozing
from the trunk. The head, with the white cap upon
it, was lying against the feet. Berry had tested the
rope and the scaffold before the execution.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE

TtATZT.

On Saturday the preparations for the forthcoming
show at the Agricultural Hall were so far completed
that the reception of the heavy machinery which is to
be exhibited in the implement department began.
The entries of live stock slinsv a large increase. The
president of the StnithilAd Club for the present year
is Sir W. G. Gordon Cumming, Dart., and the presi-
dent elect Mr. J. Colman, M.P., whilst the Prince of
Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh have become vice-
presidents. The show will be divided into 80 classes
—viz., 36 for cattle, 35 for sheep, and 13 for pigs.
The prize list has again been laigely angmented, and
will in money alone amount to over £3OOO. In addition
to this there will be the Champion Plate of the value
of 100 guineas, and the gold medal for the hest
specimen in any of the cattle classes, the £5O Cham-
pion Plate and medal for the best pen of sheep, an 4
the Champion Silver Cup, value £25, and medal in
the classes for pigs. There are also seven silver
cups, of the value of £3O each, for the best animal
in the Devon, Hereford, Shorthorn, Sussex, Red and
Polled, Welsh, Scotch, and Cross-bred Classes, eight
silver breed cups of the value of £2O, and three of
£lO each for sheep, and six of ..ElO each for pigs,
besides silver medals for breeders of the prize
animals in every one of:the classes, as well as the
exhibitors. In accordance with the regulations, all
the implements intended for exhibition will have to
be in their places in the galleries and arcade and
Berners Hall and other spaces now added to the main
building by Thursday next. The cattle and other
live stock-will commence arriving on Friday, and
every exhibitor not within the gates of the Agricul-
tural Hall before seven o'clock on Saturday evening
will be excluded. The show will open on Monday
-next, when the cattle will be judged and the judges
will make their awards, and it is believed that the
Prince of Wales, who, like her Majesty, is a very
large exhibitor, with the Princess, will be present
some time during the process of judging.