The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-02 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF THE AYLESBURY
MURDERER.

The execution of William Mobbe, for the murder of
a boy called Newbury, at Linford, took place on Mom
day morning, within the walls of the Aylesbury
prison.
' " •

On Thursday he signed the following confession,
which was written at his dictation by the Under.
Sheriff, Mr. A. Tindal :

"1, William Mobbs, declare that when I saw the boy
Newbury coming towards me I felt all of a shake and as If I
could not help murdering him. I had dreamt of murders, and
I had seen a picture of the man linker murdering the girl in
the hop-gardens. It was a very hot day, and went down
together on the free-board. Newbury laid down, and about
ten minutes after we met it was done. I rolled on him, and
when on him I pulled out my knife and out his throat twice.
Ile halloaed out 'Oh V only once. I dou't know If he
wag dead directly. I left him at on.:e. I felt as if
I did not know where I wan or wile:, I was doing. I
went away bird keeping. I left the body where it was. I
put my smock where it was found by the police. I had no
grudge against the boy, and I never had a quarrel or struggle
with im. When we were sitting on the ground I asked him
What they would say if anybody was to murder him?' and
he Newbury) said, 'They would hang him.' I replied,
What, for murdering varmint?' Ile said, 'Ye..' Upon this
I immediately attacked Newbury. I had a book about Cain
and Abel in my dinner basket. The book was given me by
my grandfather, Just before he died. It belonged to my
uncle Thomas Joyce (my mother's brotherl.''
- • • • •

,
On the Friday evening previous to his execution, he
was visited for the last time by his father, mother, and
brother, and the seeming indifference which had
hitherto characterised him gave way, and he was at
length apparently aroused to a proper sense of the
awfulness of his position.
He was visited in his cell about half-past six on
Monday morning by the chaplain, who was with him
until his death. He did not in any way seem afraid,
but looked steadily at the drop while his arms were
being pinioned by CalcrafL Ile then walked with
firm step to the gallows, and his legs were pinioned.
The rope was then adjusted, and after the preliminary
arrangements by the hangman the drop fell, the culprit
praying earnestly.
The execution was conducted within the prison, no
one being present but the representatives of the local
Press and the prison authorities, but there were about
100 lersons assembled outside the prison. Immediately
after the execution a black flag was raised over the
gaol gates.

The culprit hadbeen given to reading much more than
is the custom among agricultural labourers, and acconnta
of murders seems to have been his favourite kind of
reading. When apprehended after committing the mur-
der, a Life of Abel, translated from the German, was
found in his pocket, and this his friends say he was
particularly partial to reading in most of his spare
time. He was not quite twenty years of age, and was
evidently of a very low type of humanity. He had a
a short, narrow forehead and small head, and great
thiAness round the base of the skull. His hair was
very thick, straight, and stiff, and projected over
the forehead like the thatch of a house.