The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-19 00:00:00

PHCENIX PARK MURDERS.

EXECUTION OF JOSEPH BR &DY.

Joseph Brady, the firat of the men condemned to
death for the mi.rder of Lord Frederick Cavendish and
Mr. Burke in the Phceuix-park, on May 6th af last
year, was executed within the walls of Kilinainham
Prison, Dublin, on Monday morning. As early as six
o'clock peopl,, began to arrive outside the gaol, and as
the morning advanced the crowd continued largely to
increase. This was especially the case at the northern
end of the building, where a staff was erected on which
the black flag would at eight o'clock be hoisted to
announce that the last penalty of the law had been
paid. Extensive precautions had been taken by the
military and police authorities to prevent any hostile
demonstration.

The condemned man rose. about six o'clock, and
after having dressed he was taken into the presence of
the Rev. Canon Kennedy, vicar of Sc. James's
(Roman Catholic) Church, and the Rev. Father
O'Reilly. The Holy Communion was administered
to him in the chapel, and the prisoner and the rev.
gentlemen remained in prayer during the whole of
the time that ensued between then and the entrance
of the executioner.

The scaffold was erected in a small yard in the
south-west corner of the gaol. The platform itself was
about 12ft. or 14ft. long by about 12ft. wide, the drop
being constructed on the plan usually adopted by
Marwood, who carefully inspected all the arrangements
early in the morning.

By a quarter to eight the gathering of people outside
the gaol had become very large opposite the flagstaff.
Rain commenced to fall heavily, but the crowd re-
mained waiting for the black flag to be hoisted.

Exactly at eight o'clock the black flag was hoisted
and announced that the execution had taken place.
At this time there must have been at least 10,000
people waiting and watching. As the black flag was
hoisted there arose a cry ot "Hats off," and the re-
quest was at once obeyed, The great throng then
silently departed from the precincts of the gaol, and
no attempt whatever was made to give the authori-
ties any trouble. By nine o'clock nearly all the
people in the vicinity of the gaol had disappeared,
and the outside of the gaol at half-past ten presented
its normal appearances, there being no crowd.

Brady walked firmly to the scaffold. He was quite
resigned, and said nothing to the chaplain, the governor
of tht goal, or the warders who accompanied him. Alter
receiving the ministrations of the Church the convict
wrote a letter to his mother. Walking firmly to the
scaffold he made no statement, and carried in his hand
a prayer-book. This before being pinioned, he banded
to one of the warders, saying, "Take the book."
The operation of placing the rope round the neck of
the culprit was submitted to without resistance. The
drop fell exactly at eight o'clock, and the body dis-
appeared from view. The drop was about 9ft., and
death was instantaneous.

Brady was hanged in the clothes he wore in the
dock. He asked that these should be handed over to
his mother as his only worldly possession. It is 17
years since an execution took place at Silmainham.
An inquest was held at half-past nine o'clock in a
room in the prison, under the presidency of Dr.
Hearty, the coroner of the district. Evidence was
given showing that death was instantaneous, and the
usual verdict was returned.