The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-01 00:00:00

aided somewhat arid the ruTisiti-on could be realised, I asked
one of the warders what It was. Ile made me no answer.
In • few minutes after he had passed I looked out of my
cell grating, and I saw a warder, armed with ride and
revolver, standing sentry on my celL I then thought that
whatever it w. or bow caused, the governor of the prison
bel,eval it must be in some way connected with me. Else
how can I explain the unusual proceeding of put-
ting an armed man as sentry over a prisoner who
never violated the slightest order, or in any way
stepped aside from the discipline of the prison? Then
I received the first faint glimpses of light. I recollected
the manner I was changed from cell to cell during the day,
especially after anybody had seen me—" lawyer," " Men-
tifyer," or friend. The guarded conduct in every case
exercised in relation to me the whisperings of the warders
and the governor and deputy-governor the look-out kept
by the governor and a canter on the central tower, which
at the time I noticed it, I did not think any way strange
all these tkings rushed on my mind, and aasociating thew
with the explosion, and the man fully armed as sentry
1 on nip cell, I could not help thinking oil the subject, In which
I was apparently considered by the governor as some way
connected. When I saw the deputy-governor I spoke to him,
and asked him what did it all mean. Ile answered me,
"You ask no silly questions: you know very well what it
means" A few hours after the lamentable occurrence I
was visited by one of the visiting justices. At this time
there were several police and a body of troops in the prison.
I did not sleep during the night, my own thoughts, aided by
the constant calling "all right " of the warder, kept me
as she during the whole night. to the morning, as I was
going out to the van, one of the warders said to me as I was
passing him, "Li n you. I have a mind to blow out your
Mains." So that, taking everything into consideration, I
feel that this occurrence has undeservedly reflected upon
SENTENCED TO DEATH.

At the Central Criminal Court, in London, on
Wednesday, l'homaa Clark, labourer, who had
pleaded guilty at the last session to the wilful murder
of a child named Alice Smith, was placed at the bar to
receive judgment.

Mr. Sleigh, who with Mr. Streight was instructed by the
sheriffs to defend the prisoner, said that the case had stood
over from the previous session in order that inquiries might
be made with respect to the state of mind of the prisoner.
lie was bound to inform the court that he had conferred
with the medical officer and the other officials of the pris in,
anti the result was that he was not In. position to lay any
evidence before his lordship to show that the prisoner was
now in an uesound state of mind. At the SMic tune the
questini WOUtd still remain whether at the moment of the
commission of the act the prisoner was not affected by sonic
internal impulse, and he mentioned this with a view to
ulterior proceedings.
Mr. Justice Shee said he could not enter into that ques-
tion. He was aware of the peculiar facts connected with the
case, and this was the reason why he had consented to
postpone the judgment.
' " '

sleigh said he was only anxious to rendiol the court
that the prisouer had treated the child previously with the
greatest possible kindness.
, .

Mr. Justice Slice said he was aware of that fact, but he
could not take it into c initirration at that time.

The prisoner was then formally called upon to state
w bother he had aq [Ulm to say uhy judgment of death
slemld not he passed upon hint lie made no reply.
The learned judge then assumed the black cap and passed
sentence of death in the usual form.