The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-21 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT WINCHESTER.

Thomas Smith, of the 20th Hussars, was executed
at Winchester, on Monday morning, for the murder of
Captain Bird at Aldershot. The crime, it will be
remembered, was prompted through a feeling of revenge
which Smith entertained towards the deceased for
having carried out regimental piudahment, to which
Smith had rendered himself liable. During carhine
practice at the butte of a *quad under Captain Bird's
command, Smith deliberately fired at him, being only
a few yards' distance; and from the effects of the shot
the officer died very shortly after.
Since his condemnation Smith conducted him-
self in an exemplary manner, showing an earnest de-
sire to profit by theserrices of the prison chaplain, and
to prepare himself for his approaching death. On
Sunday he partook of the Holy Sacrament, and the
evening and night were partly spent in prayer by the
prisoner. On 'Monday morning he submitted with
wonderful firmness to the ordeal of pinioning, and
this calmness and steadfast bearing he retained to the
very last, ascending the scaffold with a firm step. lie
appeared to expire without much ;Jain, and after the
body i
had hanged au hour t was interred within the
precints of the prison.
A black Hag was hoisted over the entrance to the
county prison announcing the end of the criminaL
- - • - •

The wretched culprit wrote the following voluntary con-
fession of his crime, and requested that it might be made
public after his execution
• -

"I own with shame and sorrow that I am guilty of
the crime for which I have to die, and I pray God to
have mercy upon my soul, for Jesus Christ's sake. I
am aware that nothing can justify the dreadful sin.
I committed in shooting Captain Bird, though I
feel that my request to fall out ought to have been
granted, especially as I twice asked leave to do so ;
and I also think that the authority that is committed
to non-commissioned officers, and especially sermant
majors ought to be exercised with more care and con-
sideration. If officers were to inquire into the state-
ments made by sergeant-majors, and would give pri-
vate soldiers more chance of making their own explain"-
Cons, I am sure that the life of a private soldier would
be happier, as I have known many a man to come
to grief through being misrepresented. I particularly
wish to say that I do not say this through ill will to
any man; I only wish to do soldiers some good. I
know that I had no business to do what I have done,
but if Captain Bird had been told that I had asked
once before to fall out I feel sure that he would
have given me permission to do so. I know that the
neglect of my Bible and giving way to drink has
brought me to this sad position, as I warn more or less
under the influence of drink from the time I was
sentenced to the extra drill on the Friday till I com-
mitted the crime on the following day. Had I not been
drinking I should never have done such a deed. I
cannot sufficiently thank my relatives for all their
kindness to me, and especially those who procured
me the counsellors who defended me at my trial. I
pray God to reward them, and I pray them to forgive
the shame and distress I brought upon them. I also very
gratefully beg to offer my respectful thanks to Captain
Bird's father for his great mercy to me in saying that he
forgives me. I cannot thank him as I would, but I pray
God to bless him and reward him. I did not deserve such
kindness from him. I wish that I could tell him how
bitterly I regret having caused him such sorrow. I
wish to thank all the officers of the prison for their
kindness to me. Everything has been done for me to
enable me to spend my last clays in this world in peace,
and to prepare for the time when I must stand before
my Judge. I put my sole trust in the merits of my
blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, and I pray God, for
His sake, to have mercy upon me, and to receive me;
and I bless God's Holy Name for the gracious fill, its-
tions and promises held out to me in the Gospel ; and I
humbly trust that God, for Jesus Christ's sake, will
have mercy upon me."