The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-11-12 00:00:00

CLOSING SCENES OF THE TRIAL.

Under the above heading the Globe of Tuesday gave the
following sketch :

"When the jury retired to consider their verdict, it
was observable, as ominous of their decision, that the
foreman left his overcoat on the back of his chair in
the jury-box. Slight as the incident was, it was
accepted as foreboding a rapid decision on the
part of the jury. There had been a feeling
abroad that somehow they would not agree to
a verdict at all, while not a few were prepared for
an acquittal. The judge kept his seat on the
bench after the jury ratired, and chatted with the
High Sheriff and other gentlemen. The prisoner
was still kept in the dock, and his pitiable appearance
contrasted with the lively aspect of those who talked
or whispered in one great subdued chorus of expectation
and speculation. • The prisoner ought to be removed
below, was on the lips of many, and while a feeling of
sympathy for his isolated and perilous position was
generally making itself felt. A noise at the bank of
the court caused all eyes to turn in the direction
of the jury-boy, where emerging from behind
a crimson curtain, the foreman was seen lead-
ing the way for his colleagues into court. Lord
Coleridge tinned rapidly to Mr. Setularoore, the
Under Shetiti, who was bitting on his right, and v‘
his-
pered a word. The jury were soon iu their places,
the prisoner's doom being dei,icted on every one of
their countenances. One aged juror hid his face with ,
his handkerchief ; another gave way to tears, and one
gentleman at the end of the box actually trembled
with emotion' and in order to support himself had to
grasp the gas bracket beside him.
"In reply to the Clerk of Arraigns, the jury
answered to their names in scarcely audible tones,
and the next moment the Foreman, with an effort to
be firm, pronounced the verdict of the jury, that
they found the prisoner Guilty. A deep wail, as
of a woman, in the back part of the court, added a
deeper gloom to the (Abel wise awful silence pre-
vailing. Being called upon to state any reason why
sentence of death should not be passed upon him,
Lefroy answered in a reinulous voice, I have
only to thank the gentlemen of the jury for
their great care.' He did not finish the sen-
tence because he was interrupted by the crier of
the Court proclaiming ` Silence ' for the passing
of the sentence of death. Lord Coleridge, evi-
Oently deeply moved, assumed the black cap, and,
before bowing low his head, proceeded to pronounce the
capital sentence of the law. The dread ceremony was
over in two minutes, and a quarter of an hour of awful
and harrowing suspense had ended. But the last word
was not even then said. Lefroy, standing in dramatic
attitude, turned to the gentlemen of the jury, and
while he clutched the iron railings in front of him said
to them with great deliberation and in tones of
sepulchral depth, Gentlemen, some day, too late,
you will find that you have murdered me. The chief
warder held him by the shoulder as he spoke, and
now led him below, out of sight of those who, hi
all human probability, looked upon the prisonek for
the last time.