The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-13 00:00:00

E XEC UTION IN LIVERPOOL:

The execution of James Connor, who was convicted
at the recent Liverpool Assizes, for the murder of
James Gaffney, took place shortly after eight o'clock
on Monday morning at Kirkeale Gaol, Liverpool.
The details of the crime will be tolerably fresh in the
recollection of the public. On the night of the 11th
ult , Connor was at the Cambridge Music-hall, Liver.
pool, and while there asked a woman named Mrs. Shears
to drink with him. She refused, and he afterwards fol-
lowed her outside, quarrelled with her, and struck her
two or three violent blows, which knocked her
down. The deceased man, who was passing at the
time, went to her assistance, and asked the prisoner
why he had ill-treated the woman, whereupon
Connor drew a large clasp knife and stabbed him in
the neck, inflicting a frightful wound, from which he
died next morning. A companion of the deceased
named Metcalf sprang forward when the latter fell and
knocked the prisoner down, but he immediately
jumped up, and, picking up the knife which he had
thrown away, ran at Metcalfe and struck him a blow
which cut through the whole of his clothes, but for-
tunately did not cause any injury, lie then walked
away but was soon afterwards apprehended with the
knife in his poieueesion. The defence set up at the trial
was that the deceased, who was somewhat in drink,
had provoked Connor to strike him, and that the pet.
Ironer was, therefore, only guilty of manslaughter, but
he was convicted of the capital offence,
For some time after his condemnation the prisoner
exhibited • very indifferent and even callous spirit,
preserving a stolid taciturnity, and entering into con-
versation with hardly any one. He generally ate and
slept well and availed himself of the open air exercise
within the prison walls, He was ,sited on Saturday
by his sister, who came from Sheffield, and it is said
that he exhibited little emotion until she real • letter
from his mother, the c ,ntente of which deeply affected
him. Under the constant ministrations of the Rev.
Father Bonte, the Roman Catholic chaplain, the cul.
prit ultimately showed indications of a better state of ,
mind, and on Sunday he received the Sacrament ot his
Church.

Jest before eight o'clock the bleak flag was nmenp over
the gaol, and immediately afterwards the condemned
man and those accompanying him issued from a door-
way in the main building contiguous to the *colloid.
The chief warder walked first, and Connor followed,
Father Pante on his right side and Calcraft on his
left. Two wrrders (Bradley and M'Ewen) came next,
and Captain Gibbs and Mr. Deacon brought up
the rear. Connor, who was a tall, powerful young
men, walked ereat and without the slightest sign of dis-
composure, but he looked pale, and his pallid features
contrasted strongly with a dark moustache, his face,
with the ex •eption of the upper lip, being closely
shaven. Not an instant warn lost before be was
under the fatal beam, and then his demeanour was
such as few-men have ever shown under such dreadful
circumstances. Recepizing two warders who stood in
the courtyard some distance off, he smiled and nodded
to them, apparently as carelessly as though hanging
was a matter of very slight moment. Calcraft then
put the white cap over his face, adjusted the rope, and
In an instant after the bolt was drawn. But exclama-
tions of horror burst from the onlookers as they per-
ceived that the man, instead of being suspended, was
standing on his feet on the phtforni, while the ap-
parently broken rope dangled loosely over his head.
The warders jumped upon the platform and supported
the man, who was only heard to exclaim "Oh I oh!"
while Calcraft stood looking on in evident bewilder-
ment. It appealed that the rope had not actually
broken, but that the splicing of the loop through witch
one end of the rope passes to form the none hat given
way with the weight of the man. Meanwhile Conn, r
was assisted to a seat, and the cap was removed from his
face, Flying him another brief glance of the world
on which a minute before it was supposed that he had
closed his eyes for ever. When the warders caught
hold of him he exclaimed, "What do you call this? is
this murder?" Father Bonte, in tremulous accents,
entreated him to keep up, when he said, "I stead
It like a brick the first time; I think I should get
off now." After about eight minutes' delay, another
rope having been procured, he was again under the
drop. The wonderous strength of nerve displayed by
the man at first did not forsake him on the second occa-
sion. He was loosely pinioned, and with his own hands
he assisted Calcraft not only in pulling the cap over
his head, but in adjusting the rope. There woe no
further mishap, for when the bolt
.had been drawn
Connor was seen struggling in the we His struggles
were, however, brief, as in a few seconds body and soul
were severed for ever. In an hour the body was cut
down, and an inquest was held in the after men on the
body, when the jury examined the rope which broke,
and, finding that i appeared a thoroughly good one,
they exonerated Calcraft from all blame.