The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-21 00:00:00

DOUBLE EXECUTION AT LANCASTER,

William M'Cullogh and Mark Fiddler were
executed at Lancaster Castle, on Monday morning.
M'Cullogh, who was a fitter by trade, and a native
of Lisburn, Ireland, was sentenced to death at the
recent assizes for the murder of William Watson at
Barrow-in• Furness. The learned Judge, Mr. Justice
Archibald, in passing sentence, held out no
hope of mercy; notwithstanding, efforts were made
in Ireland and in Lancaster and Barrow to obtain
a commutation of the sentence, but these efforts
prcved unavailing. M'Cullogh, with a woman
named Catherine Lagan, occupied half of what was
once a publichonse called the " Old Ship," the
other half being occupied by Watson and his wife.
On the 29th of March last M'Cullogh went home
about six o'clock in the evening much the worse for
drink, fie commenced a quarrel with...the woman
Lagan, who ran into Watson's apartments for pro-
tection. Watson, who was a man well advanced in
years, got up from his chair and went to the door to
prevent M'Cullogh entering. The latter rushed up to
him, and, without a word, stabbed him in the breast
with an ordinary table knife, inflicting such injuries
that he died shortly afterwards.

The crime for which Mark Fiddler suffered was
the murder of his wife at Preston on the Bth of
June. Fiddler, who was only 22 years cf age, was
married four years ago, and since then had fre-
quently ill-treated his wife and had been much
addicted to habits of intemperance. In Whitsun week
last he sold what furniture he possessed in order to
continue a drunken spree, and in consequence his wife
refused to live with him. She went to lodge at the
house of a man named Green, in Bleasdale-street, Pres-
ton, maintaining herself by working at a factory.
Though persistently refusing the importunities of the
husband to cohabit with him, she often saw him on
apparently friendly terms. It was during one of
these interviews that Fiddler perpetrated the crime,
for which he has suffered death, by cutting his wife's
throat. After the crime, Fiddler was found by
the police near a reservoir attached to a factory
at the bottom of Bleasdale-street, about one o'clock
in the morning. On seeing the officers he plunged
into the water, where he attempted self-de.
struction by cutting his throat with the same instru-
ment with which he had previously taken his wife's
life. He then swam to the side, and was taken to the
infirmary, where he so far recovered from his wounds
as to be brought before the magistrates a week after-
wards.

Since their condemnation both men have shown
signs of contrition. Their demeanour has been charac-
terised by deep religious fervour and earnest attention
to the ministrations of the chaplain of the gaol.
About seven o'clock on Monday morning, a few
persons began to congregate about the Castle front,
increasing up to eight o'clock to three or four
hundred, and at five minutes past eight the black
flag was hoisted; one man saying, with great excite-
ment, "There she goes." The crowd immediately
dispersed, only a few staying till nine o'clock, when
the bodies having been cut down, the flag was with-
drawn. Dr. Saul, gaol surgeon, visited the culprits on
Sunday night. They had been informed during the
evening when the execution was to take place.
M'Cullogh asked the doctor for a sleeping draught in
order to secure sleep, whikh was granted. Fiddler
seemed much as usual, On did not display any sur-
prise at the intimation of the time being so near.

The culprits rose at half-past six o'clock, having had
a tolerably good night. The chaplain was with them
for a short time. After rising Fiddler did not partake
of any breakfast, and M'Cullogh only made a small
attempt. Precisely at eight o'clock the chaplain
made his appearance, reading the burial service.
Then followed the culprits with their arms pinioned,
and wearing the same dress is at the trial. The
men walked upon the scaffold with great firmness,
and there was a kind of half-smile upon Fiddler's
face ; but M'Cullogh looked deadly pale. In-
stantly upon reaching the drop Fiddler fell upon his
knees, exclaiming, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit !"
This example was followed by M'Cullogh. and both re-
mained kneeling and muttering prayers for at least a
minute and a half. M'Cullogh then suddenly jumped
upon his feet and submitted himself to the executioner,
who placed the rope round his neck, whilst the culprit
continued b offer prayer. Fiddler then under-
went a similar process, but there was some little
difficulty in adjusting the rope, owing probably
to the executioner being aware that Fiddler had a
cut in his throat. Presently the drop fell, and M'Cul-
logh appeared to die instantly, although the executioner
had to go under the scaffold and remove his legs, his
feet having caught the edge of the hole prepared for
him to drop into. Fiddler seemed to die harder than
his companion, a muscular, convulsive twitching of the
hands and feet being observable for nearly two
minutes.

Marwood, the executioneer, arrived in Lancaster on
Saturday night, and was lodged in the Castle.
The formal inquest was held immediately after the
bodies, having hung the prescribed hour, had been cut
down from the scaffold. Mr. Holden was the coroner,
and the jury was composed of Lancashire tradesmen.
The gash in Fiddler's throat, which he inflicted upon
himself on the night of the murder, had been laid open
by the rope about his neck, and his appearance as he
lay in the coffin was ghastly in the extreme.
The evideuce given to the jury was of a formal cha-
racter, and the verdict was to the effect that the
men had been duly executed.

GREAT CONSTERNATION AT THE WEST END.—
Think of their exhaustion, their utter prostration!
Think of the restoratives they must have required
after such unheard•of exertion! Imagine the anxiety
of their wives and families, when they were so long
past their usual hour of returning home! Picture the
amazement of their domestics when they opened the
door to them One night last week the Lords sat
until five minutes to eleven !—Punch.