The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-07 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT STAFFORD.-(THIS

The Let dread sentence of the law ea
into effect at 8 o'clock this morning, at staff, ""ntl
body of William Collier, aged 35 yaws, 6 'I tie
who resided at Whieton Eaves. near Cheadle, iat
Staffordshire, and who was found pilt st ths-""
Staffordshire amines, of the murder et 6
tleman named Thomas Smith, the eldsstZ" Na.
gentleman, who resided on his own estate y.G4
The murdered gentleman was only 23 yews d
yea much respected in the neighbourhood et tic'
He was known amongst the peasantry es the
squire." He lived with his father, who was this
the manor, helping him to farm and manage tulip
tent of land belonging to him.
The particulars of the murder may be told very
They are as follows :—At sunrise on the msn6,4
sth of July, Mr. Smith, jun., went to a ,
near to his father's house, known as the Mash pi
for the purpose of watching for poachers. As hs
return to breakfast, his father became slam*
comparded by one of his servants, went in weak,
Upon coming to the spot where the young 664,,
habit of staying when guarding the covers, yr.
son., found his son's leggings, and also a piece d
which, spread upon the grass, served for •
little further on the servant picked rep his ,
hat riddled with shot. In the band there Iry
rose, which the unfortunate young man hel mud
on the previous night. Deeper in the pludenss,
almost covered by the ferns and brambles that
peat profusion there, the dead body d
ceased warn disoovered lying in • pest d
The back portion of the head had ben '
in &terrible manner, apparently by some hairy ,
strnment ; and scattered about the gran near is h
were picked up several pieces of the stock of a pik
pin locks, and a broken trigger, with also a ranni,
meal of the trees near were examined, and skeet*
shots were picked out of the bark. Up to th,,,
Collier was not suspected. Whilst the 11G ems:
ing the wood he remained in sight, woe i a,„7;
fields of his small farm, and taking no linnet u fist
usual proceedings going on so near him. Bib,
however, he was observed by the wife of one of t'
servants to go in the direction of a ditch ia
fields, carrying something under his arm, and tusk,
to time casting furtive glances on either side. Dim,
told her husband of what she had wen, saA
petting that all was not right, went to the ss
of the ditch, and found the double-barrel af a r
off at the stock. This gun was identified as the
to Collier, and, upon comparing with it the elfli
and ramrod found in the wood, they was ,
respond exactly. Collier was then arrested. Be
reply to the charge, and made no remark whoa la
showed him several spots of blood on his challis&
the magisterial examination the prisoner mainguiti
reserved demeanour. When on his trW at ed.',
manifested only little emotion. He trollies* wadi
it tired of the proceedings, notwithstanding that er
to him a matter of life or death. Every now I
however—and this was especially the ease idea
Taylor read his report as to the analyes
blood spots on the prisoner's clothing, sat
the father of the deceased was pi!:
evidence, Collier appeared interested, and, etty
from the chair with which he was egoressir
leaned forward apparently not to miss • word of,
said. After sentence of death was passed the,
man, who had received with folded arms sal
lips the intelligence of the horrible award
turned hurriedly from the front of the diet,
twitching nervously, as if he was oreoneaolisg I
=only by a severe effort. A few days mite
condemned to die he took farewell of WNW
is a respectable publican at Cheadle) sad hisr
seven children. As may be imagined, the I
was mole heartrending ; subsequently, him
convict recovered in a great mews the
posure which has so characterised kin /
was a catholic, he was attended by the Ilw.
O'Sullivan, the recently-appointed catholic eivelits.
pot. It is understood that he confessed his Most, is
rev. father. He also made • statement I. de did
warder of the gaol, in which he acknowledged hi eel
and the justice of his sentence.
The crowd present at the execution Pits we* vis
not so large as usual. The rain had pas
all night, and doubtless prevented manj
Potteries from undertaking a pedestrian
ford. The hangman was Smith, of Del
As Collier died the crowd hooted
formalities of the banging had 4
twice, and when the drop first fell
the head.
The convict's confession was wan)
victim twice.

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