The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-02 00:00:00

EXECUTION OP THE WALICEISINGHAM
MURDERER.

NormanAm,. WIDNENDAT.

.•
The execution of John Fenton for the murder of
Charles Spencer, at Walk Notts, took place this
morning in front of the County Geo Nottingham. At an
early hour in the morning a great number of people aaiem-
bled in front of the scaffold, and by the time that the con-
demned man arrived with the gaol officials on the scaffold
• vast crowd of men, women, and boys bad got together.
The street is narrow in front of the scaffold, and the
greatest precautions were used in erecting the barricades, in
order to prevent a similar catastrophe taking place to that
which occurred sixteen rears av, when eleven people were
crushed or trampled to death. Some of the windows com-
mending a view of the place of execution were let at high
rates. Many people took their places early on the previous
night, staying within the barricades the whole of the time
until the execution took place ; many came from the neigh-.
bourhood of Walkeringbam, the scene of the murder, and
the crowd was formed principally of people of the lowest
clam.

Previous to the execution the culprit was watched by an
official night and day, and the Rev. W. Butler, the chap-
lain, devoted considerable time and energy in attending
upon the unfortunate man, with a view of preparing him
for the ordeal through which he bad to pass. These cello!,
tattoos were listened to with the coolness and Indifference

whi¢b h&ve

his modest thrrighput. The

Feat aim of the chaplain wee to urge upon hiria- to confer
his crime. He frequently convened about the death of
Spencer, but up to yesterday bad made no confession, his
manner and tone of voice however were those of a guilty
man. He wrote two or three letters to his wife, inviting
the whole of his faimly to come and visit him. His wife
and mother have had two interviews with him • upon the
latter occasion they were accompanied by his three children.
On Sunday, Fenton attended, along with the other prisoners,
divine service in the chapel connected with the gaol. On
Monday, at the prisoner's request, the Rev. Mr. Gorham,
rector of Walkeringham, vested him ; the reverend gentle-
man was with him form hour. _

At half-pat seven yesterday morning the wretched man,
after partaking of a slight breakfast, was removed from the
condemned cell to the robing-room in the County Hall,
where the executioner pinioned him in the presence of the
sub-aheriff, the chaplain, the governor of the gaol, and the
surgeon. Prayers suitable to the occasion were read by the
chaplain, who with the gentlemen present were moved to
tears. Fenton took an affectionate leave of all, and shook
heads with the chaplain and governor of the gaol, saying
that he harboured no malice against the hangman. He
then moved with a Brm step from the robing-room to the
main entrance of the County Hall, inside the rails of which
the scaffold was erected.

The prisoner advanced firmly with a steady step on to the
trap door, placing himself without assistance immediately
under the rope ; then, without appearing to glance at the
crowd, he glued upwards as if in praer. The hangman
immiately advanced to do his oboe, and at once drew the
whitecap over his face. Whilst his legs were being tied
the prisoner trembled slightly. The °holstein then ad-
vanced, and whispered some parting words in the dying
man's ear. The executioner slipped the fatal noose over
the prisoner's head, and the next instant the drop fell. A
few shrieks from the crowd, • quivering of the wretched
culprit's leg and all was over. The crowd, which during
s,
the whole of the execution could not be termed disorderly,
then dispersed.
The condemned man was a native of Walkeringham, and
half-cousin to the murdered man.
Since the above account was written it has been ascer-
tained that the prisoner made the following statement to
the governor of the gaol :—" On the evening of the 6th of
March, between nine and ten o'clock, I left Gaimborough
in company with James Fenton, no relation, though having
the seine name as massif, • labourer, of Walkerin.
When we arrived at-Morton we called at Mrs. Moat's
public-house, where we had something to drink. I was so
fresh that I wanted to stop all night at Merlon. James
Fenton, however, persuaded me to go home. He said he
would go home ; and so eventually I agreed to go with
him. We left Morton about twenty or twenty-five minutes
to ten o'clock. We arrived at Walkerwith Ferry just
in time to go over. The usual time for the last bat
going over is ten o'clock. When we got to the ferry we
found there Messrs. Hudson, Mr. Charles Spencer (the
deceased), and Mr. Henderson. I don't remember whether
there was any one else there. I was very fresh at the time.
We all went over the ferry together. When we got over
JAIL Fenton and me walked up the Ferry-lase to the top,
when we turned to see where the others were, to bid them
good night. As they were at the same distance we turned
to the right and went over the stile into Mr. Belton's field,
which we crossed, as also 03... Grime's field. and over the
stile into the lane leading from West into the top end of
Walkeringham. I turned down towards home, which is in
the direction of the bridge near the school, where the man
who committed the murder stationed himself to wait for
Mr. Spencer, as he expected that he would come on the
turnpike road, pest the church and school, that being his
nearest way home. I had lent this man my pistols
on • Tuesday morning ; I think it was the 2Sth of February.
He had previously told me that he wanted to stop Mr.
Spencer some time or other to get his money from him, but
I did not think he would shoot him. He bad laid wait for
Mr. Spencer before but dared not attack him, lest if he
knew him be should have him apprehended. Instead of
going into my house I stood a little time against the door,
and thee went down the lane after the man who was wait-
ing for Mr. Spencer. When I got near Mr. Gainston's barn,
and walked about • little, and hearing some footsteps, I went
and stood against the barn beside the buttress. I listened,
and hearing Mr. Spencer cough, I found that instead of
going on the turnpike road he had turned down West-lane.
Men ran on to the bridge, and told the man that Mr. Spen
cer was coming the other way. He then went back to the hero
side, and I went through a gate behind the house and barn
into Mr. Gamston's field, and behind the stackyarrL When
I got there I beard the shots fired, and at the same time I
heard Mr. Wright's horses' footsteps coming down West.
lane, near to John Grime's, as near as I could tell. I
then ran to get out of sight towards and across Mr.
Faker's garden, and across the road where Mr. Wright
saw me, to my own house. If Mr. Wright had turned to
the left, towards Mr. Gamston's farm, instead of turning
to the right, be would have seen the murderer going on.
I did not think the man I lent the pistols to would shoot
him, and he must have cut his throat after I ran away. I
would rather not say now who it was that murdered Mr.
Spencer. lam only sorry that I ever lent the man
my pistols, but I had no idea that be would ever have shot
him with them. I got none of the money whatever.—
(Sired) JOHN FOrl'ON.
few minutes before he got on the scaffold the chaplain
asked him if he had anything to say, to which he replied,
"I have not said who committed the deed, but if you is al
mention names I will tell you which of them it was. It
was not James Fenton nor Hamill. I had rather not say
who it was. I have acknowledged all to God. I pledged
my word not to say who it was."
A knife was fourd in his pocket some days ago, and
when the governor removed it he said, " If I had that
knife now I would never have gone to the scaffold." No
doubt be meant to commit suicide.