The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-06 00:00:00

'ION OF

EXECU
k 3 RAD

EY.

'RAN CIS

.. , • _
Francis Bradley, who was convicted, at the last
assizes held in this town, of having killed his wife by
the administration of poison, was hanged, on Saturday
last, at twelve o'clock, on a gallows erected at the
north-east corner of Kirkdale Gaol.
After his condemation, the unhappy man was con-
fined in a cell, where two turnkeys were kept con-
tinually with him. Notwithstanding the conclusive
evidence on which his guilt was established, and the
I emphatic manner in which the Lord Chief Justice
exhorted him to prepare for death, it appears
he cherished an expectation of a reprieve so long
as there remained the slightest room for hope.
The convict, who was a Roman Catholic, was re-
sidiously attended by the Rev. Peter Wilcock, one of
the priests of St. Anthony's chapel. For some weeks
the daily visits of the Rev. Gentleman were unat-
tended with any good effect, the convict remaining
hardened, impenitent. and deaf, to the exhortations of
the minister. Mr. Amos, the kind and excellent Go-
'rernor of the prison, describes the attention of Mr.
Wilcock to have been of the most untiring and affec-
tionate character, but for a length of time his kind
efforts were unavailing. Though the prisoner was
repeatedly informed by those about him that there was
no hope of any commutation in his favour, he still clung
to the cherished impression. A memorial in his
behalf was forwarded to the Secretary of State.
The answer returned was to the effect, that the case
Was of such a nature that her Majesty could not be
1
recommended to grant a reprieve. At length, the impenetrability of the prisoner's character gradually
atubbowa
gave way as
his fate became more hopeless, and his
rn
vanished before the certaint of a
proaching death. Recently he attended closely to the
religious instructions of his reverend attendant, and
conformed strictly to the discipline which his Church
prescribed.
eeghtThe execution was, at first, fixed to take place at
o'clock on Saturday morning. It was after-
determined determined to alter the hour to twelve
0 clock, from a humane consideration that a re-
prieve might arrive by the early morning train.
!It had, however, got abroad that the criminal
FM to be hanged at eight o'clock, and those whose
bad taste induces delight in such exhibitions we
early on the alert. Even at six o'clock, we are in-
re
formed, numerous individuals, of both sexes, were
seen wending their way towards Kirkdale. Long-
-11
fore eight a considerable multitude of the humbler
classes had assembled in front of the scaffold, and,
though most of them must have had avocations in the
. town, by far the greater number waited till the sen-
-3' tence was carried into - effect.
noon thecrowd was
At the approach of
the spectators was c augmented. Amongst
re a number of females, several
of very respectable appearance. If the multitude
evinced none of that brutality which we have some-
times seenpacs described as occurring at executions in
with
other , they, at least, behaved in many respects
unseemly indecorum. While waiting for the ap-
sPieloaurationceg, of the criminal, they lightened the time by
throwing cabbage stumps, and other seemlyun-
„i,., pranks; and one fellow was detected in the act
-` picking a pocket. He was immediately secured and
taken within the prison.
, The convict retired to rest about twelve o'clock on
In'r riordani3rng.nigpt, and slept till four on Saturday
he Reverend P. Wilcock entered the
condemned
close cell at six o'clock, and continued in
attendance on the prisoner till he ceased to ex-
ist The Under-Sheriff arrived from Preston at half-
past eleven o'clock, when he joined the Governor of
the prison. At a quarter before twelve the prisoner
.'',v,.1!5 conducted from the cell to the press-room.
butills demeanour was firm, and his countenance pale,
calm. He is a short, stout-built man, about five
mark
four inches high. His features are l
arked and stern-looking, his eyes small andstron rather dark, and his forehead low. His head was uncovered,
a, nd he wore a blue coat, with brass buttons, drab
trousers, L'*6 and boots. His demeanour in the press room
12as 'respectful and devout. About ten minutes to
° str clock the prisoner, attended by his religious in-
fruct°,r, the principal turnkey, and others, was led
1,-in the press-room to the pinioning-room. His self-
"session never for a moment forsook him. As he
Passed through the yard he bowed to some of the turnkeys
Who stood near. Mr. Wilcock walked on his right
hand and read, in a faltering voice, several passages
from the service proper for the occasion. The unfor-
tunate man walked slowly, but steadily, up the flight
of steps leading to the pinioning-room, and, when
there, he stood for a short time engaged in prayer
with his pastor. He was placed in the chair,
and the work of pinioning was performed by
the executioner, who was brought from York
tor the occasion. The chair upon which he sat
was immediately in front, and commanded a full
view of the gallows;. indeed, there was but a
short platform, erected temporarily for the purpose,
between him and the place of execution. He kept
his eyes intently fixed, for a long time, upon the spot,
during which his lips were continually moving, as
,though he was engaged in deep mental prayer. The
.nev- P. Wilcock asked him if he had anything more
ftl4 Say- He replied, in a loud, unshaken tone, " No;
othing more. After being pinioned, he extended his
b
bans d to the various officers connected with the esta-
-11 ,! lihment, which they shook, and at twelve precisely
was led out to his fate, Mr.Wileo-..k accompanying
him to the scaffold, and reading while the executioner
ste
adjud the apparatus of death, the lips of the convict
_.all the time moving as in prayer. A loud buzz ran
theugh the crowd when he made his appearance, and
next instant all was silence. At a given
4trial the drop fell. A struggle was apparent for
:moment, and it was thought he had instantly
115 ired, but in a little his sufferings evinced them-
le by the convulsive movements of the hands and
48, which continued some two or three minutes.
~," hen he ceased to move, and it was evident life
Faa extinct, the executioner, in reply to a question
~,_1."1 a gentleman present, said, in a tone of the
'goat business-like indifference, " Oh, we generally
Rive them a three feet drop, but he's a light weight.'
The unhappy convict made a statement, which
at his request, taken down in writing by Mr.
seen We We subjoin a copy, by which, it will be
O1,:11,_, the culprit acknowledged that he was " satisfied
n his sentence." He signed the document with
.8 °Wn hand, in bold, but not very elegant characters.
TILE CONFESSION.
ti on II Francis Bradley, make the following declara-
orl :-.--1 die in the faith of the Holy Catholic Church,
which forth lam truly sorry to say, I have been an un-
tY member. I earnestly beg of all my brethren
I die Pray, after my departure, for the repose of my soul.
•
c
'h peace with all mankind, forgiving sin-
;eerelY from my heart all who have ever injured or of-
j4lided me, and craving forgiveness of all I have in-
eredo offended. I depart this life satisfied with my
isiee, and cheerfully submit to the death which it
i the will of God Ishould suffer; hoping, through the
erlhu„n,_ite merits of our Lord and Saviour, Jefus
14ist„, to obtain pardon for my sins and life everlast-
tVe, 1- heg to return my poor, but best, thanks to
of Governor of the prison for his humane treatment
offi,te, and also to the keepers of the gaol and other
tae—,;"l,hdividuals, for the kindness they have shown
1,,'t.-tihri uring my— confinement. By my order and di-
the above declaration has been written.
0y,.. (Signed) " FRANCIS BRADLEY.
Airkdale Sept. 18422'
i
Lion The crowd dispersed immediately after the execu-
,, ,
hour, Lae body, after having been suspended for an
of the as taken down and buried within the precincts
the , gaol, in pursuance of the sentence. Bradley. is
Thurth criminal who has been hanged at Kirkdale.
her
*lie firsti was Thomas Barlow, for the murder of his
hush' the second Betty 'Rowland, for poisoning
mur-
der'
the third, William Hill, for rape and 'mu-
-6
buried
tnnt.',.ia: Warrinoton ; and the fourth Bradley, for the
1.4 th,"r r'i Mgr wife. The last-named culprit is
- same ave with the other three.

%Da Duke de Nemours, on his arrival at St. Omer,
aday last, was received with particular marks of
has
Z\Z ".4.1
as well as of respect. His Royal highness 41e
tl,t by the Cardinal de la Tour d' Auvergne, severalie
ord s, the Prefe2ts of the Pas-de-Calais and the
Were and all the civil and military authorities. Addresses
t rulf tlelivered to the Prince, who relied to themwith
ti(f)6e
'eension and feeling. When alluding to the Dukes
1,1,, eans, he spoke with great emotion, saying that
'tll,llll`)r.Y could never be sufficiently regretted or honoure, ,
hia pat it should be his constant endeavour to fulfil
Ittf. IltieB with zeal in order to acquire the esteem and
, ectio .
4he 1,11 wall which his brother was surrounded. On
tr cc"ing of Tuesday, having exercised the division.
the n'neral d'Hautpoul, the Royal Duke went to visit
Elfaut. In the front he found a simplei
1114141111f~trePntof
,designed by Lieutenant Pradier, of the 1 1 t
the line, erected in stone, at the common
lafa-11.'e ofthe officers and men of the second division of
tp 414r3, to the memory of the Duke of Orleans. It is
~hscrrorm of a pyramid, and with the usual appropriate
1-1,13t..,kns ; bvars the record of the battles in which
Atitw'nee Royal has distinguished himself, viz.
Te,:erP, 1832 ; Mascara, 1835 ; the Iron Gates, 1839 ;
tamps'ata de Mouzaya, 1840. On his return from the
the Duke de Nemours gave a grand dinner. In
ttithev"ing the Prince received a great many of the
tq,orities from various parts of the department, some
'"lng from a great distance.
Th •
ttf theee Tines of yesterday had a complete vindication
'ltiviti-Corn-law League against the charge of
caused or fomented the recent disturbances. Our
"IPorary repudiates the idea that the League or
I),e,4l:lther politieal body has occasioned which induced
out-
ha and admits that it was starvation which
he Nbworkrnen to demand higher wages. " They asked
read"
nir scutsto " appease their hunger ;" and in pursuing
e they have lately adopted. they were obeying
ect
.ions of no other
voice than that of their own
Di
offi_ apatches are regularly forwarded by the Post-
Dkv`f_a mails every evening, from the different public de-,
ji4iiii:ents, to her Majesty in Scotland. In former years
bite r documents used to be conveyed by Governinen
Bengers.