The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-14
Execution Of DR.. Pritchard, the Poisoner

DR.. Pritchard, who poisoned his wife
and mother-in-law, was executed at
Glasgow on the 2Sth July, in the pres.
ence of an immense crowd, estimated by
some at nearly one hundred thousand
persons. When on thescafiold he briefly
acknowledged the justice ofhis sentence
and met his fate in a stoical manner.
The correspondent ola Manchester pa
per gives the following account of the
last scenes:
las soon as eight o'clock struck, Cal
craft, who had been lowering about in
readiness for couple of hours, was In
troduced to the condemned eel, and,
with but few words, proceeded to pinion
the culprit's arms. The convict was per.
fectly passive, so that the pinioning was
quickly done. Then commenced the
dolorous procession from the cell to the
hall of the courthouse, Mr.. Stirling, the
Governor of the prison, going first, i'm.
mediately followed by the Rev. Mr.. Old
ham, who read that part of the Church
of England burial service used on such
occasions, his fine sonorous voice re-
sounding through the dismal corridors
of the prison in a manner which sent a
thrill to the heart of every one who
heard it. The Rev. Mr.. Doran, Chap
lain of the prison, followed Mr.. Oldham,
and then came the criminal, with Cal
craft and several wardens close behind
him, the procession being closed by the
Rev. DR., Norman M'Lead, Having ar
rived on the floor of the court ball, the
party halted. Here the city magistrates
occupied the bench, presided over oy
Bale James Brown and attended ny Mr.
Turner, Town Clerk, and MI. west
Watson, the City Chamberia.n. Inc
court was well occupied oy q Few noM,
bilities, the workmen who had erected
the scaffold, and the, members OF the
nress. Mr.. Stirling having advanced to
The bench, presented the death warrant
TO Balie Brown, along with his power to
carry out the order of the Court.
"Silence now reigned in court. The
culprit was standing in front of the
bench, with the officials around him,
when the presiding bailie asked him
whether lie had anything to say. 1t be-
ING impossible for Pritchard to hear the
question, he turned to the Governor and
asked what was requested of him. Mr..
Stirling having whispered the question,
the unhappy wretch said, in scarcely
audible tones, but quite cool and collect
ed, I acknowledge the justice of my
sentence Immediately thereafter max.
ng profound bow to the bench and
keeping his head down for second OF
two afterwards. The bailie then waved
his hand to the party to proceed, and the
procession was reformed, the burgh off
GERS, in their scarlet going first
ION moving towards the scaffold and
before he left the court, Pritchard looked
wistfully around him and then walked
on with Arm step, showing no sign o
weakness or indeed concern. In TACT
although his countenance bore death
like pallor, still he seemed the least e1'
cited ortaQubled Of those present, Ar
rived in the vestible, the procession pas.
sed between files of policemen ana g.
once assembled the scaffold. Mr.. Uias
ham then read a short prayer anu isis
Pritchard alone with Calcraft, WY an
mediately proceeded to cover ms h ne~ al
with small cap, his large nowins p S;sa
and whiskers makingitnis ndoAe "''n
cult operation than usual.
uThe convict was dressed in q suit OIL
h,ack in fact apparently one that ne
ofsan anneared in on the streets OF the
oit,, a pecuIiarity in the cut OF the coat
,m:Ei inc il rather conspicuous. His left
hand was gloved, and IN his right hand
he carried the other glove. The rop,
heinr quite adjusted, Calcraft pinionet
his ankles with o leather strap, and q
!, nine minutes after eight o'clock tn
wretched being was entinto eternity
he suffered sppsxsaty very severely