The New York herald., 1879-08-08
EXECUTION OF "A WOMAN.
THE HANGING OF KATE WEBSTER IN LONDON
FOR THE MURDER OF HER MISTRESS sHF

THE HANGING OF KATE WEBSTER IN LONDON
FOR THE MURDER OF HER MISTRESS SHE
MAKES A coNFEssIoN-scENEs AT THE scAF-
FOLD.
From the London Globe. July 29.l
By the execution this morning at few minutes
past nine o'clock of Catharine Webster. for
the murder of Mrs. Thomas. at Richmond.
on the I'd Of March last the curtain has
fallen on tho final act Of the tragedy.
Kate Webster will be remembered 'the Richmond
murderess, who. having killed her mistress. named
Thomas. cut her body up. and having failed to de-
stroy 1t by boiling placed IT in q box which she
throw in the Thames. At eight o'clock last
night the Rev. Michael McEnery. the Ro-
man Catholic chaplain of the Jail. was with
her for two hours. during which she unreservedly
confessed that she solely concerned in tho muir
DER and that the previous statements made by her.
and which have been made public. were untrue. Her
statement. or rather confession. was reduced to
writing and instead of being handed her solicitor.
1t was sealed and forwarded to the Home Once
YOUNG GIRLS NEAR THE scAEFoLD.
Contrary to general expectation the crowd outside
the prison was comparatively small, up to eight
o'clock only about two hundred persons had con-
gregated in the avenue leading from the main road
to the entrance OF the prison. Shortly
after seven O'Clock the Rev. Father McEnery
arrived. and soon followed by Mr.. Abbott
the under sheriff, and the doctor Of the prison.
Gradually the crowd increased and by the time the
black flag was hoisted about four hundred people
had assembled. At ten minutes to nine o'clock the
prison bell commenced to toll and simultaneous
with its sound warder appeared ON the bell tower.
about foot of the black ag appeared above para
pet Of the tower, and evidently some short delay
was caused. judging from the signs made by the
warder to those below. When the flag went up
cheer arose from.those in the immediate vicinity Of
the gates and 1t il due to those who present to
who formed the major portion Of the crowd
little before ten O'Clock, Mr.. Abbott. the under
sheriff left the jail and on our representative in
curing whether the convict had made any confess
sion he stated that she had acknowledged no one
else had participated in the murder. and that she
had gone to tho scaffold entirely repentant There
was scene. the prisoner throughout the terrible
ordeal behaving herself with remarkable fortitude.
HER CONFESSION.
Kate Webster made confession to her confessor.
Father McEnery and subsequently to Major Col
vile. the governor OF the prison. that she alone
plicated in the affair were entirely innocent.
Tho statement has been taken down in DETAIL
and has been transmitted to the Secretary of state.
It will be recollected that 1t proved at the
trial that the deceased lady. when she last
March. appeared to be very excited. and the prs-
seems to have stated that .he and the
deceased lady had had some words isu Jre she went
out on this evening. On her return te alteration
was resumed. and she herself having been drinking.
very 0tcchs6us
and upon looking ut her she found she
dead. The prisoner appears to represent that
the act was quito unprecedented. but
upon seeing that her mistress was dead
the thought came into her head to endeavor
to get rid of the body aud to possess herself
of the property OF the deceased. The rest OF the
statement Is virtually in accordance with the evi-
dence tnat was given at the trial. and the
person who was guilty. and that all the
other people whom she has falsely
cused entirely innocent. Through her confessor
cla Mt m no thaf
these persons would forgive her the injury she had
done them by accusing them falsely of such terrible
crime. At quarter to twelve o'clock Mr.. Hall, tho
inquest ut the prison. and the usual formal verdict
returned. About hundred people fingered
round the prison for an hour after the execution.
but with the exception OF the cheer the raising Of
the black flag. tho behavior Of the people was ex-
tremely quiet
HER LAST DAYS ON EARTH.
There was never an execution within the precincts
Of wandsworth Jail until last year. The room in
condemnation Is situated near the inhrmary..
and Is much larger and more comfortable
than cell. which indeed would hardly
the prisoner ana those in charge Of
her. Two female attendants have always been with
her day and night. The priest has been untiring In
his efforts to comfort the prisoner and to
which she believes. Catharine webster's de-
meanor, especially during the past few
dsvs. has been such as TO suggest that
to her future. That she had personally strong
hopes ut first of being spared the galows there is
little doubt. Physically her confinement had not
materially altered her appearance. She occupied .
allowed to take daily open air exercise in the prison
garden. She had slept well and regularly. even up
to yesterday morning, and had taken adequate
ishment. She had seen visitors, with the single
aNH ft0wsS NJ hArG IiEftn