Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-11-14
The news /!
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS TO
THE CITIZEN
REGINALD BIRCHAI.I. HANG
ED AT WOODSTOCK.
HE FIRMLY PROTESTS HIS iNNO
CENCE TO THE LAST.

WOODSTOCK, Ont, Nov. ll.-Rcg,nald
Birchall, whose case has attracted almost
universal interest, was hanged acre this
morning for the murder of +. {. Bcnwell
fellow Englishman whom h, lured to
America from England and then killed in
a lonely swamp not far from Niagara.
Birchall met his fate firmly and died
without showing any sign of lear. His
wife called on him Al I o'clock last even.
ing and was alone with him until O'Clock
in the morning when there was sorrow
ful parting.
Birchall spent the most of the remain
der OF the night in reading the scriptures,
praying and talking with Rev. Rural
Dean Wade and the turnkey. He also ar.
ranged his affairs with his executors.
The quietness of death peryaded the
Jail until the hangman from Toronto
came. He demanded admittance and
when inside, spoke loudly and so ofton
that the guards who have become at.
tached to Birclall through his uniform
courtesy, were glad when the han- nan
unconcerncdly went to sleep.
At 4 o'clock Birchall bade goodbye to
the night guard, Midgely, who has been
watching him.
lie BirchallD was fearful that faxed
confession might be given out after his
death and so prepared this document:
No CONFESSION.
Woodstock GAoL,
Nov. 10, 1890.
"It after my death there shall appearin
the press. or in any other manner what
socver, any confession that had any
hand in the murder OF +. c. Bcnwell, OF
personal knowledge of SAID murder with
intent or malice aiorethought, or any
personal connection with the murder on
the 7th Of February or anv other day
or any knowledge that such murder
was likely to be committed, OF
any statement further than any that
may have made public previous to this
date, hand this statement to the car,
of Geo. Perry, of Woodstock, Ont, thai
he may know that any confession or par.
tial confession are entirely fictitious and
in no way were ever written bv mt,
neither cmanatcd from me in any way
whatsoever to any person, and tho
whole are fictitious and without Wort
of truth. This likewise applies to my
story in he Mail, in which have made
no such confession or partial confession
"This holds good throughout"
REC. BIRcHALL."
HIS LAST HOURS.
At six o'clock the other persons were
put to work to get them out OF the way
and Birchall ate a couple of eggs, reius
ing other things, though he had eaten
nothing during the aight.
The crowd from the surrounding coun
try had by this time collected and about
200 persons With admission cards wcr'
let into the Jail yard. The trees, wal
and other places near by were crowded
with people.
His last hours Birchall spent with th'
rector, DR.. Rice, the gaol surgeon, an6
with Mr.. Lcctham, of Montreal, Birch
all's college chum, who has stuck to HIM
All preparations were completed ant
the cxccutioner bound Birchall's arms.
TO THE scAFFoLD.
At S.25 O'Clock the awful procession
began, Rev. Rural Dean Wade leading
and reading the church of England ser
vice for the dead. Behind him were tn
jail officers and the prisoner, DEATH,
pale, but resolute. His step was steady
| His let black hair and moustache mad
the pallor OF his face look like marble.
At the jail yard the prisoners friend
Iectham, walked with him and held on
hand in both OF his with all the assuranc
of friends heart clasp.
The procession stopped at the gallow
until the church service was finished. a
the gallows the prisoner hada fixed lool
It was not despair he had strung hi
whole being up to die game.
HANGED.
As the last word of the service wei
/ said Birchall stepped firmly forward
took Lectham's hands in his and I'll
friends kissed each other under the ga
lows. Birchall's legs were bound, til
black cap put on and the moose ADJUSTED
Al $40 the signal was given and II
drop fell. Commissions commenced ha
"A minute later, but they were not Mt Il
yiolcnt-morc resembling heavy brcatl
ing-with a slight twitchng OF hant
and legs.
At S:30is the convulsions had cease
and at $40 DR.. Chamberlain, who stoo
| 4. ~. head tt. lnIy lpCln vs,l nf