Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-11-20
put a strap around the prisoners legs
Just above his knees.

hand and kissed him the witnesses were
sure the end was near and the suspense
was terrible. Terrible on the witnesses
and no human knowledge can say how
terrible to the man standing alone there
on the green sWard. As the priest en-
tered upon the Lords Prayer the execu-
toner put the black cap over the head
OF the doomed man and adjusted the
moose about his neck. Birchall had de-
clared that he would say nothing on the
scatfold and he did not say word after
leaving his cell except it might have
been to muttcr word to Leetham or
Mr.. Wade when he bid them good bye
with a kiss.
AT SGT, six minutes after the process
sion started from the corridor, the words
deliver us from evil" gave the signal
and quick pull on the small rope by
the eXeeutioner, who stood behind tile
laws victim released the intense weight.
II dropped with the rapidity of thought;
It fell TO the ground and sank or s
inches into the ground by the force of
It's weight. Birchall had been stood
| close TO one of the uprights and the
| jerk OF the moose drew his body first
| obllquely and then up. The body was
1erked into the air about B feet and fell
until Its feet were within Q feet of
the ground. The drop was made
at s.29 o'clock. The convulsions com
penced half minute later, but they
were not at all violent, more resembling
heavy breathing with slight twitching Of
the hands and legs.
AT S.304 the convulsions had ceased
and at 9.35 DR.. Chamberlain, who stood
with his hand on the body, declared that
life was extinct, There were six min
utes from the drop until the doctor de-
clared Birchall dead. A post mortem
was held by DIR. Odlum and Coroner
McLay presided at the inquest. Dir.
Chamberlain said the neck was broken.
The hangman arrived yesterday morn
ing, and his presence soon became
known throughout the town, but a story
is told about the mistake in which a
well known divine of Hamilton figures.
This cleric arrived on train during the
afternoon, and Mrs. West Jones hap
pened to be at the station with Mr..
finkle, lawyer. She saw the Hamil-
ton divine step off the car platform and
exclaimed to Mr.. Finkle: "Oh, is that
the executionerg'
But although Mrs. West-Joncs was
ignorant OF the arrival Of the hangman
he attracted considerable attention on
the stand and was conspicuously
dressed in corduroy coat and broad
brimmed soft felt hat. His name is J. |
X. Radcliye and he is professional ex-
ecutioner. He is a loquacious English
man, with broad Devonshire accent
10 him his business is an honorable ad-
1unct Of the administration of Justice
and he sees no reason why he should
not be allowed to retain his position as
steward of Sunnyside Boat Club in
Toronto and carry on his execution
work as occasions present themselves. |
He has just been steward of the Sunny |
side Club for three weeks or so, and |
although he handed in his resignation
before coming up here he does not ex-
pect that it will be accepted.
The post-mortem discovered that death |
had been caused by strangulation. The
usual statutory verdict was found by
the coroner's Jury.
The opinion Of the Jail officials and
Dr. Chamberlain is that the execution
was well DONE DR.. Chamberlain SAYS
he never saw more finished execution
and in his judgment Birchall felt moth
ing three seconds after the weight had
been tipped. The body will be buried
in the Jail yard but whereabouts the
officials will not divulge.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Reginald Birchall, the prisoner in the
case Just closed as we'll as Ben
well, his victim, was born in England The
latter was well connected, and the former
alleges he is allied to the English nobility.
Birchall was born in Church, Lancashire,
q n1N f,ttt ~ |
was for years the rector OF Church Kirk
and rural dean of Whalley. Reginald was
The youngest Of four children and was
at Harrow and Oxford He has
always led fast life, and his associates
have always been of evil character.
In the summer of 1883 Rirchall married
he daughter of David Stephenson, the
general traffic manager of the London &
Northwestern. Her parents were opposed
Q the match and the couple left England
md came to Woodstock, Ont. In the
pring of 1889 they returned to England,
md having patched mp a peace with Mr..
stephenson resided at his house. Birchall
to lead a fast lifs, and was soon
It his wits end for funds. il was then that
le induced Douglas Pelley and Lieutenant
3enwell, the father of the murdered man.
o enter into his plans He concocted a
tory that he had large farm near Niagara
Falls lighted by electricity and fully stocked
ma wanted Pellcy and young Benwell to
,ecome partners with him. He induced
he elder Benwell to let his son go with 1
i'm TO see the farm, with the understand |
ng that if he liked it he was to pay $500
or a half interest in it.
On February 9th Mr.. and Mrs. Birchall,
'elley and young Benwell sailed on the {
and reached New York on Feb ]
uary 14th and registered at the Metro
olitan Hotel On the following saturday {
ley left on the Erie railroad for Buffalo.
here they stopped at the Stafford House.
was decided that Birchall and Benwell r
hould go on the 8 O'Clock train the next
forming to the Falls and prepare for the :
eception Of Pelley and Mrs. Birchall. !
AT Q o'clock on the following night
irGhall came back alone. He said Ben b
ell didn't like the farm or the people and i
'tilsed to stay there, and that he had gone
the country The party then went to !
lliton, ont, and spent week there =
eiley. all the time fretting about the del...
ad Birchnll calming him with plausible
ories. Birchall then showed Pelley the b
office about the finding Of Benwell's body L
nd said he would go at once and see the
ldy. felley accompanied him. Birchall II
zen showed Pelley telegram from Ben u
ell at New York requesting that his lug =
Ige be sent there. Pelley then came to
ew York and Birchall went to Princeton o.
I'd identified the body He was arrested, CO
gether with his wife. B
The evidence showed that Birchall lured
$ victim to. lonely swamp where he A,
as found and sent a bullet through his =
ain. He sent letter to Benwell's father
rec days after the murder, stating that Y
enwell liked the farm, and requesting G
at the $500 be sent over Immediately.
lere was no evidence against Mrs. fo
rchall. n
The Registers Office. H
The term of John X Bradford as register N
walls for New Castle county will expire ",
June 30, is9l, and unless the policy Of =