Evening journal., 1890-11-15
ENluMBED IN THE YARD.
Birchall's Body Buried Within
Woodstock's Jail.
HIS BRAIN WAS UNUSUALLY BIG.

The widows Grief Dnlied by the Use OF
Narcotlcs-she stll Hopes TO Take the
body of Her Late Husband TO England
with Her.
WOODSTOCK, Ont, Nov. i5.--Woodstock
as we'll as the whole English speaking |
world ia still talking OF the last act in the
Birchall- Benwell tragedy. Unmoved this
handsome, talented, gentlemanly assassin
slew his friend In Blenheim swamp; un-
moved he saw the moose tightening about /
his neck In Woodstook's court room and /
heard the death sentence pronounced, and |
az unmoved marched 70 the tree of death
and met his fate.
"Well, won't you shake hands before |
go2n he Is reported 10 have said lightly to |
Hangman Radcliffe even when the black |
cap had been adjusted and the fatal mo
ment was at hand The hangman did so,
and a second later the nonchalant MUIR
derer was launched into eternity.
HE Last Statement.
He not only refused to make any confess
sion, but he left with the sheriff the fol-
lowing strong statement, which should eff
! fectually brand as false any alleged "con-
fessionn which may be published;
WOODSTOCK JAN. Nov 14.-If, after my death,
there shall appear IN the press, or in any other
manner whatsoever, any confession that | had
any hand in the murder Of Mr. +. G. Beuwell, or
any personal knowledge Of said murder with in
| tent or malice aforethaught, or any personal con-
/ nection with the murder on the 18th OF February
or other day, any knowledge that any such
/ murder was likely 70 be committed, or any state
| ment further than any that may have nude pub
1 81 Ia
the care Of Mr.. George Perry, OF Woodstock. Ont,
/ that he may know that any confession, or par
/ tial confessions entirely fictitious, and in no
/ way were ever written by me. neither emanated
| from me IN any way whatever TO any person. and
| the whole are fictitious and without word Of
| truth
This likewise applies 20 my story IN The Mail,
| in which have made no such confession, or par
tia confession.
This holds good throughout
REGINALD BiRcHALi.
After the execution the spectators were
driven out Of the Jail yard and the body
was given over TO the doctors The post
mortem showed that the murderer was u
man Of splendid physique His brain was
large and normal and all his organs-with
the exception OF one kidney, which was
slightly congested in q healthy con
dition. The post-mortem also revealed the
fact that no dislocation of the neck had
=, taken place. The windpipe was crushed
and death was caused by strangulation.
. Thus ended the life Of a man who Is be.
! leved In Woodstock TO have been the most
7 extraordinary scoundrel that ever lived.
! Buried IN the Jail Yard.
Z Birchall was buried at o'clock in thu
Jail yard Very few were present Mrs
, West-Jones and Friend Leetham repre-
sented the family. There were present
y also two reporters and few OF the jai
! officials The undertaKers had made goot
/, work with the body 1t was dressed il
: evening costume, and on the breast wa
: the gold locket containing the picture o
! \ Mrs. Birchall and lock OF her yellow hair
The metallic casket was handsome ant
plush covered, and was covered with lilie
OF tho valley and callas. When the jai
= officers had placed It in the grave, an,
& while Mrs. West-Jones and Friend Leethan
l. silently wept, the Rev. Mr. Wade stood b,
q the open grave and said fervent prayer
Says 1t Is Lie.
Rev. Wade speaks freely about the lette
:. given to Guard Percy by Birchall, date
\ the 10th inst, denying that he had made
! confession 20 any one. Mr. Wade says tn
y letter was a lie, and that when he first say
!. it he gave up hopes Of the man repenting
: The inference is that Birchall confessed I
!, the clergyman and that it was because q
I. the denial that Rev. Wade refused to rea
!. the church of England burial service an
q simply said prayer at the grave.
i Under the Influence of Opiates.
"A There is little new to tell about the weel
- ing widow or her sister Mrs. West-Jone
~ The former remained in her room all da
L and was said TO be under the influence {
4. opiates. She still hopes to get possesslo
of the body and says that she wishes Z
take il back to England, but the attorne
general shows no signs Of yielding. Mr.
y, Birchall has grown very thin under tt
in long battle for her husbands life. 81
a looks like a very sick woman.
IT. Her sister has made quite reputftic
in for dash and liveliness In the town and
We good many people are asking who an
k where Mr.. West-Jones Is. There is son
st- question as to whether the two women a
te really related
or She May Get the Body.
a. There is a strong impression here th
A. the murderer's body will 60 back to En-
ay land In spite of the refusal by the attorn
general to give the body to Mrs. Bircha
It is a significant fact that it was placed
an air tight metallic casket and herme
ne cally sealed and some who claim to knC
~ are Struggling their shoulders and sayi
~ that it might possibly be found missi
On from the Jail yard some morning. It "
Ap- not be buried in quieklime, at any rate