New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-15
REG. BIRCHALL HANGED.
THE MURDER OF BENwELL ExPIATED ON
THE GALLOWS.

THE CONDEMNED MAN GOES TO DEATH DENYING
HIS Gu1LT-rHE CLOSING SCENES in
THE WOODSTOCK JAIL
Woodstock, Ont. Nov. 14-BircbaI was hanged In
the iai yard hcre this morning at 81 O'clock for
the murder of F. c. Bcnwell on February IL last
Bircim ate good supper last night to fortify him
SELF for his last vigil 1t was after midday Yesterday
when he rose and dressed himself and his first meal
Of the day was taken at about O'Clock yesterday after
poou The remainder Of the day was spent in receiv
ing the visits Of the Bishop Of Huron and the Rev. Mr.
Wane and aftcrward Dr. Rice, the jail surgeon was
With him for a considerable time. At O'Clock Birc"a
had tust finished supper when carriage drove up
to the door of the prison. II contained Mrs. bncia
Mrs. Wcst-Jones and Mr.. Lcctham. All three "ci''
into the jail but only Mrs Birchall climbed uie
circular iron stair to her husbands cofr'oor.
Until 1 O'Clock in the morning the husband 'uo
wife continued their conversation. During inc ""o'o
Of this long, hast meeting Turnkey Forbes was 'n VIC
corridor with them. Early in the night the new ",
Wade went into the corridor and made hinsch ie"N.
10 spend the night by removing his outer coat. ~
O'Clock came the leave taking, and the weeping "'""
was led out through the barred door.
When they alightcd from the carriage shoruy "'' .
O'Clock Mrs Birchan walked up the stairs OF te ho'o'
x,,,h firm step and went immediately TO her ioo'.
or,a,es were given to her. and she slept until '"o
pollock. ,,.~,.u Wa
HIS wife having gone i''na o."
left with Turnkey Forbes anu 'u' ""o.
The ours after Mrs Bircha left the jail were paSeo
h prba and the minister in reading the SCRIPTURES
~ ard t.rpirr Forbes who is one OF Birchali's
s,enh,rs then talked to him about his temporal at
e,r< R,rchaIl had little bequeath except legacy
which he expects to fau to mm next sprns Inc On
tent of hts property the 81 500 he received from the
autobiography and $50 he received from inc pro-
prietors of Toronto for the clothes ne wore
ND AL
c,s. az his head bust and figure When Bircha had
done with tho turnkey about O'Clock Guard Midgely
went In 10 see him. Birchan gave Mldgely gold
pencil for his Bircall had begun to fear that by
some means fictitious confession would be published
after his DEATH and guard against this he made out
this document:
Woodstock GaOl, Nov. TO- 1890.
(Ail rights reserved.)
II after my there shall appear in the press or in
INV other whatsoever any confession that had any
hand In the murder Of Mr.. F. c. Benwel any personal
knowledge Of said murder with intent or malice afore-
thought any personal connection with the murder on tho
18th February other day, any knowledge that any
such murder likely be committed, any statement
further than that may have made public previous
10 this date hand this statement to the care Of Mr.
George Perry, OF Woodstock Ontario that he may know
that any confession partial confessions are entirely
fictitious and In way written by me, neither
tmanated from in any whatsoever TO any person.
and the whole fictitious and without word OF truth
This likewise applies my story in 1.-THE Mail" In which
have made such confession partial confession This
holds good throughout. REG. BlRCBALL.
breakfast brought into Birchall's cell by the
cook at O'Clock Birchall looked at II and said he
did not feel like eating anything The cook left the
food, however, and withdrew, and on second thought
Blrchall turned 10 ii and ate little. Then he began
10 prepare himself for death. lie put on a white
flannel Shirt with coat and vest over It, but had pre-
viousy asked Turnkey Forbes to that this was Ne
placed after death by ordinary white shirt with
c1oAlc oDAt lilo Hhpn
collar at his Death, he said because it might inter
fere with the placing of the rope About halfpast
o'clock crowd began to collect in front Of the Jail
chiefly newspaper men from all over Canada and the
United states. At about half-past Deputy Sheriff
Perry admitted the jury, and the doors of the jail
were opened and the crowd of waiting were also
admitted and passed straight through to the ward
in which the scaffold erected. About $50 ad
mitted. The hangman appeared on the scene at As.
He is j. Il. Radchve, steward of the Sun
INSIDE Boating Club of Toronto. lie be-
gan TO adjust the apparatus Of death at
Dr.. Chamberlain of the Provincial Prisons Inspectors
Once. present and so were DIR. NcLAy, tho
coroner and DR.. Oldum. Dr. Rice. tho Jail surgeon,
went ND to Birchalps Mr. Leetiam, Of Montreal.
went to his old college chum's cell next At as
O'Clock the hangman. having completed preparations
outside. in and took from his black vase long
black Prince Albert coat, and removing his hat walked
about in the Jail bareheaded. For minutes
Chamberlain, Deputy Sheriff Perry and A. d. stewart,
of Hamilton who has been here two days AT 23
the hangman was beckoned to 60 UP the stairs. He
had been walking around the rotunda- hold
ing in his hands the straps with which To Tie
Birchayrs arms, waiting for the signal to 30 up A
minute or two he took to strap the prisoners arms
behind his back and then the march to death began al
25 O'Clock. First came Mr.. Wade In his surpnce
and reading the Church Of England service for the
lead. Behind him Dr. Chamberlain, followed by A. D.
Stewart and Deputy Sheriff Perry The prisoner came
next deathly pale, but resOnte his jaws locked with
the fxity of death. He down the stairs with one
hand on the railing for FROM his elbows down his
,rms were free. His step steady. His jet black
hair and mustache made the palor of his face like
marble. lie was dressed in dark colored clothes
white flannel shirt with black bow at the collar.
and light patent leather shoes. He looked young
and there such expression of resolution and
courage that the men who saw him forgot that he
had shot friend in the back in a lonely swamp. At
the foot OF the spiral staircase the procession reformed
and his friend Leetham walked on one side Of linn
with his day guard, Perry the other Jaer Cameron
followed them and after the hangnsn the aged sheriff
supported TO the door Of the corridor overlooking
the west yard The march was slow along the
ridor and out into the yard. On one side the pris
hands Ia both OF his. On his right side Perry held
Birchail's arm Walsing In front OF him and partly
right hand. outside the witnesses were gathered IN
senlcrcle forty feet from the corner that held the
with their charge about fifteen feet from the galiows
and the solemn tones OF the Anglican service thrilled
every one. Bircalrs eyes had not a trace OF the
frivolity that had nghtened his Imprisonment As he
stood listening TO the low toned priest tey were liked
on the blue sky 10 the norm.
AT the words Dust to dust in the service Birchall
sfepped firmly forward and took his place under the
scaffold with his face 10 the south and IN ned up
slightly. He took Leetham's hands III his aud the
friends kissed each other under the g1,llOWs The
hangman put a strap around the prisoner legs. lust
above knees. Tnen the clergy man took Birchals
hand and kissed him. As the clergyman began TO
rccte the Lords Prayer the haneman Put the back
cap over tie head Of the doomed man ana adjusted
the moose abont his neck Bircha had declared that
he would say nothing at the scaiiod lie went 10
the scaold without confession. The last words mat
Brcha uttered were addressed 10 the hanema Just as
he was putting the cap over the condemne1 mans
head Bircball said Have you any OBJECTIONS 10
tainly not and they shook hands SIX minutes aiter
leaving the corridor the words Deliver US RON evil
gave the Signal and quick pull ON tne snsll rope
BY the hangman. who stool behind the laws Vcwin'
released the immense weight. AT 8 80 Dr. CnainDer
lain declared that life extinct. There were Jus.
minutes from the drop until the doct,r aecis J