New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-12
BIRCHALL'S LAST DAYS.
THE CANADIAN MURDERER CHEERFUL IN
THE SHADOW OF THE GAIIOwS.
10 BE HANGED FRIDAy MORNINa-sTILL AS
aERT1Na HIS INNocENcE-vIsITED AND
oHrERED BY HIS DEVOTED WIFE
BAsELESS RUMoRs THAT HE
MAY ESCAPE OR KILL
HIMSELF.
IBY rELEGRAPH 10 THE rkIBrsE.I

fDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TklBCSEl
Woodstock, Ont, Nov. ll.-As tho day OF tne
oxecution Of j. Reginald Bircball draws neal' inc
interest in this remarkable case is growing 'noio
intense. A large number Of newspaper represents,
tives are in town already awaiting the ia,ai
Gay. Hundreds Of applications to wnneSS "'e
execution have been received. Many Of these come
from places hundreds of miles away: neeu
les 20 say that nearly all of these applications nave
been refused. Men have been employed 70 Sua'u
the j.il all day Friday. Since the Governmen'
Insoector was here. few days ago, nobody has
I'm allowed to enter the Jail except Mrs Bircha.
tho Rev. Mr.. Wade, and those whom bircnsAi
wished to see. =,
Il has been decided that the execution snaai
take place in the jailyard at O'Clock fnday
morning, or as near that time as possible
Birchall will probably be ready when the time
comes. and will walk to the gallows pravely, anu
die game" AS yet he has not broken down.
although he sleeps little. He refuses to talk
with anybody about his case, and 1t Is not ex-
pected that he will make confession. lie de-
clares that he has no fear Of death; but says
that he would much rather be hanged than put
to death by electricity or killed In railroad
accident. When he was told that the people
think that he will commit suicide. and cheat the
QaIlows, he laughed. as though he enjoyed his
notoriety. Although he does not sleep well, The
condemned man would remain in his bed all
day il his guard, Mr.. Perry, would let him.
But the vigilsnt guard awakens him and brings
him his breakfast, and often his dinner, While
the prisoner is yet in bed.
Hrchall is in excellent spirits, and Is well
dressed and cleanly shaved. He looks almost
as well as he ever looked. Yesterday he did not
get up until p. m, but to-day he arose early
1roo ha
attentively to the band of minstrel company
that played in the village opera house. This
evening the band marched around the streets, and
past the jail and Brchall enjoyed the music
exceedingly.
The band also brought bright look into the
sorrowful face of Mrs. Brchall who is boarding at
the Commercial Hotel, as they passed there. Mrs
Hrchau's position is sad one. She is here with
her devoted sister. Mrs West-Jones, and will re-
main until after the execution. This week she
has been allowed 10 see her husband whenever
she desires and her visits to his cell have been
many. Last night the meeting was a sorrowful
one Mrs Birchall was accompanied by Mrs.
West-Jones as usual. The law directs that q
condemned man shall not be alone for an instant
with any one except the Jail officials and his
spiritual adviser. and, it is i'm iossible for the
husband and wife to meet except in the presence
of the jailor They are not allowed to clasp hands,
nor even to kiss each other. A long table is
placed between them This is done to prevent
Mrs Birchall from handing her husband anything
that may aid him to cheat the galIows.
The Sheriff has received communication from
the Attorney-General authorizing private inter-
view between Brchall and his wife, If such IN
terview would be possible without danger OF an
ticipating the action of the law. Whether or not
the interview will be arranged remains to oe seen.
as the Sheriff is extremely strict in all his plans
and arrangements This afternoon Birchall was
writing farewell letters to his mother. his re-
lations, and his friends He is preparing to make
his will and to give his final instructions. He
continues to protest his innocence of the murder
and says that had he told straight story at
first lie would not now be in the shadow OF the
gallows But he lied TO screen another; and, now
that the end was almost at hand. he would rather
die than betray that person.
There seems to be feeling in the pub
lie mind that Birchall will either escape
or commit suicide before Friday. This is
due to the exaggerated reports about the
loose manner in which the Jail is managed. Should
the notorious criminal succeed In eludng the
be extradited for jail-breaking because that Is is
not an extraditable offence; nor could he DE
brought back for murder because that charge
of these reports The officials faithfully carry,
ing out the instructions Of the inspector, and
there will be no lack of vigilance on their part
until the execution is over. II is said that
Birchall has already made will, bequeathing
everything to his wife. What he had to leave
her II is hard to imagine. Every one knows that
ali the interest he had in his fathers estate has
been squandercd in riotous lving,, and that when
arrested he had less than $l00 But he has made
some pretence to his wife that there is q legacy
coming to him next May or June, and this he
a to hnr
According to the law, the body Of M the prisoner
must he buried in the jail-yard: The Jail an-
thorties are not likely to regard this provision
With much favor, on sanitary or otner grounds
II IS said that the Town Council will be asked to
petition the Attorney-General to have the body
bnried elsewhere Should the request be granted
the body will be embslmed here and taken home hae
ss+er The scaffold to be used for the execution
of Birchall arrived here to-day and VIII M pe p pH'
nm tomorrow in the yard in the rear OF the laii
rR,rchall is the least concerned man IN the laii
Thought OF hanging the murderer
THIS MAN SAYS He MURDERED BEN"ELL.
Woodstock Ont Nov 1.-Another letter concerning
tNAh