Evening journal., 1890-11-13
THEIR LAST FAREWELL.
Birchall Bids His Broken Heart
H ed Wife Goodby.
A KEEPER STOOD BETWEEN THEM

And the Unhappy Pair Were Denied a
Wonderful Nerve stm sustaln's Him
Despite she Approach of the Fatal Hour.
WOODSTOCK, Ont, Nov. 1s.-J. Reginald
Birchali, who on Feb. II last led Frederick
CORVALLIS Benwell Off to the lonely Blen
helm swamp and there foully murdered
him, is preparing to meet his death with
as much calmuess as though he were max
ing arrangements to 60 on mere earthly
journey Yesterday he busted himself
with finishing up his farewell correspond
ence The letters made a considerable
bundle, and he sent them TO his wife, who
will post them Most OF them are ad-
dressed 70 friends in England
He Seems a Man OF Iron.
What dread there is in his soul, what in
ward Quaking he has as he contemplates
the terrible ordeal before him, he alone
knows. Not by one word or sign or out
ward manifestation has he indicated that
he looks forward to the terrible ordeal be
fore him with a-ything save perfectly
cheerful philosophy Even in the heart
breaking last interview he has had with
his sorrow crushed wife his eyes have never
moistened nor has a quiver come to his lips
or a falter ia his voice.
His attendants say that at times within
the past two days he has had moments
when he seemed lost in serious reyerie but
at word he would rouse ont Of IL and
talk in his usual half fippant way VIII
he break down at the ends Will he pro
test his innocence to the ends He now
says he has accomplices. VIII lie give
their names at the last momentF These
are the great questions, and about them
centers the real interest in the execution.
Farewell TO His wife.
Last night Mrs Birchall had her final
private interview with her husband. The
stern rules which have heretofore demand.
ed the presence Of third party at all the
interviews with Mrs Birchall were not re-
laxed. and keeper stood between husband
and wife while they said their farewell
words
The fear that Birchall would make way
with himself in some way and that his
wife would furnish him the means to do
1t, is the cause Of ali this. The anxiety on
thiaecore on the part Of Sheriff Perry has
am@nnted 10 a sort of panic, and has
caused many precautions which are ab-
surd, and some which seem almost heart
less The fear, however, was by no means
a gronndless one, though il was not neces-
sary to 90 to all the lengths that have been
gone to to prevent any such event taking
place.
His Mother Is Dangerously Ill.
Mr.. Arthur Leetham, now OF Montreal.
but formerly a schoolmate Of Birchail.
came here yesterday. With him was Mrs
Ingalls,. Of Montreal, who has taken
deep interest in poor Mrs. Birehall. Mr.
Leetham aud Mrs Ingalls, went to the
Jail this afternoon and carried Birchall
some flowers.
They did not see him, Of course. Nobody
sees him except his wife, Mr. Wade and
the jail attendants. Birchall received
number OF letters during the day. TIE
majority were from cranks. but one from
England brought him the news tnas his
mother and his half brother were danger
onsly ili- He betrayed q good deal Of emo
tion over this
The scaffold will be put in position to-
day II viii be put Ia the northwest
corner of the jail yard, and Birchall from
his cell must certainly hear the sound OF
putting il together In the town here
nothing but the execution Is talked Of,
and il go sbsorbs all interest as 10 notice
ably affect business, as was the case dur
ing the trial The hotels are already fiji
ing ap, and there will be about 100 news
paper correspondents here by Tonight.