Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-15
WHEELING W. vA SATURDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 15 1890

hundred times. He did not say word
after leaving his cell except it might
have been TO mutter a word to Leetham
or Mr.. Wade when he bade them good
by with kiss.
AT s:27, six minutes after the process
sion started from the corridor, the words
'deliver us from evil" gave the signal
and a quick pull on the small rope by the
executioner who stood behind the laws
victim released the immense weight.
1t dropped with the rapidity of thought.
1t fell to the ground and sank six or
eight inches in the ground by the force
of its weight. The body was jerked
into the air about five feet and fell un-
til its feet were within two feet of the
ground. The drop was made at 500.
The convulsions commenced half a
minute later, but they were not at all
violent, more resembling breathing
with slight twitching of the hands
and legs. AT $780, the convulsions
had ceased, and at s:35 DIR. Chamber
lain, who stood with his hand on the
body, declared that life was extinct.
There was just six minutes from the
drop until the doctor declared Birchall
dead. A post mortcm was held by DR..
Odlum, and coroner McLay presided at
the inquest.
The verdict of the Coroner's inquest
was TO the effect that no dislocation of
the neck had taken place: the windpipe
wrs crushed in. Death was therefore
caused by strangulation. 1t is now def
nitely stated Birchall went to the scat
fold without confession. The last
words that Birchall uttered were ad-
dressed to the hangman. Just rs he
was putting the cap over the condemned
mans head Birchall said: "IIave you
any objections to shaking hands with
me?" The hansman replied: Certain
ly not, and then they shook hands.
The post mortem discovered that
death had been caused by Strangulation.
The opinion Of the gaol officials and the
doctor is that the execution was well
done. DR.. Chamberlain said he never
saw a more finished execution, and in
his Judgment Mr.. Birchall felt nothing
three seconds after the weight had been
tipped. The body will be buried in an
unknown place in the gaol yard.
Mrs. Birchall has been under the in
! lluence of opiateS since her return this
morning from her interview with her
husband. She awoke about 9:30 and
the facts of the execution were told her.
She bore up much better than was en-
pected. Birchall's body was cut down
fifteen minutes after the execution.
When the black cap was removed the
dead mans face was found to be great
ly discolored, numerous dark blue spots
appearing all over his face. The red of
his eye balls was quite apparent.
Birchall had Il long talk with DR..
Rice about the execution and spoke
freely, expressing the hope that the
''job" would be well done.
The principal streets were thronged
with people from the surrounding towns
and country, all discussing the last
scene in the Benwell- -Birchall tragedy.
The people of Woodstock with few cx-
ceptions believe that Birchall deserved
his fate.
1t is impossible to learn anything detin-
itc as to when Mrs. Birchall will leave
for England, but it is reported that she
will remain in Woodstock for some little
time. The undcrtakers are preparing
BirchaI'S body for burial. The grave
has been dug, and the burial will take
place this evening.