Daily Kennebec journal., 1890-11-15
BIRCHALL HANGED.
The Penalty Of His Crime Paid
in Full.
The Last aolemu Act-ais Qorrowins
Wile-fhs BOD.


vas hanged q s.29 this morning. Mrs.
Bifehali arrived at the Jail at o'clock las;
evening. and remained with her husband
until o'clock this morning, when she
took her last farewell and was driven to
her hotel, After this Birchzll spent some
time with bis spiritual adviser in reading
the scriptures, praying aud talking.
At six O'Clock he ate very slight break
fast and thea began to prepare for the final
terrible ordeal. He put on . white flannel
shirt, with coat and vest over it. He wore
q shirt Of this material in order that il
might not interfere with the placing of the
rope about his neck. He asked the turn
key, however, to zee that this was re.
placed after the execution by An ordinary
white shirt. with starched collar and tie.
Meantime . crowd began to gather in
front of the goal, chiefly newspaper men
from all over Canada and the United States.
but including good many residents, many
of whom subsequently, were admitted TO
constitute jury to be empannelled after
Birchalis death.
Altogether about $50 men were admitted
to the yard where the scaffold was erected
including reporters.
At s.l5 Birchall and h's spirit ual helper
had another short communication. after
which the prisoners arms were strapped be-
hind his back and the march to the gallows
began. Birchalrs face was deadly pale but
bore most resolute expression. His step
was steady.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
service Birchah stepped firmly forward and
took his place under the scaffold. He took
the hands Of his old friend Leetham in bis,
and they kissed each other. The execu-
TONER then put strap around the prison.
er's legs just above the knees. The clergy
man then took Birchall's hand and kissed
it.
As the priest entered upon the Lords
prayer the executioner put the black cap
over the head of the doomed man and ad-
justed the moose about his neck.
At 500 at the words "Deliver us from
evii,"i quick pull on the small rope by the
executioner released the immense weight.
1t sank several inches in the ground and
Birchalrs body was jerked into the air
about five feet and fell until his feet were
within two feet of the ground. Convul.
tions, which we're not at all violent, lasted
but minute and at S.35 life was declared
extinct.
A post mortem examination showed that
his neck was broken.
Birchsll had prepared statement which
now is made public, and in which he de-
clsres be has never made any confession
and that any and all stories purportipg to
contain such . confession are absolutely
fictitious.
The body will be buried in the jail yard,
but hereabouts officials will not divulge.
BEchall Made No Confession.
1t is now definitely stated that Birchall
went to the scaffold withou. making a con-
fession. Birchall's body will be buried this
evening.
Gays the Letter Was Lie.
Rural Dean Wade, Birchall's spiritual
advisor. speaks freely about the letter
gwen Guard Perry by Birchall, dated she
l0th inst, denying he made 4 confession
to anyone. Wade says the letter was a
lie and when he first saw it he gave up all
hopes of the man repenting. The infer.
eiice is that Birchall confessed to the
clergyman. Dean Wade refused to read
the Church OF England burial service, but
simply said prayer at Birchalrs grave.