The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-15
BIRCHALL In THE MOOSE.
DEATHS TERRORs DEFIED AND NO
CONFESSION MADE.

His Wife With Him Until O'clock in
the Morning-The Rest of the Night
Soent With a Clergyman and a
rurnkey-His College ChuIn True to
the Last.
WOODSTOCK, ONT, Nov. 14-Reginald
Rirchau. whose case has attracted almost
universal interest, was hanged there this
m,rning for the murder of F. G. Benwell,
q fellow Englishman whom he lured to
America from England and then killed in a
lonely swamp not far from Niagara.
Birchall met his fate firmly aud died with
ont showing any sign of fear. His wife
called on him at Z o'clock last night, and
was alone with him until l o'clock in the
morning, when there was sorrowful part
ing. BirchaIl spent most of the remainder
of the night reading the scriptures. praying
and talking with Rev. Rural Dean Wade
and the turnkey. He also arranged his
affairs with his executors.
THE QUIETNESS OF DEATH.
The uuietness of death pervade1 the jail
until hangman from Toronto came. He
noisily demanded admittance. and when
inside spoke loudly and often so that the
guards, who had become attached to Birch
all through his uniform courtesy, were glad
when the hangman unconcerpedly lay
down and went to sleep. At o'clock
Brchall bade good-by to Night Guard
Midgely, who had been watching him.
HIS LAST PROTEST OF INNOCENCE.
He was fearful that faxed confession
might be given out after his death and gave
out this document.
WOODSTOCK JAIL Nov. 10. 1890.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
IL after my death there shall appear in the
press or in any other manner whatsoever any
confession that had any hand in the murder
of F. C. Benwell or any personal knowledge of
said murder with intent or malice aforethought,
or any personal connection with the murder of
the 18th of February. or other day, or anv
knowledge that any such murder was likely to
be committed, or any statement further than
any that may have male public previous to
this date | hand this statement TO the care of
George Perry Of Woodstock. Ont, that
he may know that any confession or partial
confessions are entirely fictitious, and in no
epanated from me in any way, whatsoever to
any person; and the whole are fictitious and
without word of truth. This, likewise, applies
to my story in the Mall, in. which have made
such confession or partial confessional
This holds good throughout.
REC BIRcHALL.
HIS FATAL HOURS APPROACH
st 6 o'clock the other prisoners were put
to work to get them out of the way and
Blrehall ate couple of eggs, refusing other
things though he had eaten nothing during
the night. A crowd from the surrounding
country had by this time collected, and
about 200 persons with admission cards were
let into the jail yard. The trees, wall and
other places near by were crowded wit
people. His last hours BircheH spent with
the rector, Dr. Bice, the Jail surgeon. and
Ar. Leetham Of Montreal, Birchall's college
chum, who has stuck TO him. All the
| Preparations were completed and the execu-
TONER went up and bound Birchalrs arms.
THE MARCH TO THE GALLONS.
At S:25 O'clock the awful procession be-
gan Rev Rural Dean Wade leading in his
surplice and reading the Church of England
services for the dead. Behind him were the
jail officers and the prisoner, deathly pale,
bli resoute. His stop was steady. His jet
black hair and mustache made the pallor of
his face like marble. at the Jail yard the
prisoners friend, Mr.. Leetham, walked with
him. and held one hand in both of his With
all the assurance of a friends hand-clasp.
IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH
The procession stopped at the galiows un-
I'll the church service was finished. At the
gallows the prisoner had fixed look. 1t
was noe despair, but he had strung his
whole being up t. die game. AS the last
words OF the service were said Birchail
stepped firmly forward, took Mr.. Leetham's
na IN his. and the friends kissed each
other under the galows. BirchalPs legs
were pound, the black cap put on and the
moose adjusted. At 500 o'clock the signal
was given and the drop fell. Copvulsions
commenced half a minute later. but thev
We're not at all violent, more resembling
nsavy breathing with slight twitching
OF the bands and legs. At $50 o'clock the
TohV1lSlons had ceased, and ct S:S5 o'clock
Ut chamberlain. who stood with his hand
on on tne body: declared that,life was extinct
mere were Just six minutes from the drop
uhtii the doctor declared Birchall dead. A
Pdoun az utnorten examination was held by DIR.
UceI!um and Coroner Mckay presided at
eue inquest. DR.. Chamberlain says the
neck was broken.
KILLED BY SPECULATION,
-, Ihe post mortem examination disclosed
...o ..o lacI That death had been caused by
msngulauon. woa The usual statutory verdict
ao 4ound by the coroner's sjury. The
CbaioI CS,aloh OF the Jail officials and DR..
ddnaluOerlaln dooa is that the execution was well
saw Saw Df. Chamberlain says that he never
inJcalor more finished execution. and, in his
onds dsut' at.' Blrchall felt nothing three sec
hoJ oJ9 altei A the weight had been tipped The
wbc5i Jbu5 VIII be buried in the Jail yard, but its
"-'ieaoouts the officials will not divulge.
HE CONFESSED.
.dn;i dnlrai Dean Wade, Birchall's spiritual
IN fsI'Sgr, S speaks freely about the letter given
Nor U1ard Percy by Birchall dated
confo.Ii' ~ denying that he had made a
the thiIeSslon Io,stn to any one. Mr.. Wade says
Raw 'GtGer tt was lie. and that when he first
iny y MI ne gave up hopes of the man repent
faas,os Tue inference is that Blrchall con-
frsod 70 The Clergyman. Dean Wade re-
CSnroh' 70 read the burial service of the
1t BirohoI,E Bra oI England, and simply said prayer