Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-14
HE KEPT HIS SECRET,
Birchall Hanged for the Murder Of
~ Frederick Benwell.
Ne Is COMPOSED TO THE LAST.
An Affidavit Issued Regulating
Ali Confessions.
STARTLING SCENE At THE GALLONS

STARTLING SCENE At THE GALLONS
BIRCHALL HANGED.
The Glib Young Confidence Man Pun
ished for Frederick Benwell's Murder.
WOODSTOCK, OSr., Nov. I4-Birchall was ex-
ecused this morning for the murder Of Fredsr-
lick C. BenwelI. The drop fol- ~ SIG exactly.
He made no confession.
The prisoner Birchall ate . good supper to
fortify himself for his Last vigil II was after
midday when be rose and dressed himself and
yesterday afternoon. The afternoon was spent
| in receiving the visits Of the bishop of Huron
and the Rev. Rural Dean Wade, and afterward
DR.. Rice. the Jail surgeon, was with him for q
considerable time. At 7o'eiock Birchall had
just finished supper, when carriage drove mp
10 the door Of the prison. II contained Mrs.
Birchall, Mrs. West Jones and Mr.. Leetham
All three went into the Jail. but only MIRA
Birchan climbed the circular iron stairs to her
| husbands corridor. Her sister and Mr.. Lee
than wen. into the GOVERNOR office to wait for
her and did not themselves see the prisoner.
| In the office, lying under the desk, but in
plain view Of them, was . pile Of rope and
tackle suspiciously like the hangman's appara-
Il
tainted. She could remain in the ONCE no
| longer, and for q time waited In the rotunda
| of the Jail. At o'clock she and her CON-
panion left the Jail and returned to tho hotel,
| leaving Mrs. Birchall in the corridor with the
prisoner.
BncHALL'S LAST yIaHT.
40 o'clock they entered their carriage at the
hotel and again went to the quiet jail, dismiss-
| ing the driver with instructions to come at 10
Il - a.
were Watching for the return OF the trio to the
| hotel Ten o'clock passed and II o'clock struck
midnight came. and the number Of ne wspaper
| watchers had diminished, but the wife, sister
and friend had not come. The town was hushed
| in midnight quietude, the electric lights had
left the streets In darkness save for the dull
glow from the windows of the telegraph offices
and hotels. Around the offices of the tele-
graph companies the last pages Of copy were
being filed by tired newspaper men, and around
the hotels were other ne Wspaper men and Q
| numerous complement Of curious citizens,
| whose nerves were feeling the tension OF the
excitement hanging over the town and whose
heads were, some OF them, muddled with pota-
| tons. Everywhere else the starry mantle of
| the night wrapped the orderly town in repose
and forgetfulness.
LAST EARTHLY CONFERENCE.
Everywhere else except in q narrow corridor
Of the county Jail, there two hearts were hold
'Ae A"os S'.' AAA' Souiei oAeo' n ma" "ho n0u
promised to love and cherish . woman through
life was bidding her a last goodbye, and o
woman who had promised to love, honor and
obey man unto death was making her last
sacrifice. What they talked about only one
cnnt;nreS .ha;, conn.a a. .me "I mrs '.sy
whole OF this long last meeting and long last
parting in the very valley Of the shadow Of
death Turnkey Forbes was in the corridor with
them, but they cared nothing for il. Early in
the night the Rev. Rural Dean Wade went into
the corridor and made himself ready to spend
the night by removing his outer coat.
THE SAD LEAVE rAxISo.
Ar o,cioct CANA tba iao,a t.L;,o ~ Al.
-a.,;.. -. -. - 90 ~.
Weeping vo"a" was leu ou' 'n1ousn the pared
her husband seven hours later passed to his
death. Mrs. West Jones had been waiting
down stairs for her sister and assisted to the
carriage the woman already widowed in the eye
Of the law. When they aighted from the car
rage shortly after / O'Clock Mrs. Birchall
walked up the stairs of the hotel with a firm
step and went Immediately to her rooms DIR.
Ivey had been prepared to administer opiates
II she should be hysterical, but 80 far as has
been learned no soporihe Was used. His wife
having gone, Birchall was left with Turnkey
Forbes and the rural dean. While Mrs. West
Jones was IN me jan AND lnss after she had
otS.a "S .hs ,o},a. sha Sano " sne ropS ~ sns
at the door. followed bS a dozen reporters
hungry for admission. The hangman was ad-
United after he had succeeded in satisfying
Guard Midgely OF his identity BY bringing the
deputy sheriff.
rHl HISaxAy ANGRY
This VA, mot however, before the nub,;c .,.cr.
.on.- Ia -. .o 80 =. -. 80. Wv.
"ouoi NM s'o." " angry ~ ooi"s Aep' ou'
OF sne 1aii that ne threatened 70 return TO To
ronto and leave the job to an amateur or not
| to be done at all today. Guard Midgely Is a
| sergeant In the Oxford Rifles and staunch old
soldier who obeys orders, and his orders last
night were to let no one pass the doors.
Il would not have let him in at all, NJ idgely
remarked . couple of hour0 afterward. 'if it
had not been that did not want to see the job
botched, and told him." continued the guard
~ he pointed to the hangman sleeping on q
sofa in the Office beside him, that il he botched
this job would knock him down."
The time during the hours after Mrs Bir-
chall left the goal were passed by BirchaIl and
| the divine In reading Scripture, praying and
| talking. The turnkey took nap while Mr..
maoe was WIN brchaii IN MS CELL during the
r rlsS M. maoe came OUT OF tne cen and Mr.
vent in and snent .oms time nth him t.is;ng
about his temporal affairs. Birchaii had little
| to leave except legacy which be expects to
fall to him next spring.
B1ncHALL's PROPERTY.
| TIL. sxtsrt ~ hi. n,onar.v - A.. q, rno 1. =
| .;s -, FtH VIC no