Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-11-20

to them and had succeeded in exciting
their deepest pity. When MidgeleS
came down from Birchalls cell, at A. Al
o'clock lie said that the prisoner was
bearing up well and that there was nc
question he would make big effort tc
die game.
Birchall had begun to fear that by
some means a faxed confession may be
worked off on the public after his death
and to guard against this he made out
this document:
WooDsrocK GAoL, Nov. 10, 1s90-(All
rights reseryed).-If after my death there
shall appear in the press or in any other
manner whatsoever any confession that
| had any hand i'll the murder of Mr.. +. G,
Benwell, or any personal knowledge oil
said murder with intent or malice afore-
Thought, or any personal connection with
the murder on the l1th of February, OF
other day, or any knowledge that any such
murder was likely to be committed, or any
/ statement further than any that | may
| have made public previous to this date.
| hand this statement to the care of Mr..
| George Perry of Woodstock, Ontario, that
he may know that any confession or par
| tial confessions are entirely fictitious, and
in no way were ever written by me
neither emanated 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
| Mail, in which have made no confession
or partial confession. This holds good
| throughout
lsignedl REG BrRcHALL.
At $50 o'clock the colored cook be-
gan to prepare Birchall', breakfast,
which had been ordered lor o'clock.
II consisted Of poached eggs, toast,
canned peaches, canned raspberries and
coffee
Breakfast was brought in to Birchall's
cell by the cook at 6 o'clock promptly.
Birchall looked at it and said he did not
feel like eating anything. The cook left
the food, however, and withdrew, and
on second thought Birchall turned to it
and ate little. He disposed of a couple
Of eggs and then pushed the tray from
him.
Then he began to prepare himself for
the final terrible ordeal. He pnt on a
white flannel shirt with coat and vest
over it, but had previously asked Turn
key Forbes to see that this was replaced
after the execution byan ordinary white
shirt with starched collar and tie. He
would not wear starched collar at the
execution, he said, because it might in
terfere with the placing of the rope.
About 7.30 Deputy Sheriff Perry
showed up and the doors of the gaol
were opened and the crowd of waiting
men admitted and passed straight
through to the yard in which the scaffold
was erected. About 100 were admitted
but the number was subsequently in
creased by about so. The executioner
appeared on the scene at 7.35 o'clock,
rope in hand and began Immediately to
put things in order. DIR. Rice, the gaol
surgeon went up to Birchall early in
the morning and Joined the Rev Rural
Dean. Birchalls manly friend and col
lege chum, Mr.. Leetliam of Montreal
went to his cell at 7.45 o'clock.
At 9.15 o'clock DR.. Rice came down
from the corridor and left the prisoner
alone with his friend and his spiritual
adviser.
AT S.23 o'clock Chamberlain, Deputy
Sheriff Perry Cameron, Day Guard
George Perry having gone into the cor
ndor the executioner was beckoned to |
go up to Birchall's cell. He had been
walking around the rotunda, in his |
hands the straps with which to tie Bir-
waiting for the signal to go |
up. He put behind his back and partly |
under the skirt of his coat the russet
colored straps and went up the stairs. A
minute or two he took to strap the pri-
soner's arms behind his back and then
the awful march to death began at S.25
o'clock.
First came the rural dean in his sur
plice and reading the Church of Eng
land service for the dead. Behind him
DR.. Chamberlain followed by A. D.
Stewart and Deputy Sheriff Perry.
The prisoner came ont deathly pale,
1ut resolute. His jaw was locked with
ihe frigidity of death. He came down
he stairs with one hand on the railing
or from his elbows down his arms were
rec. His step was steady. His let
black hair and moustache made the
oallor of his face like marble. He was
lressed in dark colored tweed clothes,
White flannel shirt with black bow at
he collar and light patent leather shoes.
ie looked so young and there was such
IN expression of unmoyable resolution
nd undaunted courage that the men
Who saw him and knew him to be
worthy of death in the eve of the law
orgot that he had shot friend in the
'ack in lonely swamp. The faces of
/
S that of the doomed man.
At the foot Of the spiral case the pro-
ession reformed and his friend Leetham
walked on one side of him with his day
uard, George Perry, on the other.
iaoler Cameron followed them and
fter the hangman the aged sheriff was
to the door of the corridor !
the west yard. The march i
clntp n 1nt,fr Il
ne yard. On one side of the prisoner
Ieetham walked close and held one
and in both Of his with all the assur-
nee Of friends heart-clasp. On his !
ght side Day Guard Ferry held Bir
halls arm. Walking in front of him !
nd partly backward the great burly '
equity sheriff grasped Birchall's right r
and and his strong figures could be !
zen to close with impulsive pressures I
YER the slender fingers of the doomed =
IAN. :
The principal actors in the tragedy i
opped with their charge about IS feet a
ON the gallows, and the solemn tones b
the anglican service thrilled every :.
ne there with horror that hardly let y
em realize the tremendous importance &
that in which they were taking part a
hey, felt an overpowering pity for /,
e black-haired white faced Young
an standing on the threshold of eter- h
ty. His eyes had not trace Of y
Q friyolity that had lightened .
$ Imprisonment. AS he stood listening 4 4
the low-toned priest they were fixed Il
the blue sky over to the north. There I
as not hunted look nor was there B
y fear in his eyes but fixed purpose
at seemed TO consume his reason. 1t
not possible to imagine the expression
his face. He was living a life time OF
that hour and no one there but would q