The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-16
PAID The PENALTY.
Neil, Who Poisoned Several Girls
in London, Hanged.
THE WORK WAS QUICKLY DONE,
And the Murderer Met His Fate stOl-
idly, Paying Little Attention to His
Surroundings e. Death mstanta-
neOus--Hc Falls to Join in the Read
ing of tho Religious Service.

LONDON, Nov. l5.-Thomas NELL,
otherwise CREAM" the murderer Of
Matilda Glover and several other girls,
paid the penalty Of his crimes at 8
o'clock this morning. Notwithstanding
the fact that orders were issued direct
ing that the execution should be strict
~ private, the representative OF the AS
ISOLATED Press was accorded permission
to enter Newgate prison, where Neill
had been confined since his conviction.
He learned that shortly before 8 o'clock
the authority to hang Noill was handed
over BY the high sheriff of the county
of London to hangman Ballington in ac-
cordance with the legal form.
At three minutes to 8 Ballington,
accompanied by an assistant who car
ried the pinioning material, entered the
cell Of the condemned man where he
found the prison chaplain ministering
to Neill. Without u moments delay,
the hangman, while courteously asking
the permission OF the condemned man,
deity and rapidly pinioned him, pass.
ing broad belt about his waist and
securing his elbows with two straps
tightly drawn back and fastened to the
belt behind. Straps were placed
around the wrists and connected with
the body belt in front. This rendered
Neill absolutely incapable OF moving
his arms or hands. The condemned
man did not utter word during the
process which lasted barely minute.
The procession TO the gallows was
then formed. 1t was headed by the
chief warden, who was followed by the
chaplain, who, as he walked, read the
burial service OF the Church OF Eng
land. Neill came next, guarded on
each side By wardens. He walked
firmly. A deadly pallor overspread his
features, but his face showed no other
trace OF emotion. Close behind tho
prisoner walked the hangman. As the
procession passed through the corridor
towards the scafFold the tolling of the
passing bell OF st. Sepulchre's, which
has marked the last moments oil so
many criminals, resounded through the
prison. On arriving at the scatfold the
the white cap, which had been previ-
ously placed upon tho head Of the con-
demned man, was pulled down over his
eyes. Ballington then guided him onto
the trap door, beneath the cross beam
from which rope with hempen moose
at the end was dangling. The white cap
was then drawn down 80 that it covered
the chin, rendering it impossible for
Neill to see the final preparations for
his death. These only took few min
utes. His legs were pinioned with
strap that was fastened below the
knees. The moose was then dropped
over his head and adjusted around his
neck. Tho ring was fixed behind the
left ear. In another second the execu-
toner stepped to place in the rear,
pressed lever and the trap fell. NellPs
body dropped five feet into pit.
Ballington and other persons who saw
the execution concur in the opinion
that death was instantaneous. There
was q convulsive twitching OF the mus
Giles of the back and limbs which lasted
a few seconds and then the body hung
motionless. Just prior to the cap be-
ing pulled over his face, Neill thanked
the prison officials for their courtesy
and kindness. The prison chaplain
says that yesterday he found Neill ex-
ceedingly morose and unresponsive to
his appeals to accept his fate and to
think only of passing to higher life.
This morning the chaplain's endeayor
to bring him to a happier frame ofmind
were to little purpose Neill passed
restless night, doing occasionally and
then awakening with start. Neill
had dotted his prison clothes this morn
ing and wore a black morning coat and
brown trousers. During the reading OF
the service OF the dead on the way to
scaffold, Neill remained silent, not
joining in like some condemned men
going to the scatfold have been known
to do. The hangman supposed that the
exact length of the drop was feet, A
inches
The body was cut down at 10 o'clock.
a cast OF the head was then made. At
noon jury viewed the body and re-
turned formal verdict in accordance
with the medical testimony that death
hae been caused by fracture OF the
neck. The body was then placed in q
perforated coffin, into which a sack OF
quick.lye was poured. Tie features
showed no trace OF the mans violent
end.