Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-16
MURDERER NELL HUNG.
His Neck Was Broken by the Drop-he
Remains sallen to the Last-No heng-
ious Consolation for Him.


LONDON, November 15.-Thomas
Neill. otherwise Cream, the murderer OF
Matilda Glover and several other girls,
paid the penalty Of his crimes at nine
o'clock this morning. Notwithstandlng
the facts that orders were issued direct
ing that the execution should be Strictly
private, the representative OF the Asso-
ciated Press was accorded permission 10
enter New Gate prison where Nelil had
been confined since his conviction. lie
learned that shortly before nine O'Clock
the authority to hang Neill was handed
over by the high sheriff OF the county
OF London to Hangman Ballington, In
accordance with the legal form.
At three minutes to nine Ballington,
accompanied by an assistant who car
ried the pinioning material, entered the
cell of the condemned man, where be
found the prison chaplain ministering
TO Neill. Without moments delay,
while courteously asking the permis-
sion of the condemned man, deftly and
rapidly pinioned him, passing 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
ward during the process, which lasted
barely a minute. The procession 10 the
gallows was then formed. 1t was headed
by the chief warder, who was followed
by the chaplain who, as he walked,
read the burial service OF the Church
OF England. Neill came next, guarded
on each side by warders. lie walked
firmly. A deadly pallor overspread his
features, but his face showed no other
trace OF emotion. Close behind the
prisoner walked the hangman. As the
procession passed through the corridor,
toward the scaffold, the tolling OF the
passing bell Of st. Sepulchres, which
has marked the last moments Of so
many criminals, resounded through the
prison. On arriving at the scafold the
white cap, which had been previously
placed upon the head OF the condemned
man, was pulled down over his
eyes. BellIngton then guided him on
to 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 so that
1t covered the chin, rendering II impos-
sible for Nelll to see the final prepara-
tions for his death. These only took
few minutes. His legs were pinioned
with a strap that was fastened below
the knees. The moose was then dropped
over his head and adjusted around his
neck. The ring was fixed behind the
left ear. In another second the eXecu-
toner stepped a pace to the rear, pressed
a lever and the trap fell. NeilFs BODY
dropped fve feet into pit. Ballington
and the other persons who saw the ex-
ecution concur In the opinion that
death was instantaneous. There were
convulsive twitchings OF the back and
limbs and then the body hung motion
less. Just prior TO the cap being drawn
over his face Neil thanked the prison
officials for their courtesy and kind
ness. The prison chaplain says that
Yesterday he found Neil exceedingly
morose and unrespohsive to his appeals
to accept his fate and TO think only OF
passing 10 DlRueT NE. lHis mOi nihH
the chaplain's endeavors TO bring him
to happier frame OF mind were to lit
tie purpose. Neil passed restless
night, doing occasionally, aud then
awakening with start. Neill had doif-
ed his prison clothes this morning and
wore a black morning coat and brown
trousers. During the reading OF the
service for the dead on the way to the
scaffold, NeiI remained silent, not join
ing In like some condemned men going
to the scaffold have been known to do.
The exact length OF the drop was five
feet four 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 returned formal verdict
in accordance with the medical testi-
mony that death had been caused by a
fracture Of the neck. The body was
then placed in perforated coffin into
which sack of quick-lime was poured.
The features showed no trace OF the
mana violent end