Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-04-05
ELEVEN BABIES
Had Been Cruelty Slain by the Woman
Executed in Australia.


only one woman had been previously
hanged in the colony, namely, Mrs.
Scott, for aiding in the murder of her
husband. The suicide of the hang
man, Jones, as alleged. because of his
aN efSlon to hang a woman. also i'm
creased the interest, so that if *
scarcely to be wondered at that
large crowd of morbid minded peoDle
collected outside the Jail in Victoria
street. An air of dread expectancy
settled over the prison as the hour
approached, and whatever emotion NAV
have been experienced by the crowd.
who frequently consulted their
watches, outside the prison gates. it
was trifing to the sensation of the
few who gained admittance
The condemned woman was COM
posed during the night, and the pres
ence of her child, Gladys, gave her
great comfort The jail officials had
done everything in their power to pro-
vide for the extreme punishment of the
law being properly carried out. The
belief that the woman would collapse
q
statement made by Rev. H. f. Scott,
her spiritual adviser. to the effect
that the unfortunate woman assured
him that she would not walk to the
galloWs. She had a light breakfast
and drank little brandy and milk.
Within a few seconds of the ap-
pointed hour, Mr.. Burrows. the govern
10
and Mr.. Ellis, the sheriff. appeared.
In the meantime sobs were heard pro
ceeding from the condemned cell. and
then voices rose, singing the HYMN
Safe in the Arms of Jesus" which
IS said to have been Mrs Knorr's
faVorte hymn, and her voice could
be distinctly heard. One verse was
sung, and then, after few seconds,
the hymn, abide With Me, Fast Fall
the Even Tide" was sung. AS the
voice died away the sheriff stepped
forward and demanded the body of
Frances KnOrr in the usual manner
The new hangman, Roberts, his assist
ant, Howard, and another man en-
tered the cell, and the condemned
woman submitted quietly to be pin
ioned
She was then led to the scaffold.
walking with very firm step. She
was placed on the trap door, and the
sheriff asked her if she had anything
to say. She raised her head and said,
Yes, the Lord is with me; [ do not
fear what man can do to me, for
have peace-perfect peace She then
stopped, and Roberts frightened the
rope on her neck, while his assistant
drew the string at the bottom of her
dress to prevent any hitch when she
fell. This done, Roberts drew the
bolt, and Frances Knorr dropped into
eternity without moving a muscle.
The matrOn of the jail and a female
Warder were in the cell with the con-
demned woman to the last. The ma
iron did all in her power to comfort
the unfortunate woman, and she was
in the cell when the bolt was drawn.
The thud Of the falling body was
heard by her, and she collapsed. She
moaned and sObbeG, and eventually
became hysterical. The sheriff ordered
that the cell door be closed upon her.
but even this did not prevent shrieks
being heard.
Before her execution the condemned
made a confession, part of which was
as follows.
LAS l feel that have not expressed
myself clearly, I now desire to state
that upon the two charges, known in
evidence as No. L and No. q babies.
L confess to be guilty. Placed as |
now am within a few hours of my
death, l express a strong desire that
this statement be made public with
the hope that MY fate will not only
be a warning to others, but also act
strong deterrent to those who are
perhaps carrying on the same prac-
tice''
What the effect of hanging woman
will have is hard to say, but no sur
prise will be occasiOned if the COM
ing spree will be the worst of the
preceding ones. In Victoria the Gu
ideally hanged are not handed over
to their relatives for burial. The
bodies are inferred in a 3-fOot grave
in the "Old mans yard" in Melbourne |
Jail. 1t is the duty of the hangman
and his assistants to place the body |
in a shell and then pour two buckets |
of quick lime on the body, nail up the !
coffin and cover in the grave Over !
the spot of the interment the initial |
letters of the condemned are carved |
on the stone wall. A plaster of paris !
cast of the head is also taken, and /
in the chamber Of horrors the cast of |
the head Of every criminal hanged in
the colony can be seen.
Mrs KnOrr was a Miss Frances
Thwaites and was born of most re-
spectacle parents on Kings road, Chel-
sea, England. They were a musical
family and Frances sang in the choir
She ran away with a soldier, and on
her return was placed in a reform
school. She was sent back home as
and was shipped to Sid
ney, n. S. w. There she soon became
Known as a criminal and was con-
victed Of larceny and other offenses.
She closed her career on the scaffold
,or numbering II babies.
WON A CAPTAINCY.