San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-04
By John Ellis
Official Executioner Of Great Britain
CHAPTER VII.
CONTINUED from Last Sunday


LONDON September 81.
D1CTURE to yourself doomed man standing on
the fatal trap-door with the rope round his
neck, the white cap over his face and his arms
strapped behind him; imagine the hangman spring
ing to the lever to complete the laws sentence and
then think of the sensation that would be caused by
the sudden imperative cry Of
STOP
IF you can bring such scene before your minds
eve you will have some dim perception of what hap
pened on the morning when Samuel Herbert Dougal
paid the penalty for the murder of Miss Holland
that case which is known and spoken of even to-day
as the "Moat Farm Mystery
Never in modern times has there been such a
scene at an execution. Ordinarily nothing in any
shape or form is allowed to interrupt the smooth car
rying out of the laws decree. Yet here was the
astonishing command-"Stop!'-a the voice
that of the prison chaplain, of all men.
Everybody stood thunderstruck. Then the Rev.
J. Bakemore addressed the man standing there
awaiting death.
"Dougal, are you guilty or not guilty."
There no answer The white-capped figure
gave no sign A second time came that appeal in
slightly louder voice:
"DoUga are you guilty not guilty?'
Still there no response. The white-capped
figure remained as motioness and silent as before.
A third time came the question. almost shouted:
Dougdl, are you guilty or not guilty :!
This time the man on the edge of the next world
stirred slightly. He was speaking.
Guilty, sir"
The confession was in such a low tone doubt if
anybody but the chaplain and we, the executioners.
heard it.
The chaplain was satisfied. With motion of
the hand he signalled to 10 go on with our grim
work, and within fraction of second Dougal was
dead
The incident unique in criminal history and
forthwith became the topic of discussion all over
England There were reporters present at the
cution but I've yet read description of it that
accurately told what occurred.
For that reason am particularly gratfed at now
being able to put on record the precise happenings
of that extraordinary occasion. For the moment
however let me tell how Douga came to be standing
on the scatfod that July morning.
One of the most extraordinary things in life is the
way in which men of vile character are often able to
captivate pure women of high intelligence It was
this feature that fascinated in all that read and
heard about the Moat Farm case.
Douglas record before he met the gentle Miss
Holland, whom he afterward murdered reveals him
as one OF those utterly INSCRIPTIONS scoUndres who
prey upon women until they have exhausted their
little fortunes after which they caously thrown
aside. Miss Holland was by no means the first vic
tim to his doubtful charms indeed it is believed that
she was not his first but his third murder victim
Thrice had he been married before he met her
and two of his wives died suspciousy sudden deaths
IN Canada The police feel sure that he murdered
them.
Naturally he said nothing about his previous
wives when he met Miss Camille c. Holland through
the medium of matrimonial advertisement Neither
did he tell her that his third wife was still living or
that he had once been convicted of forgery at the
Old Bailey.
No, to her he posed as a retired army officer and
his big, powerful frame and handsome, joval coun-
tenance decorated with pointed beard quite took
the heart of the slightly errstic spinster.