Glasgow Courier. — 1862-05-01 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE EXECUTION OF MARY TIMNEY AT DUMFRIES.  Mary Reid or Timney was executed on Tuesday moming, a little after eight o'clock, on the outside of the prison of Dumfries, for the murder of Ann Hannah, at Carpshad, on the 13th of January last. Contrary to all expectation, and very much to the credit of Dumfries and neighbourhood, the concourse of spectators was very much less than had been anticipated, and not more than between 2600 and 3000 pm sons could have witnessed the execution. At a few minutes past seven o'clock the Provost and Magistrates, accompanied by the townclerk and the Rev. Andrew Gray, of the New Church, Dumfries, arrived at the Court-house,where the special constables, 200 in number, had already assembled. A short but impressive prayer was offered up by Mr Gray. At twenty two minutes to eight o'clock the magistrates and other officials, preceded by the halberdiers, proceeded to the prison from the CourtHouse, the space between which had been kept clear. Having arrived at the room of the governor of the prison, a formal receipt was given to that officer by the magistrates for the living body of the condemned woman. The magistrates then left the prison, and in the open space in the street facing the scafffold a religious service was held, at which the Rev. Mr Gray officiated, there being between 200 and 300 people within the enclosure. The first four verses of the 51st Psalm were given out and sung, after which Mr Gray offered up a prayer. At eight o'clock Calcraft, the executioner, entered the cell and proceeded to pinion the prisoner's arms. Her fortitude now gave way in a great measure, and she burst into tears and moans of the most pitiful kind. She besought them not to hang her, for she was only a young woman; and at this, the very crisis of her fate, she added that she had not murdered Ann Hannah, and that "it was Ann Hannah who had struck her first." Though all moral and almost all physical strength had deserted her she was nevertheless able to walk with some assistance from the cell to the scaffold. The mournful procession had to pass from the cell down a flight of stone stairs, and thence along a passage which led to the foot of the scaffold. To this point the prisoner was accompanied by the chaplain and the governor of the prison. She was then half supported and half lifted up the steps of the scaffold, her appearance on which sent a thrill of horror through the spectators. Her face was deadly pale, and the wretched woman appeared quite terrorstricken. She craved permission to "stand a minute," which was granted. She moaned in wailing tones that must have shaken every heart----" Oh, no! oh, no! Oh, my four weans! oh, my four weans !" and these doleful expressions she continued to repeat till her earthly career was closed. Calcraft having appeared on the scene soon completed his dreadful arrangements, and the shrieks and screams of women were now heard in the crowd outside the prison walls. At this moment the doomed wretch appeared perfectly paralysed, and was supported on each side till the rope was adjusted, when the bolt was drawn, and in an instant she was launched into eternity. Her death was all but instantaneous, and beyond a slight convulsive movement of the arms, which did not last beyond a few seconds, there was not the least indication of suffering. An exclamation of horror burst from the crowd at the awful spectacle mingled with the shrieks and cries of women. The drop fell at twenty-three minutes past eight, and at five minutes to nine the body after hanging for upwards of half-an-hour, was cut down. The streets and scene of the execution were almost instantly deserted: The body was buried within the prison walls. So ends the dreadful tragedy of the Carsphad murder!