Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-01-20 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

EXECUTION OF PATRIPX HIGGINS. On P Nleinned to death for particips. T•ord Ardilann's bailiffs, the the walls of Gaiway Gaol wind had been 'vied by vivid The mornividence -it to • ,  Patriele,Higging, COlidenuted to death for participa. tion in the murders of Lord Ardilann's bailiffs, the Huddyi, was banged within the walls of Gaiway Gaol at eight o'clock on lkionday m3rning. During the night a severe gale of wind had been blowing, and the wind was accompanied by vivid lashes of lightning and peals of thunder. The morning was wild and boisterous. There wee little evidence Weide the gaol that anything unusual was &born to take place. Very few persons pere about, and at a quarter to eight, when the representatives of the Press were admitted to the prison, there were not more than a dozen persons assembled outside.  The condemned man rose at about six o'clock, after having slept all night. The Rev. Father Greaven was immediately in attendance upon him, and re. mained with him till the last. At seven o'clock Higgins was conducted to the chapel of the gaol, where mass was performed by the Rev. Father Greaven, assisted by the Rev. Father Newell, his curate.  At about ten minutes to eight the culprit was taken by two warden to the pinioning room, where, that operation was performed by Marwood. The door of the room was opened at a few minutes before eight o'clock, and the prisoner walked out with a firm step, preceded by, the Rev. Father Greaven. On each side o him was a warder, and behind him walked the executioner, having a firm hold of the strap which bound the prisoner's arms behind his back. Higgins, who was in his shirt sleeves, and WM bareheaded, nodded to a group of men who stood outside the door, and walked with a firm step through the courtyard of the gaol to the quadrangle where the scaffold was erected. As he entered the small and gloomy yard, Higgins gave a startled glance at the gallows in the corner, but did not falter in his walk, going right up the steps on to the drop, repeating the responses to the service for the dying as he went along. The executioner then strapped his legs, and after adjusting the white cap he affixed the noose round the culprit's neck. Higgins continued to follow Father Greaven in the responses, and he was in the act of speaking when Maywood drew the bolt and Higgins disappeared. The strain on the rope was very great, Higgins being a powerful and heavily-built man; but there was no apparent hitch, and he mast have died instantaneously without a struggle, it being two minutes past eight when the bolt was drawn. The rope was a new one, and allowed a drop of nine feet, It is not stated whether the culprit made any eon fesaion of his guilt, but whether that was the case o not, he seemed to meet his doom in the fall hope that he would be pardoned in the next world. He was last visited by his relatives on Saturday, when his wife skid two children took a last farewell of him. Ever since the culprit was sentenced on the 14th of December a hope was entertained among his friends that he would be reprieved, and a commutation of his sentence was confidently expected. All hope was finally dissipated some days ago, however, when the Lord Lieutenant intimated that it was not his intention to interfere with the course of the law. This decision was duly oommunicated to the condemned man.  The public interest manifested In the execution was very small; and when the black flag was hoisted at • few minutes after eight, there were only about forty persons present, and many of these were members of the Royal Irish Constabulary.