The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1891-08-29 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HORRIBLE SCENE AT AN EXECUTION.  STATEMENT BY BERRY.  The sentence of death pronounced upon John Conway, otherwise Owen Gibbin, for the murder of a boy Nicholas Martin, whose body sets found in a sailor's bag in Livet pool Dock, was carried into effect at Kirkdale Gaol, Liverpool, The executioner was Berry, of Bradford. Immediately after the drop had fallen, Father Bronte, addressing those present, said, "Gentlemen, before we leave I want to read to you a declaration which Conway has made this morning." He then read a confession by the doomed man, which stated that his sentence was a just one. In confessing my guilt, I protest that my motive was not outrage. Such a thought I never in all my life entertained. Drink has been my ruin, not lust. I was impelled to that crime while under the influence of drink by a fit of murderous mania, and a morbid curiosity to observe the process of dying.' During the whole of the time Father Bronte was speaking the blood from the dead man's body was heard streaming on to the floor of the pit. It was then seen that the condemned man's head had been almost torn from his body, and was hanging merely by the muscles of the neck. Berry (says a correspondent) is stated to have afterwards said to the reporters, whom he followed into the warders' apartments, 'They would have given him another eight inches drop but for me. If I had had my way I would not have given him above four feet six inches. He weighed 11 stone 2 pounds, and stood sft. 7in. without his boots." The publication of the painful details connected with the execution of Conway has caused a feeling of horror in Liverpool. When the drop fell and the reporters heard the sound as of a sudden rush of water they instinctively stepped forward and looked into the pit, where they saw the sickening sight of the culprit's head almost wrenched from his body, the two members being attached only by a few of the muscles. The biood continued to pour down into the bottom of the pit until the floor of it had the appearance of a shambles. Seeing what had occurred the reporters were ordered by Major Knox, Governor of the Gaol, in a peremptory manner to leave the place. Speaking to Berry a few minutes afterwards in the warders' rooms on the subject, one of them said, "You have made a mess of it this time, Mr. Berry." "Not I," replied the hangman, "I am not to blame for anything that has occurred. All is left to the doctor now, and this comes of not taking my advice." At the inquest no questions were asked nor other reference made to the effect of the drop, and the Governor and doctor having certified that the execution had been properly carried out, the jury returned the usual formal verdict. Another account says :—After Major Knox, the governor, had given evidence, a juryman asked why Berry was not present. He (the juryman) had been at inquests there previously, and Bin= was once carpeted before the jury.—The Coroner replied that the Governor had said that everything had gone off as usual, and there was no necessity for Berry to be present —Dr. Barr said that the execution was carried out in the usual way.—The Coroner: Was there no hitch at all?—Dr. Barr: Not so far as the execution was concerned.—The jury returned the formal verdict that the judgment of death had been carried into effect. The reporters expressed a desire to see the body of the deceased man with the jurymen, but they were informed that the Governor had directed that they could not do so. rennvilew