The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-12-23 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

EXECUTION AT LEICESTER.  On Wednesday morning John Thomas Green. aged 41, a painter, was executed in the Leicester B irough Gaol for the mu-dor of his wife, Emma, by shooting her in the neck with a pistol on 31onday, August 21. Green had been married to the deceased, who was 37 years of age, about 18 years. She was the mother of nine children, the youngest of whom is nine months old. During the past twelve months t.tey had lived very unhappily, and had frequent quarrels through the culprit having formed an Pilch acquaintance with a woman at L iughborouvh, which he had fully a Imitted. He had also been much addicted to drink. After he had deliberately shot his wife, wouu ling her in the neck, as she sat at the tea table, he cooly went and sat ou a low will in the yard. On being accosted by several neig'uhours with the remark that he had surely not shot his wife, he very calmly replied that he had, pointed to where she lay, and also produced the pistol with which he had eone the deed, saying to one that she had caused it herself, an 1 to another that he should be happy now he bad done it; while, on the arrival of the policeman, he went and met him, and sill, "I am the man," adding subsequently, "She dm ed me to do it and I have done it." Deceased Wag taken to the infirmary, whore she died early the next morning. An effort ha I been made to obta'n a reprieve of the culprit on the ground of insanity in the family, but on Tuesday morning a reply was received from the Home .secretary t the effect that he saw no ground for interfering with the course of the law. The culprit has made no written confession, but since his conviction he has always acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and also said that no other verdict could have been coma to by the jury after they bad heard the evidence against him; and also that all the witnesses spoke the truth. The final interview with the grown-up memtnrs of his family took place on Thursday afternoon. The culprit has occupied the greater portion of his time since his conviction in meditation and pr tyer, and been very attentive to the ministratiens of the prison chaplain. He appeared anxious to make his peace with God, and seemed resigned to his fate. On Tuesday evening lie expressed his desire to retire to rest at an early hour, tied shortly before ten o'clock was bade good night by the gaoler, who again visited him et five o'clock oh Wednesday morning, when he said that he had spent a restless night, having only lied four hours' sleep. He had a breakfast about six o'clock, but partook of very little, and shortly before seven o'clock he was • isited by the prison chapl tin, with whom he continued in prayer until a little before eight o'clock. The rev, gentleman believes that he was truly repentant of his crime. Shortly before eight o'clock he was pinioued by Marwood, the executioner, when he for the first time displayed nervousness at his position, and precisely at eight the procession, headed by the high bailiff and gaol officers, who, with the representatives of the press, were the only pers ins admitted, left the condemned cell. The culprit went some little distance with a firm step, but on ascending the steps to the scaffold he turned pale and closed his eyes. While the executioner drew the cap over his face he seemed to be engaged in prayer. A slight delay took place in the falling of the drop, owing to the lever not acting, but when it fell he dropped with a heavy thud, and seemed to die without a struggle. After remaining the usual time he was cut down, and an inquest held. A large concourse of persons assembled outside the gaol to witness the hoisting of the black flag. This is the first execution that has taken place for murder in the town of Leicester since Wednesday, April Ist, 1846.  A