The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-06-06 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

EXECUTION OF JOHN KELLOCEIER AT PERTH.  The execution of John Bellocher, who was convicted at last Circuit court of the murder of Janet Anderson, an old woman residing at Buttergask, near Blackford, took place on Tuesday morning, at a few minutes past 8 o'clock. The erection of the scaffold was commenced at an early hour on Monday, and throughout the day was an object of much interest to the inhabitants, who, up to a late hour, continued to throng the open space at the south end of the jail, and watched with much patience the progress of the work. Next morning, by seven o'clock, a large crowd had again assembled, and at a quarter past that hour the company of the Kid Regiment, now stationed in the barracks, took up a position within a semi-circular line of palisades in front of the drop; and at the same time the High Constables, tbe city police, and a strong body of the county constabulary likewise arrived on the ground. By 8 o'clock the crowd had greatly increased, although not to the extent anticipated, as there could not have been more than 5000 present at the most. At exactly five minutes past eight, the prisoner, accompanied by two priests, the Rev. Messrs. M'Corry and M&Kay, one on each side, made his appearance above the wall of the jail, followed by the magistrates of the city, the Dean of Guild, the chaplain of the prison, and others. On coming upon the scaffold, the prisoner walked forward with a firm step, and with the exception of the ashy paleness of his features, gave no indication of fear. During the reading of the service he repeatedly lifted his hands as if in the act of e irnest devotion. On being left alone, however, he trembled slightly, and continued to hold the signal for about two minutes ere he allowed it to drop. At last it fell, and the strong man, after a few convulsive struggles, hung a motionless corpse. At nine o'clock the bady was taken down and put into a coffin, and soon attewards interred. Kellocher was a stout man, 27 years of age. Alter his sentence and up to only a ft..w days ago, his mind ap. peareil to be little under the indaence of religious intpreasions. It is true, indeed, that he joined with Mt% M•Gorry in religious exercises with mica apparent devotion, but all that time freely gave way to sudden bursts of passion directed against the jury and judges who tried and condemned hint, insisting bitterly on justice not having been done to him. At last, however, being convinced that his sentence would certainly lie carried into effect, a marked change in his conduct took place. Throughaut he took his meals regularly, and slept well, and on Monday night he gratifie I the authorities by making an ample confession of his guilt, exonerating the witnesses in reference to all that they had said on his trial. acknowledging the justice of his sentence, and expressing his contrition for his awful crime. On the morning of his execution. Messrs. M•Corry and M•Kay were in attendance in his cell by live o'clock, but early LIS the hour was they were anticipated by Mr. Milner, civil engineer, and of the same faith, who had been unremitting in his attentions to the prisoner all along. John Kel lecher was, we underst old, a native of Miltowns Maby, in the county of Clare, Ireland, and has one child—