The Northern Guardian. — 1898-06-28 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

NEOTS MURDER  EXECUTION OF HORSFORD THIS MORNING.  THE SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.  The Press Association's snecial correspondent telegraphs: Walter Horsford (26), farmer, was executed at Cambridge County Gaol at eizht o'clock this morning for murdering his cousin, Mm Annie Holmes, a widow. aged 38, in January last, by administering strychnine.. Billington and his assistant, Ward, carried cut the execution in the presence of the prison officials, a representative of the Press Association and one local pressman. The culprit left a written statement to be opened after his death. The representatives of the press were admitted to the prison precincts at a quarter .to eight, and were conducted by a circuitous route to an open yard, bounded on the one side by the permanent buildingi,i and on the other by the outer wall. Here was disclosed to view a newly bricked structure, bearing an almost perfect resemblance to a small coach house. It had been given a coa•- of lig.ht paint and access to its folding doors was for the moment barred by a long wooden pole,resting at one extremity upon a staple, and at the otl,fr upon a painter's ladder. The prison surgeon, Dr. Buckenham, arcom. panied by his assistant, Dr Lloyd Jones, and two other medical gentlemen, made a final examination of the arrangements a few minutes More eight, when the first solemn tones of the prison bell fell first upon the ears of the spectators assembled in the public thoroughfare.  THE PINIONING was expeditiously done, and at a minute before eight the procession was on its way to the scaffold. It consisted of the Under Sheriff (Mr: F. F. Fowler), four warders, the Governor. the Rev. Mr Christie (chaplain), and the culprit As the group emerged front the exercising yard into the open Ilorsford, who physically was a fine specimen of manhood, was seen to be walking firmly and without betraying any eign of emouon except that his face was slighly flushed,. The chaplain'', voice giving utterance to the solemn words of the Litany alone broke the silence, the petitions following one another in broken tones: "Lamb of God who takest away the Sins of the World have mercy upon us" and "Receive soul," "Mercifully hear our prayers," and ''Snare those who confess their sine that by Thy great mercy they Play be absolved," met with no response. The conthinned men stool, with hood erect, his blond hair and beard, his tallness of stature and breadth of shouldero giving him an aspect of singular youthfnlness and strength. Hereford passed with a firm and unwavering tread within the portals of the house of death. It is doubtful if ever a criminal at his last moment showed greater appanent coolness and Iself possession. Without a shade of hesitancy he placed his feet close together epon the drop. his back to the spectators. Billington, who was accompanied by his assistant, Ward, rapidly adjusted the strap to the feet and stepping aside pulled the lever. The heavy body disappeared, and.so instantaneous was death that TID movement of the rope betrayed the slightest struggle.  Yestorday lic,r.4'ord handed A DOCUMENT  in his own handwriting to the Governor of the Gaol, the contents of which have net been pet, 1 . nutted to transpire. The paeket was sealed in the culprit's presence, and is to be forwardel to the Home Office.