The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-01-01 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

TWU EXECUTIONS.  On Tuesday morning two murderers suffered the extreme penalty of the law. One of these was Thomas Macdonald, convicted at the Liverpool Assizes of the murder of Miss Holt, schoolmistress, at Belmont, near Bolton. The execution took place at Kirkdale Gaol. A few minutes before 8 o'clock the bell began to toll, and those having the orders of the Sheriff, eight in number, were admitted to the gaol. The execution was in the building known as the coach-house, situate in the gaol yard. Here was erected the new apparatus, consisting of a link chain attached to the cross beam, which can be regulated with a nicety to the weight of the culprit The cross beam is 12ft, from the trapdoor, and there is a pit beneath also 121 t. deep. The drop allowed for Macdonald, who was 34 years of age and weighed Bst. 10lb., was 9ft. 1i,,. The condemned man passed a restless night, and rose early. The Rev. Father Pennington then administered the last rites of the Church, after which the condemned man partook of a light breakfast. When Berry, the executtr,entered the cell, Macdonald appeared more than stally composed, and was paving earnest attention to the ministrations of the priest. Accompanied by Berry, he proceeded to the pinioning cell, and there the executioner strapped his arms. Headed by the priest, reciting the prayers for the dying, and accompanied by the gaol officials, the melancholy procession wended its way to the scaffold, only a few yards distant. Here Ber,y strapped the culprit's legs, and, stepping bac!, drew the bolt. The surgeon then went below, and having felt the pulse, stated that death occurol in 3 minutes, the shortest time ever known at Kirkdale. The body was afterwards cut down ami an inquest held.  The second execution was at York Castle, the culprit being Robert Hitching, aged 34, gardener, who murdered Police-sergeant Weedy, at Lecning, near Bedalc, North Yorkshire. Kitchins had passed the night in troubled sleep, and as early as 6 o'cloca was visited by the prison chaplain, the Rev. 11. Yyvyan. He was still engaged with the chaplain, when Billington, the executioner, entered the condemned cell a few minutes before 8 o'clock. Beyond muttering a few inarticulate words and exhibiting a nervous discomposure, he did not shew any acme signs of emotion. The work of pinioning was soon despatched and all was ready. The gallows projected from an adjoining room, and as 8 o'clr c!, chimed out the dismal procession moved off f row the condemned cell. The Governor went first, followed by the chaplain. Then came the culprit with an officer on each side and Billington behind, the rear being brought up by the under-sheriff. The noose having been properly fixed, the legs pinioned, and the white cap adjusted, whilst Hitching was standing over the drop, Ire seemed to reel and near]) fainted, but the bolt was instantly withdrawn, an all was over, there being little or no vibration o: the rope. The culprit's demeanour during the latter part of his confinement was marked by quiet resignation, excepting when he was visited by his wife and uti•er relatives, on which occasions he relapsed into violent paroxysrls of grief. He paid great attention to the ministifitions of the chaplain, and expressed himself very penitent. It is understood that shortly before Iris execution he left with tie• chaplain a confession of his guilt. No reporters were admitted to the execution. The body hung for the statutory hour, when it was cut down.