Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1882-12-23 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

EXECUTION OF THE MAAMTRASNA MURDERERS.  At Galway, on Friday morning in last week, the three men, Patrick Joyoe, Myles Joyce, and Patrick Casey, were executed for what are known as the Maamtrasna murders.  The scene presented a fit sequel to a tale of horrors. The weather was bleak and miserable, a oold, drizzling rain beating upon the grim walls of the gaol, the tree. and roads being still covered with snow. Up to the last moment some hopes were felt that Myles Joyce, one of the culprits, would be reprieved, as strenuous and pressing efforts had been used in his behalf to induce the Lord Lieutenant to relax the sentence. It will be remembered that on receiving sentence he protested his innocence in the dock with great vehemence. This protestation was •recently newed, and the two men who were condemned to suffer with him, Patrick Joyce and Patrick Casey, joined in a declaration that he was not with them at all at the murder. It is strange, however, that it was only within the last few days that this representation wee put forward with any degree of earnestness, although a month has passed since his conviction and sentence. His Excellency, however, on receiving a memorial on the subject, gave it the most anxious attention, and arrived at the conclusion that there was no reason for interfering in this case with the ordinary muse of the law. This decision was communicated to the:prisoner, but up to Thursday night he clung to the hope of a reprieve. It is a notable fact that the execution appeared to excite but little popular feeling; scarcely a hundred persons collected to await the event, and not one of the relatives or kinsmen of the condemned men was to be seen.  The three culprits slept in separate cells, guarded by warders. At six o'clock they were called, and soon afterwards each of them in turn knelt at the feet of the Rev. Father Newell, who heard their last confeeeion. At seven minutes to seven o'clock the Rev. Mr. Greaven reached the prison and celebrated man In the prison chapel, each of the three culprits partaking of the Holy Sacrament. They joined in the service with great devotion, and the chaplains and Sisters of Mercy bear testimony to the attention with which they have received the ministrations of religion since their arrival in the gaol. They were then conducted to the condemned cell, where they were pinioned by Marwood with his accustomed dexterity.  While preparations were being made the Rev. Mr. Greaven continued to recite prayers with the convicts, In which Myles Joyce did not join at all times, but protested his innocence. As they emerged through the door Myles Joyce came first, tightly strapped and held between two warders. He at once turned to the reporters, and, in excited tones ani in a most impressive manner, continued to protest his innocence. It was impossible even for Irish-speaking persons who were present to gather the meaning of much that fell from him, but his words were to the following effect: —" lam going before my God. I was not there at all. I had not hand or part in it. Tam as innocent as the child in the cradle. It is a poor thing to talk this way on a stage, but I have my priest with me." These words he continued to repeat up to the last moment, and after the white cap had been drawn over his face. While they were walking along the ice-covered passages to the scaffold, Patrick Joyce slipped, and if he had not been held up between tsvo warders be would have fallen. The convicts walked to the gallows without any signs of weakness, attracting attention by the firmness and energy with which they strode along.. dr with  been  wittadrw!v!i,