Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1891-01-02 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

CIIARLES THORNTON  THE FIRST CLERK.  EXECUTION OF THE BEDALE MURDERER. In the grey dawn of Tuesday morning Robert Kitching was executed in York Castle for the wilful murder of Police.sergeant James Weedy, at Leeming, near Redale, on the 19th September last. A memorial from the Bedale district was sent to the Home Secretary praying that the condemned man might be reprieved, but be replied that he saw no reason to advise Her Majesty to interfere with the due course of the law. During his imprisonment he has been visited twice by his wife, who took farewell of him on Saturday; by his brother David, and his cousin, John Kitching, who had an interview with him on Monday last. For some time he manifested  GREAT YEAR OF DEATH, but by-and-bye became more resigned to his fate, and the ministrations of the Rev. H. Vyvyan, the chaplain of the prison. and the Rev. J. H. Williams, Wesleyan minister, had great :feet upon him, and lately he had become resigned. On Monday night Mr. Vyvyan remained with him until after ten o'clock, and during the night they sang hymns together, and the chaplain prayed with the condemned man. Kitching, who was attended by two warders, sat up all night until four o'clock in the morning, but when he went to bed he was unable to sleep. He arose about six o'clock, and shortly afterwards was rejoined by the Chaplain. Breakfast was supplied at half-past six, but the condemned man did not eat anything; he simply partook of a little tea at that time, and also at intervals until the sentence of the law was carried out. At seven o'clock the condemned man, as well as all the prisoners in the Castle, attended morning prayers in the chapel, the culprit occupying the special seat provided, and showing great attention to the service. On leaving the chapel Kitching was taken to the condemned cell and accompanied by the Chaplain, who never again ' left him. He wank-7"-a :Ali gr--711yi  EXCEEDING LY PENITENT, and when Billington, the executioner, entered the cell at three minutes before eight o'clock, accompanied by the Under-Sheriff (Mr. Edwin Gray) and the Governor of the Castle (Mr. E. Taylor), they found him upon his knees praying in preparation for the end which was ISO near, and the Chaplain standing by his side. Upon being touched gently on the shoulder by the Governor the condemned man at once rose to his feet and was pinioned by the executioner. He was perfectly resigned, but evidently weak from emotion and want of rent and food. The pinioning, which occupied but a few moments being completed, the procession was formed, and as the bell tolled they moved along to the scaffold which is situate in the old part of the Castle and within a few yards of the condemned cell. The procession consisted of the Chaplain and the Governor, the former reading a portion of the burial service, and followed immediately by the culprit with a warder on either side. He walked firmly to the scaffold praying fervently, while just behind him came the executioner, followed by the Under-Sheriff , and the medical officer of the prison. Immediately the scaffold WU reached his legs was pinioned, the fatal noose adjusted, and the white cap drawn over his face. The great emotion and suspense from which he suffered during the night now appeared to have exhausted his strength. He gave a slight motion as if about to fall, but at that instant the bolt was drawn, the extreme penalty of the law was carried out, and  . DEATH APPEARED TO BE INSTANTANEOUS, no movement of the body being perceptible. At three minutes past eight o'clock the black flag was run up to the top of the flagstaff on Clifford's tower, and signalised to the public that the demands of justice had been satisfied. The condemnsd man has admitted to Mr. Vyvyan that he "took the gun, loaded it, and went out with the full intention of shooting Weedy, though at the same time he said he had the half hope that he would not meet him. He covered Weedy with the gun as he came up to the gate, and pulled the trigger, hut missed tire. Afterwards as Weedy closed with him he fired directly at him."  THZ INQUEST was held in the visiting committee-room at the Castle, before Mr. H. Wood, coroner. Formal evidence was given, and the jury returned a verdict of death from hanging. The body. was afterwards buried within the prison, and during the day the usual docun ents stating that law had been carried out, were attached to the out,ide of the prison doors.