The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1883-01-20 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE LOUGH MASK WOOERS.  EXECUTION OF PATRICK RIG( 11 'NS,  Patrick Higgins, Condemned to death for pa .rticipation in the murders of Lord Ardilaun's baifl ifs, the Huddys, was banged within the walls of Galvin ty Gaol Et eight o'clock on Monday 'naming. Daring the night a severe gale of wind hi Id been blowing, and the wind was accompanied y vivid flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. To e morning was wild and boisterous. There was litiLa4 videnoe outade the gaol that anything unusual %into bout to take place. Very few persons were about, sal ld at a 'quarter to eight, when the representatives of thke Press were admitted to the prison, there were not n tore than a dozen persons assembled outside.  The condemned man rose at about six o'clo ci, after having slept all night. The Rev. Father Grreaven was immediately in attendance upon him, and remained with him till the last. At seven o'clock Higgins was conducted to the chapel of the gaol, where mass was performed by the Rev. Father Greaven, assisted by the ReN. Father New ell, his •curate.  At about ten minutes to eight the culprit was ttaken by two warders to the pinioning room, where, that operation was performed by Marwood. The d oor of the room was opened at a few minutes before eight o'clock, and the prisoner walked out with a firm steqp, preceded by the Rev. Father Greaven. On each sitie .0 him was a warder, and behind him walked -the "executioner, having a firm hold of the strap wblich bound the prisoner's arms behind his back. ,Higgins, who was in his shirt sleeves, and was base heakied, nodded to a group of men who stood outsidle the a:lo°r, and walked with a firm step through tho conrty/ird of the gaol to the quildrangle where the scaffold was erected. As he entered the, small and gloomy yard, Higgins gave a startled glance at the gallows in the corner, but did not falter in his walk, going right up the steps on to the drop, repeating the responses to the service for the dying as he went along. The executioner then istrapped his legs, and after adjusting the white cap he 'axed the noose round the culprit's neck. Higgins continued to follow Father Greaven in the responses, and he was in the act of ,raking when Marwood drew the bolt and Higgins disappeared. The strain on the rope was very great, Higgins being a powerful And heavily-built man; but there WAS no apparent bitch, and he must have died instantaneously without a struggle, it being two minutes past eight when the bolt was drawn. The rope was a new one, and allowed drop of nine feet, It is not stated whether the culprit made any con. fesidon of his guilt, but whether thar.was the case of not, he seemed to meet his doom in the full hope that he would be pardoned in the next world. He was last visited by his relatives on Saturday, when his wife and two children took a last farewell of him. Ever since the culprit was sentenced on the 14th of December a hope was entertained among his friends that he would be reprieved, and a commutation of his sentence was confidently expected. All hope was finally dissipated some days ago, however, when the Lord Lieutenant Intimated that it was not his intention to interfere .with the course of the law. This decision was duly caommunicated to the condemned man.  The public interest manifested in the execution was veu small; and when the black flag was hoisted at a few toinutes after eight, there were only about forty persons present, and many of these were me-Wbere of the Roya4 Irish Constabulary.  _EXECUTION OF