The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1870-08-16 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

THE PORTLAND  MURDER.  EXECUTION OF  RATCLIF FE.  THIS DAY.  This (Monday) morning life was Wangled out of Thomas Ratcliffe within the with of the Dorset County Primo. The ease of this unhappy man excited unusual sympathy - first, on account of his own misguided life, and second, from the circumstanoes under which the murder for which lw was h.nged was committed. The story of tie life lie literally that of tile ~1,1 w heel. book tale—the by who stole a peony and finoshrd his days on the callow., and is an awful waroitig *eldest the beginnings of evil—indeed, of wrong-doing at any time. _ _ .  Ratcliffe was a native of Trace, near Wigan, in !And. Aire When he was a baby, 18 months 4.1,1, and there was another infant in the family of 4 months, his mother died. Thew childred were sent to the Union. house, and their father enl,ted in the Guards. In the ordinary course, as the bnys grew up, they were put to wore at a neighbouring ci hliery. Here Themes Ratcliffe commenced his downward career. He stole come money belonging to his m.4.er, and was gent faire month to Liverpool pti.on. On the ezriration of his sentence his old e moloyer again received him into his I service: but, according to Rateliffe's account, he did not treat him well, aid taking advmtage of an oppertunity the boy agaM robbed him. For this be was sentenced to • month in Liverpool prison, and five years in • Reformatory. Shortly before this term had expired, he wall sent out to Canada, and soon got work on a farm. One day he was out with • waggon and team of horees, whin he got into a public-house. and there was found by en officer recruiting for the army of the Southern Coufedracy. With him he drank sod drank, and when he next came to himself his hor..es and waggon were gone and he was a soldier. He loon deserted the army, exchanging regimentals for ton' rano(' clothes with a negro on board ship. Thus he became a seaman, and in that capacity went sevrral voyages to Africa. the West Indies. and other parts. Finally he aerie( dat Rodmin, in Cornwall. There he was pomace., and without • friend. A kindbearted tradesman took pity on him and gave him some victuals, but, on leaving the Good alLnaritan's bowie, he stole a peeknife, was caught, and, being convicted, was again s, rit to pri on for a month. Of course, at that tame nothing w., known of his previous life. After that he committad a burglary, and wes sentenced to drat months' hard labour. In prison this time li. beh,ved very badly. setting all the officers at defiance. There he made known to them his pre.i..us higtory. On being lib, rated. he was purposelms and did not know where to look for a meal. Some one took compsssion on him, and fed bun; and then he was ungrateful enough to hteal a p,pe. On his trial he was found guilty, his previous convictions were proved, and he was sentenced to penal servitude for seven years. First he was taken to Millbauk and after a time removed to Portland. There his life was hard, and the men associated with him working in tie quarries, made it still worse by their jeers and taunts that he was "in" for so petty an offence. "Tired of his life," as he says, on the 20th of April last he attacked Edward Love Illy, the warder in charge of his gang, with a shovel, inflicting a severe wound on one of hie legs, using, at the same time, dreadful menaces, and expressing his resolve to kill some one. Convicts and warders interpcsed and his purpose was not then accompli.hea. For nine dap, the W.rder promised to recover, but after that unfavourable amp. toms supervened, anal he died on the 15th of May from blooripoisoning, in consequence, as the (lectors, stated, of the wound. On the 28th July he was tried for wilful murder, convieted, and sentenced to death. After his condemnation the wretched man showed Angular comp sure, and from that time to the day of Lis death his conduct has been particulerly good. lie gleelly received the ministrations of the chaplain (the Rev. B. L. Watson), and frequently asked officers of the prison to road and pray with him. Letters were received for him from • grandan ,ther anal his brother, and lie wrote to them expres-ing complete re.ignation, and Lis de..ire for their eterual welfare. lie w.s pa/Hauler solicitous abont hie brother, John Ratcliffe, who, it Poems, is working as a labourer near Wigan, and wished to see him, but he was unable to