Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-08-18 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

SCAFFOLD.  The execution of Brooks, alias Maxwell, which took place at St. Louis, on Friday August 10th, was postponed for two hours beyond the time fixed, in the hope that a final effort of the counsel might avail. The British Minister on Thursday sent the Governor of Missouri a request for a respite in order ,to ike inquiry, but early ou Friday moraiug the IJv.ruor. refused to grant it,aud the last hope thus vanished. Another man was hanged at the same time for the murder of his sweetheart Maxwell .lid not really expect to meet this fate until less than twenty-four hours before the drop fell. On Wednesday night he retired full of hope of a reprieve. rhe Governor, however, decided on Thursday morn. ing that there was no ground. He said that as fur as he could see there was nothing in the letter of lie British Minister transmitting the request of the British Government for a respite that would justify him in delaying the carrying out of the sentence, especially as it was not alleged that any new facts in connection with the ewe would be developed by the investigatton said to have been instituted by the English authorities, and in regard to which he had no information whatever. After the Governor had refused a respite Maxwell's attorneys entered a plea that 30k55 a more life should be given to the condemned man in order that his father might come from England to see him before he died. The Governor, however, declined. Maxwell's attorney's then filed au appeal for time to calile to the British Government. but this was also denied. When the sews was communicated to Maxwell he could scarcely believe it, so confident hat he been that the Government would interfere. He turned white as a sheet, and shook all over. His mother and sister called soon. Both were indignant with the Governor. They called again in the afternoon and bade a final farewell. The mother bitterly denounced the Governor of Missouri and the United States, concluding with the remark that when Governor Makes his final appeal to heaven it will go unanswered. The parting was very affecting In the evening Maxwell's attorney raised his spirits by exciting the false hope that he could yet accomplish something by cabling to England, as he had done since the Governor's decision, but nothing conic of it. The execution occurred about nine this morning. NEW YORK, FRIDAY NIGHT, Aug. 10. The mother and sister of the murderer Brooks, alias Maxwell, parted from him last night, in the gaol at St. Louis, tenderly ; but his farewell was indifferent. Ile passed the night in expectation of a telegram announcing his reprieve. The sheriff even postponed the execution for two hours, although there was really no reason to expect mercy. Maxwell walked to the gallows determinedly, but his evident emotion excited the pity even of those who knew him to be guilty. He hail a companion to the gallows who had murdered his sweetheart, and who died easily. Maxwell struggled for seventeen minutes. Both the convicts' necks were broken. Maxwell left a statement addressed to the British people alleging that his trial was a travesty of justice. It should be said, however, that the uni. vernal conviction is that he suffered justly for an unusually dreadful crime. (