The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1872-08-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION AT WORCESTER.  The execution of Charles Holmes, a labourer, of Bromsgrove, for murdering his wife, took place on Monday morning, within the walls of Worcester prison. Calcraft officiated as the executioner. The culprit had manifested a singular unconcern ever since the crime was perpetrated, and betrayed but little emotion whilst he was being pinioned and led to the place of execution. He died after a few moments' struggle, and an inquest was afterwards held.  The murder was committed under circumstances of great dellbelation. The convict, Charles Holmes, was a labouring man who obtained a respectable living at working in a quarry near Broinserove Lickey, a district in which nail making is carried on to some extent by the population of scattered villages lying between Bromsgrove and Birmingham. The deceased, Maria Holmes, was his wife, and she worked at the nailing, a very common occupation for women and girls in the locality, who work at small smithies attached to the cottages. The two hart frequently quarrelled, and Holmes had of ten neaten his wife, but this generally happened when he had been drinking. They had one child aged about four years, who was a cripple. On Thursday evening, the 7th March last, Holmes had been drinking at tbe "Rose and Crown" oublimhouse, near his own residence, and had been fetched home by his wife. After they got home they quarrelled, and Holmes was heard to threaten his wife that if she did not some in and get his supper he would make her tit for a coffin before morning. Mrs. Holmes next day took her crippled boy and went to the house of her mother, Mrs. James, who lived near, where she remained all day. Holmes went to her on four several occasions on the Friday, and asked her to come back home; but she resolutely refused to do so, and told him to go about his business. On the third visit of Holmes, he told his wife that he "should come once more, and not but once." He then went away (this was about three o'clock in the afternoon) and returned for the fourth time to Mrs. James's house. He again asked his wife to come home. She made no reply, but taking her child in her arms proceeded to the door at the foot of the stairs, intending to go up-stairs. As she was going Holmes asked the child if he would have a penny, on which the deceased stopped with her back to Holmes, and the child held out its hand for a penny. Holies then took from his pocket a razor, and, taking his wife by the left hand, cut her throat from sae to ear. The poor woman staggered into the middle of the room, and fell in a pool of blood in the presence of her mother. The throat had been cut through to the vertebras.  Holmes has never denied tbe crime. At the inquest he admitted it, and said he knew he should have to suffer for it. While waiting examination before the magistrate he made a full confession.  The prisoner bore his trial very stoically, and since i his condemnation he has behaved n a becoming quiet manner, paying due attention to the ministration of the chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. G. C. Salt. He expressed deep penitence, and was perfectly resigned to his fate. He was visited in the condemned cell by Mr. G. W. Hastings (who is a J.P. of the county) ; and he had also interviews with his parents and brother and sister. A memorial to the Home Secretary, signed by about 300 persons, was forwarded, but the deliberate character of the crime precluded all hope of a commutation of the capital sentence.