Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-08-18 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

EXECUTION AT JERSEY.  The last dread penalty of the law was carried into execution on Saturday morning on the unfortunate Frenchman, Francois Bridoux, alias Bradley, aged 22, convicted of the crime of murdering I:ether Le Brun, a single woman of sixty years of age, at the pariah of St. Peter, in the island of Jersey, on the 3rd of May last. The criminal, after unsuccessfully endeavouring to obtain an entrance by the window of his victim's cottage, broke a hole in the thatched roof and gained access to her bedroom, where he strangled her upon her bed. Though his object was robbery, it did not appear that he had removed anything, though the premises were entirely ransacked. The only article missing was an old silver spoon that the de,Tased was in the habit of daily using. From the time of his couvmtion, four weeks ago, the wretched man showed the utmost callousness and indifference to the awful situation in which he was placed. He was most carefully waited upon by the chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. Mr. Lemprieret and the Rev. Mr. Volckerych, Roman Cathohe priest, the latter of whom was most indefatigable M his codes. yours to awaken the miserable man to a state of thoughtfulness. Al], however, was unavailing. Though he seemed to listen with attention to the instructions of the clergymen, no sooner were their backs turned than he made both them and their labours a subject of ridicule. _ _ .  Great efforts were made by some of the French residents to procure a pardon for the wretched criminal; but, so stixing was the feeling against him, and so justly was he considered worthy of death, that the petition received only about 300 signatures, and failed to induce Mr. Walpole to recommend her Majesty to extend her clemency to the condemned man. The execution took place on Saturday morning, at eight o'clock, in the presence of an estimated number of 15,000 persons. The scaffold was erected on the gaol wall, facing Newgate-street, that street and the adjoining one—Patriotic-street—being divided into pens by the erection of strong barriers, to prevent the surging of the crowd and the consequent injury that might be feared. Gallows-hill (the place where executions took place in former years), which commanded a ' good view of the dreadful scene, was crowded with spectators, many provided with telescopes and opera. glasses. The criminal was attended by his spiritual adviser during the whole of Friday night, and till two o'clock on Saturday morning, when he lay down to rest, and rose at six o'clock. He refused to take any breakfast, and assumed a jaunty air, which he maintained for some time, and then burst into tears. Half an hour before the fatal hour he resumed his old style of conduct, and said he would mount the scaffold as if he were going to his marriage ceremony. In a few minutes, however, his tone again altered, and be made a most piteous exhibition, weeping and groaning lamentably, and crying out "Di( u air pitie de moi," till all present were visibly affected by the scene. The wretched man was so prostrate that it was feared he would have to be carried up to the scaffold. A glass of brandy was given him, and this nerved him for the dread journey, which he then took, though with not a very steady step, accompanied by the hangman on the one side, and the deputy viscount on the other. On reaching the scaffold the rope was adjusted, the cap drawn over his head, the bolt withdrawn, and Ma minute the unfortunate criminal had ceased to exist. He persisted in proclaiming his innocence to the last, even after having received the sign of the cross, the last attention from his spiritual adviser. After hangingabout an hour, the body was cut down, and buried within the precincts of the prison. The assembly, which was of an exceedingly orderly character, immediately dispersed. The executioner was Smith, of Dudley, who performed his dread task in the most satisfactory manner, and received the congratulations of the officials. This is the first execution that has taken place in Jersey during the last 29 years.