The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1873-08-07 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

EXECUTION AT DERBY.  At eight o'clock on hi'inday morning. Benjamin •-Hudson. aved 24. was executed within the wane of Derby Gaol fur the murder of his wife. Elizabeth Hu i.on, at West Handley. near Sternly, Derbyehire, the 24th of April last. The man bsat out his wife's brains with a hedge stake; and on being tried at the recent ands's, he was found guilty. Init the jury (after be lag a long time lock. d up) strongly recocumended him to mercy on the ground of the dissolute life lie wife had led, and the lyre: provOcitlon be had receive On Friday a petition was seat from the town, asking for a commute ion of the sentence hu-. no answer was receiv-d, and the law was allowed to take its course. Although the culprit, after his condemnation, expressed a wish to see his relatives, none of the,n paid him • visit until Thursday, when an uncle and , aunt went to see him. On Saturday some five or six other niatives had an interview with him; hut it was not of that pained character which might have been anticipated. From his condemnation Hudson attended the daily service in the chapel slow wAh the other p limners and paid attention to the ministrations of the chaplaiu. He could neither read nor write, and hiss been. therefore unable to avail himself of hooks calculated to aff ad spiritual consolation, which are especially provided for perennial for conwote under sentence of death. He listened patiently to the chaplain's expositions of Divine truth and means of salvation, sod a change seemed wrought ,in him. He never alluded to the crims he committed nor would he *peak unless in answer to • queetion put to him. The condemned sertnoe was preached on dunday morning by the Rev. II Moore, chaplain. On Sunday evelnirig be retired to rest about ten o'clock. and went to sleep. At four o'clock on Monday moi fling he awoke, but did not get up until six o'clock, when be had some tea awl preserve and bread. He then requested to see some prisoners who were inmates of the gaol, and who came from the E 41114 part of North Derbyshire as he he did, and also one or two whose ac einaintance he had made since his ill() aiciration. Faye of tbese were admitted into his cell, when be bid them farewell The chaplet. declined to adminieter the S xament, considenug the ri•dprit was not in a fit state to receive It. Af ew minutes be‘ore eight he left tneoondenuned cell being accompanied by the chaplain and the executioner. lii one band he carrie i a splendid bouquet of flowers that had been given him, and in the other his cap. He walked with a firm step, quite erect, and withoot the slightest trembling or nervuusneeP. He ascended the scaffold, which was close to the bur-al ground, without the slightest asaira..ce, and at eight to • minute he was launched into eternity. The moment the drop- fell. the bouquet of flowers fell into his coffin, which had been placed underneath the swiluid. lie toad the chaplain he met nis wife in the lane and she struck at him with a Fottls but it missed, that they then quarrelled, and from words they came to blows. Her death (he said) was never pre. meditated. The murderer was a well-built young man. An inquest was held on the body at noon.