Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-09-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

DOUBLE EXECUTION AT KIRKDALD. On Monday morning the extreme sentence of the law was carried out upon Wm. Baker, publican, and Edward Cooper, sailor, who were convicted at the Liverpool Assizes, before Mr Justice Archibald, of murder. Both men rose between five and sir, Baker having passed ,a sleepless night, and Cooper having slept soundly; and after partaking of breakfast they were attended by the Protestant and Roman Catholic chaplains, Baker being of the former and Cooper of the latter faith. As throughout their imprisonment, both men listened very earnestly to the spiritual consolations otTer,d, and seemed to derive great comfort from them, Baker broke down completely, and for some minutes indulged in protestations of grief and pleas for Divine mercy, but afterwards became calm and resigned. At two minutes past eight the melischoly procession started,Cooper being first, and walking with some appearance of effort, and Baker following. The latter was in a semi-fainting condition, and appeared to be utterl y appalled at his fate. He had to he supported up the steps leading to the scaffold, and when placed under the rope he shut his eyed, and was not seen to open them again. Cooper was more firm in his demeanour, and looked round several times. He exclaimed, " All I've got to say, gentlemen, is I have not had justice," and during the recital of the prayers by the chaplain he responded in a fervent voice. Baker moved his lips in response to the ministrations of the Protestant chaplain, but was not heard to speak once. The white caps having been adjusted, the drop was pulled, and both men fell a distance of no less than six feet. The fearful jerk with which their downward course was arrested must have produced instantaneous death, for beyond the swinging of the bodies to and fro, there was not the slightest movement, and none of the convulsive tremors generally observable. The executioner (Harwood) had therefore filled his task well. Some hundreds of people had assembled outside the prison wall, most of whom went away when the black flag was hoisted. The only spectators of the execution were the Governor and gaol officials, the undersheriffs, a medical officer, and five reporters. The magistrates on this occasion were unusually stringent in limiting the number of representatives of the press. The crime committed by Baker was the murder of a cabman named Langan, against whom he had a grudge, by shooting him in the street. The unenviable reputation which J3aker had acquired caused the crime to attract great attention, and at his trial there was some excitement. A number of his friends made strenuous efforts to obtain a reprieve, but the general feeling was evidently against the exercise of the Royal clemency, and their petitions were declined, although the result was not known until the last moment. Baker leaves a wife and some children, who are of course plunged in grief at his miserable end.—Cooper was a sailor, and his crime was the shooting of the boatswain of his ship at sea during a quarrel. An effort was made to obtain a reprieve, but in vain.  A