The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1870-04-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF THE AYLESBURY MURDERER.  The execution of William Mobbe, for the murder of a boy called Newbury, at Linford, took place on Mom day morning, within the walls of the Aylesbury prison. ' " •  On Thursday he signed the following confession, which was written at his dictation by the Under. Sheriff, Mr. A. Tindal :  "1, William Mobbs, declare that when I saw the boy Newbury coming towards me I felt all of a shake and as If I could not help murdering him. I had dreamt of murders, and I had seen a picture of the man linker murdering the girl in the hop-gardens. It was a very hot day, and went down together on the free-board. Newbury laid down, and about ten minutes after we met it was done. I rolled on him, and when on him I pulled out my knife and out his throat twice. Ile halloaed out 'Oh V only once. I dou't know If he wag dead directly. I left him at on.:e. I felt as if I did not know where I wan or wile:, I was doing. I went away bird keeping. I left the body where it was. I put my smock where it was found by the police. I had no grudge against the boy, and I never had a quarrel or struggle with im. When we were sitting on the ground I asked him What they would say if anybody was to murder him?' and he Newbury) said, 'They would hang him.' I replied, What, for murdering varmint?' Ile said, 'Ye..' Upon this I immediately attacked Newbury. I had a book about Cain and Abel in my dinner basket. The book was given me by my grandfather, Just before he died. It belonged to my uncle Thomas Joyce (my mother's brotherl.'' - • • • •  , On the Friday evening previous to his execution, he was visited for the last time by his father, mother, and brother, and the seeming indifference which had hitherto characterised him gave way, and he was at length apparently aroused to a proper sense of the awfulness of his position. He was visited in his cell about half-past six on Monday morning by the chaplain, who was with him until his death. He did not in any way seem afraid, but looked steadily at the drop while his arms were being pinioned by CalcrafL Ile then walked with firm step to the gallows, and his legs were pinioned. The rope was then adjusted, and after the preliminary arrangements by the hangman the drop fell, the culprit praying earnestly. The execution was conducted within the prison, no one being present but the representatives of the local Press and the prison authorities, but there were about 100 lersons assembled outside the prison. Immediately after the execution a black flag was raised over the gaol gates.  The culprit hadbeen given to reading much more than is the custom among agricultural labourers, and acconnta of murders seems to have been his favourite kind of reading. When apprehended after committing the murder, a Life of Abel, translated from the German, was found in his pocket, and this his friends say he was particularly partial to reading in most of his spare time. He was not quite twenty years of age, and was evidently of a very low type of humanity. He had a a short, narrow forehead and small head, and great thiAness round the base of the skull. His hair was very thick, straight, and stiff, and projected over the forehead like the thatch of a house.