Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1888-12-22 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS MURDER.  TWO YOUTHS SENTENCED TO DEATH. The trial of the young men, William Gower, 18, moulder, and Charles Joseph Dobell, 19, plumber, on the charge of murdering Bensley Cyrus Lawrence, by shooting him through the head in a timber yard adjoining the Baltic Sawmills, in Tunbridge Wells, was concluded at tue Maidstone Assizes on Friday before Mr. Justice Mathew. The two lads sat in the dock quietly and composedly while the evidence was given against them; nor did Gower exhibit any emotion even when his mother and sister appeared in the witness-box at the close of the day and gave testimony on his behalf. It will be remembered that owing to his having been frequently fined for unpunctuality by Lawrence, who was in the same employment, Gower induced Dabell to join him in a conspiracy to murder Lawrence, who, he said, was a "master's man and against the workmen;" that the two purchased a revolver, and, having decided upon the murder, drew lots as to which of them should fire the shot, and that the lot falling upon Dobell, he on the night mentioned enticed Lawrence out of his house and shot him through the head. No clue was discovered till October, when Gower, who, :with his companion, had begun to attend Salvation Army prayer meetings, confessed the crime to William Cottrill, a "captain" of that organisation. Cottrill in turn told the police, and the accused were arrested. " Captain " Cottrill having described the circumstances connected with the confession, produced a letter written by Gower whilst in prison: "Dear Captain Cottrill and Friends of the Salvation Army,-1 am now in my cell) waiting my trial. I cannot say that lam unhappy, because I know that Jesus is with me, and is willing to see ine through all my trials and temptations. All the officers and warders seem very kind. I was visited by the chaplain during the dinner-hour. He spoke to me very kindly, and told me I was to prepare for what had got to come, but I feel sure that God will forgive me all my sins. Both me and my mate had a very happy journey. We kept our spirits up, and did not get down-hearted in the least. No sooner did wo get into the cells than we began to whistle praises tc God for preserving us thus far. But e soon gob stopped. Never, mind. We can praise Him all the same. We are both in separate cells. We cannot communicate with each other. Please let my mates see this. I have several prayers and "Advice to Christians " in my cell, also a Bible, a prayer-book, a hymn-book, and a bound volume of solos. Please, captain, read this letter in the meeting, and tell my mother. Prepare to meet thy God. I have no paper to say any more, so please excuse. I see by my rules that I may be visited by not more than two persons on one day in the week, for a quarter of an hour at a time, under such regulations as may be made. Please come and see nie if you can. Give my love to all.—'l remain, yours truly, the happy gaol bird, WILLIAM Gowita.—The jury found both prisoners guilty, but recommended them to mercy.—The Judge, in passing sentence of death, promised that the recommendation should be for warded to the proper quarter, but said that he did not find a single extenuating circumstance.