Runcorn and Widnes Examiner. — 1873-09-13 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

ECIITION AT LIVERPOOL. 1 STIOCKIN G SPECTACLE. The execution of James Connor, who was convicted at the recent Liverpool assizes, before Mr. Justice iirett, of the murder of James Gaffney, took place shortly alter eight o'clock on Monday morniog at Knkdale Gaol.  On the night of the 11th ult. Conner was at the Cambridge Music Hall, Liverpool, and while there he asked a woman, named shears, to drink with him. She refused, and he afterwards followed her outside, quarrelled with her, and struck her two or three violent blows, which knocked her down. The deceased man, who was passing at the time, went to her assistance, and asked the prisoner why he had ill-treated the woman, whereupon Connor drew a large clasp knife, and stabbed the deceased in the neck, inflicting a wound from which Gaffney died next morning. A companion of the deceased named Metcalf sprang forward when the latter fell and knocked the prisoner down, but Connor immediately jumped up, and picking hp the knife, which he had thrown away, ran at Metcalf and srruck him a blow which cut through the whole of his clothes, but fortunately did not cause any injury. Connor then walked away, i , but ye the as soon afterwards apprehended with the knife n his possession. The uetence set hp at the trial was that the deceased provoked Conner to strike him, and that the prisoner was, therefore, only guilty of manslaughter. For some ume alter his condemnation tne prisoner exhibited much callousness. he generally ate and slept well, and took open-air exercise within the prison. walls. He was visited on baturday by his sister Who came from Sheffield, and it was said that he showed little emotion until his sister read a letter from his mother living at New Heywood, the contents of which letter deeply affected lsim. Under the ministrations of the Rev. Father Bonte, the .ttomen Ca,thotio chaplain, the culprit ultimately showed indication of a better state of mind, and on Sunday he received the sacrament. Calcrait was the executioner. The only persons present at the execution were Mr. Deacon, under sheriff; Captain Gibbs, governor of the gaol; the .!haplain, several prison warders, and the newspaper reporters. Outside a few persons assembled to watch .or the hoisting of tne black flag. The culprit appeered collected and cool, and he ascended the scaffold . with a firm step. Arrived under the beam he smilingly nodded to one or two warders in the yard below, and he then stood quietly on the drop. Everything being in readiness, the bolt was drawn. Then a horrible scene was witnessed. The rope snapped in two, and the wretched man fell into the drop hole groaning iieavily. Re kept his fee', falling against the front part of the structure. A thrill of horror ian through tee spectators, and for a few seconds the officials were almost paralysed. The culprit was raised by two warders. He was making an unsuccessful attempt to aupinion hisiiself, and asked, " What do you call this? Do you call this mui der ? After this you should let me off." He was placed on a chair while the drop was again prepared, and during the renewed ministrations of the chaplain, who was greatly affected, he said to the rev. gentleman, "After this you should let me off; surely this is enough. 1 stood it like a brick the first time." The culprit exhibited great nervousness and trembled violently, though he paid great attention to 'be prayers cffered by the chaplain, and appeared to join earnestly in the responses. After a lapse of eight minutes he was again led under the beam and a stronger rope was adjusted. Though still nervous, Connor showed no signs of shrinking. Indeed, his pinioned arms having become slightly loosened in his struggles, he quietly assisted Calcratt in pulling the cap over his face. The drop was immediately afterwards drawn. Death ensiled in one or two minutes, Connor suffering apparently little or no pain. The breaking of the rope caused excitement and indignation amongst the few spectators. The rope was supplied, as usual, by Calcratt, who was confident of its sufficiency, and who was heard to exclaim afterwards, " l'd have risked my life on it." It was stated that no such accident had happened at Kirkdale for the past 30 years at least. Au inquest on the body of Connor was held by Mr. Driffield, county coroner.. The Jury, after returning the usual formal vei diet, inquired into the breaking ot the rope. A ropemaker, who was on the jury, after examining portions of the rope, stated that so far as could be seen it was a thoroughly good one—manufactured of Manilla hemp. The Jury exonerated Calcraft from any blame in the matter.