Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1892-01-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE MURDER AT A WAYSIDE INN.  EXECUTION OF STOCKWELL.  Stookwell, the Linthwaite murderer, wits hanged in Armley Gaol on Tuesday morning. The crime for which he suffered was the murder of Kate Dennis, a servant girl lii years of age, at an inn at Linthwaite, near Leeds. The murder was very Waal in character, and aroused much indignation at the time. An effort to obtain • reprieve was unsuccessful. The unfortunate man took leave of his relatives on Monday, and admitted the justice of his sentence. Billington arrived at Armley Gaol on Monday afternoon, and proceeded to make the necessary arrangements. Stockwell was quite calm when he was told that no reprieve had been granted, and said he was quite prepared to meet his fate. ,He stated that he had only himself to blame, and that he must have been mad at the time. He had I been drinking heavily, and drink had ruined him. The attempt to obtain a reprieve was based on the ground of insanity in the family of the prisoner, his mother having been in an asylum, and there being evidence of insanity • good way back. The party to chill him on Monday included his father, Mark Stockwell, his three brothers, his two sister*, a sister-in-law, and • brother-in-law. The culprit's wife was &hung from the painful ordeal, but she had previously written her husband an affectionate letter, in which she counselled him to prepare for the worst, and promised to bring up their boy "in the fear of the Lord." Stockwell's mother, too, was unable to be present ; indeed, she is said to be suffering even more acutely from the shock than her bereaved daughter-inlaw. The condemned man t.3ld them that "he would meet his death with a firm heart." Ile sent his kind love to his wife and little lad. As the time of parting drew near everybody because affected to a liarrowinA degree ; only the prisoner maintained his composure. The site of the 'scaffold was the same as that On the , occasion of the execution of the Horsforth I murderer recently, within only about a minute's walk from the condemned cell. The execution was carried out privately, the High Sheriff having decided that no reporters should be admitted. The first intimation that the death sentence had been carried into effect was the hoisting of the black flag, which was witnessed by • erns!' crowd of persons living in the vicinity of the prison. Stockwell, since his condemnation, has slept well and eaten his food heartily. He intid great attention to the chaplain's ministrations, and on Sunday attended service in prison. He also wrote letters to his relatives, cautioning them against the evils of drink. The chaplain went to Stockwell's WI at six o'clock on 'Noel ay morning, and shortly be fore eight Bi I lington entered the cell and pinioned the culprit. He then led him to the oorridor, whence the procession altrist ler the scaffold. Stockwell walked with firm step, and took his place on the trap door, and in • few moments the bolt was drawn, and all was over. Bdlington allowed • drop of eight feet, and death was instantaneous.  - Two young men killed themselves with revolvers in Nottingham on Wednesiey. Henry Joplo Wright, despairing of being efilaient for • pen& lug examination in dental slavery, shot Lionel( with feel offset in thu abdomen. Lewis Bamford, another respectably connected youth, deliberately shot himself in the head at midnight in a public thoroughfare, and died instantaneously. Letters addressed to his parents, his sister, sad 16%00m0' were found upon the body. The latest and most life-like - • Kiss V  .very the Queen. auat finished by  ..Le portrait of Mary Casibies,slo242