The Daily Times. — 1861-01-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE DOUBLE MURDER BY A SOLDIER AT ALDERSHOTT.-THE EXECUTION.  Yesterday morning at eight o'clock, at the county prison, Winchester, the wretched man, James Johnson, expiated the crime of which he was found guilty at the last Winchester assizes, viz., the wilful murder of Sergeant Chipts and Corporal Coles at Aldershott Barracks. On the 29th of November last the criminal was at the permanent barracks at Aldershott, having been punished by Chipts, a lance sergeant in the 41st Regiment, for disobedience of orders. In the evening the two victims were at a table playing at backgammon, there being several men watching the game. The murderer was a few feet behind the sergeant, standing near his own cot, apparently cleaning his rifle, when suddenly the report of a rifle was heard, and the smoke was seen as just having proceeded from the rifle of the culprit, he holding it against his hip. The ball from the rifle entered the back of the unfortunate Sergeant Chipts, just under the right bladebone, and passing through him, came out in the centre of the chest, and then penetrated the breast of Coles, causing instant death. The words used by the murderer left no doubt of his intention to kill Chipts. The bullet passed out at poor Coles' back, and struck against and broke a rifle leaning against the wall near the spot. The miserable man through the whole proceedings since the commission of the crime has simulated insanity. The medical testimony has been clear on the point that though the culprit is a man of very excitable temperament, there was no real symptom of aberration of mind. He has been in a low and desponding state up to Friday last, when he became apparently more resigned to his fate, although maintaining a very reserved demeanour. On Sunday week he attended divine service in the chapel for the first time since his conviction. The wretched man also attended service in the chapel on Sunday last. He retired to rest at twelve o'clock last night, having been reading until that time. He was somewhat restless during the night, but arose at five o'clock this morning, when the rev. chaplain attended him. The under-sheriff, Mr. T. B. Woodman, arrived at the gaol at a quarter past seven, and shortly afterwards Calcraft and the prison officials entered the cell. The unhappy man bore the process of piniouing with much firmness, and as the clock struck eight the mournful procession moved towards the fatal drop, the Rev. Mr. Rogers praying, and the culprit joining with great apparent fervency. On arriving at the gallows, Calcraft quickly adjusted the noose, and the miserable man was launched into eternity. The condemned being of slight and short stature, the fall was arranged longer than usual, and death ensued almost instantaneously. The morning was very wet and stormy, but upwards of 3,000 persons were present.. This morning the culprit told the chaplain that the rifle was loaded only a few minutes before the shot wag fired ; but it was not done with intent to kill Sergeant Chipts, but only to disable him. He strongly denied to the last that the threats deposed to at the trial had been uttered by him. The unhappy man has a mother and sister in Ireland, but they are not supposed to be aware of the awful fate of their relative. The last words of the criminal before reaching the drop were beseeching the chaplain to comfort his mother and sister, and tell them he died penitent.