The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-10-11 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTIONS IN LONDON.  The two murderers, Thomas Henry Orrock, and Thomas Harris, underwent the penalty of the law on Monday morning within the prison of Newgate. The circumstances of the crimes for which they suffered have been given so recently that it will not be necessary to state more than that Orrock was convicted of the murder of a police-constable named Cole, who had endeavoured to take him into custody after he had broken into a Baptist Chapel in Hoxton, by shooting him with a revolver; and the other, Harris, was convicted of the murder of his wife, to whom he had been married a great many years, and who had borne him a large number of children, eleven of whom are still alive, by cutting her throat with a razor in the bedroom they occupied at Kilburn. The first-mentioned murder was committed nearly two years ago— namely, on the Ist of December, 1882. The murderer got clear away, and as it was a dark, foggy night, it was generally thought to be impossible to recognise him, and the murder had nearly died away from the public mind, when, through the active exertions and inquiries made by Inspector Glasse, of the N division of police, the prisoner was apprehended and his guilt of the crime was conclusively established. When the prisoner was sentenced to die by Mr. Justice Hawkins, before whom he was tried, he asserted that he was innocent. For a considerable time afterwards he persisted in the same denial; but as the day for his execution began rapidly to approach he appeared to realise his position, and at the latter end of last week he admitted to the Rev. Mr. Duffield, the chaplain of Clerkenwell and Newgate Prisons, that he was the man who fired the revolver at the unfortunate constable, although he persisted to the last in declaring that the act was not a premeditated one, and that all he was endeavouring to do was to make his escape. The prisoner, it will be remembered, was an attendant at the chapel where the burglary was attempted, and he bore a very good reputation with the Rev. Mr. Barton, the minister of the chapel. Since his conviction he has attended the prayermeeting in the prison chapel every day. By the orders of the prison authorities the prisoner was allowed to have any one to see him that ho expressed a desire for. His mother and stepfather were with him three or four times, but his wife, who is only 21 years old, has been with him every day, and took a parting farewell of her unhappy husband last Saturday. The prisoners went to bed about ten o'clock on Sunday night, Mr. Duffield having been ve th them alternately during the previous two hours. Orroek appeared to be quite resigned, but Harris exhibited the same callous demeanour that has characterised him since his conviction. Both prisoners got up at six o'clock on Monday morning, and very shortly afterwards they were visited by the Rev. Mr. Duffield, to whom both men expressed their gratitude for the kindness and attention shown them. Mr. Sheriff Phillips and Messrs. Crawfurd and Whitehead, the under-sheriffs, arrived at the prison about half-past seven o'clock, and were received by Captain Kirkpatrick, the Governor, who shortly afterwards accompanied them to the cells where the prisoners had been brought. Berry, the executioner, was in attendance, and the ceremony of pinioning was rapidly performed. Orsock was the first who was brought out. He walked with a firm step, was placed under the beam and the rope put round his neck before his unhappy companion, Harris, had been placed by his side. The Rev. Mr. Duffield then read the Burial Service, and at a given signal the drop fell, a distance of seven feet five inches, and death appeared to be instantaneous, the executioner apparently having performed his work in the most skilful manner. The skin on Harris's neck was slightly abrased, but it was stated that this was generally the case where the criminals are advanced in life, Harris being 48 years of age. A considerable crowd assembled outside the prison, and it was necessary to have the attendance of two police-constables to keep the road clear.