The Potteries Examiner : — 1877-08-04 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THE WOLVERHAMPTON MURDELLER.  Henry R,gers, who was convicted at the last St if. ford Assize: tor the murder of his wife at Wolverhampton, and cwidemned to death by Justice Lopes, was executed on Tuesday morning within the precincts of Stafford Gaol. Since his sentence the demeanour of the doomed man has considerably altered. The bursts of passion to which he gave way during the preliminary investigations, atal even on his trial, when he invoked curses on the head of his father, gave place ton calmer feeling and more subdued manner. During the time that bus elapsed since his trial he has been visit..d by his lather and mother, and also by two uncles. On these occasions he manifested perfect calmness. His child, which was taken into his cell whys his mother visited Min, he fondled with every indication of love, and begged his father's forgiveness for what he had said to him in court. At prisoner's earnest request the old man kissed him, as he 4f11,i for the last time. 'rho quiet and composed conduct of Rogers is attributed to the ministrations of the Rev. Dr. Acton. the Roman Catholic chepla n,who has twen constant italis attentions to the wretched man. The executioner, whose name was kept a secret, arrived at Stafford from the neigh. bourhotal of Dudley Olt Monday night. He is the same person who officiated at the last execution at Stafford, and it is believed these are the only Occasions on which he has practised the hangman's art. 'The prisoner passed his , last night on earth quietly, being engaged for a considerable portion of the time in religious exercises. Tim executioner was admitted to the condemned cell about a quarter Weight, and the dreatlfel process of pinioning was submittal to by the culprit with woudmiul calinmss. His features, however, wore a ghastly look. The pro. cession shortly afterwards stat ted for the scaffold, which is the same an that used in public executions at Stafford for many yenta past. The route from the conIlemned cell to the drop leads along the front avenue, and, after turning from the quarter where the model prisou is situated, the culprit came seddenly in full view of the scaffold, which was however, about a hundred yards away. Withont exhibiting the slightest fear, or utterisg sound, the condemned man walked steadily on, with his head slightly bent downwards, and in this attitude he mounted the steps on to the platform, when he suddenly, but with perfect toolness, raised his eyes and scratinised the beam and the noose. The executioner, without a moment's loss of time, slipped the noose over the culprit's head, and pulled a white cap over his head, and before the beholders had time to think of the awful seene going on, the bolt was with. dr.., and with a frightful jerk the hint net of the dreadful tragedy Was completed. From the time the start was made trom the condemned sell until the last, Rogers spoke no word and uttered no sound, but went to his death with a firm, composed demeanour. While; the procession was moving towards the scaffold the Burial Service of the Roman Catholic Church was read and responded to by Dr. Acton and his curate. Just as the awful scene was over an incident menrred which, to one person at least, must have imparted a horrid shock. The police authorities had seat foe Jon., the man who is in custody charged with the murder of his paramour at Burslem. A cab had been provided to take him to the railway station ea route for Burstein, where he was to be taken before the magistrates on remand. In cons, quence of the crowd at the principal entrance of the gaol the cab had to traverse a back road near the scene of the execution' and JOUPS, when being It'd to it, passed the scaffold where the body of Hegel s was hanging.