Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1889-01-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

FOUR EXECUTIONS.  The execution of Charles Balmer, 51 years of I age, groom, who was sentenced to death at Leeds ' Assizes for the murder of his wife, Elizabeth Bulmer, at Lockwood, Huddersfield. on September 10, was fixed to take place at Armley Gaol, Leeds, on Tuesday morning, the Home Secretary having declined to interfere with the course of the law. Billington, the executioner, arrived at I the gaol on Monday night. and slept within its I precincts. Balmer retired late on Monday night, but rose early, and after an interview with the chaplain met his death with evident 1 contrition, and acknowledged the justice of his sentence. Balmer had never expected a reprieve I Since the trial he has deeply felt his position, and I the interviews between himself and relatives have been painful in character. On Monday afternoon be was visited by one of his sons, a [cousin, and two friends. At eight o'clock on Tuesday morning Thomas Clewer was executed in Stafford Gaol for the :murder of Mary Jane Bonnet, at the village of I Washernall, near Hanley, North Stafford, on the 15th of September list. The prison authorities were very reticent as to the convict's behaviour since his imprisonment, but he was visited on several occasions by h:s friends, and contemplated his fate with resignation. The condemned man walked to the scaffold with the !utmost firmness, and without any support from I the warders who surrounded him. Berry was i the executioner, and the drop was six feet, The I deceased was sft. 61n. in height, and weighed I about ICat 61b.  William Gower, aged 18, moulder, and Charles Joseph Dobell, 19, were executed at Maidstone Gaol on Wednesday morning for tho murder of Hensley Cyrus Lawrence at Tunbridge Webs on the 20th of July last. Lawrence was the timekeeper at the Baltic Sawmills, where Gower was employed, and he aroused Gower's enmity by frequently reporting him late. Gower and 'his companion Dohcll plotted to murder Lawrence. They purchased a revolver, and on drawing lots it fell to Donell to commit the crime. He accordingly ! enticed Liiwrence out, shot him through the head abd escaped. The crime remained undiscovered ' nntil October 11th, when both the culprits. haying joined the Salvation Army, confessed the crime to the conductor of the services at Tunbridge Wells. They were tried and condemned at last Tunbridge Assizes. and the Home Secretary declined to interfere with the sentence. Berry arrived from Stafford last night, and was at once taken to the gaol, where he stayed, pressure having been brought to bear on him from the Home Office to prevent him making himself too public. Both the culprits, it was I stated, retired about eleven o'clock last night, and slept soundly until six, when they were visited by the chaplain, with whom, as well as by themselves afterwards, they engaged in prayer. They were remarkably self-possessed, and walked firmly to the scaffold. Tho UnderSheriff (Mr Scudamore), the prison doctor, two or three other prison officials, and several reporters were the only persons present, and the solemn ceremony from first to !set did not take more than five minutes. Berry ied a twelve foot rope, and death was said to be instantanocma, although the rope slightly swayed in Dobell's case after the drop fell. From the time they were pioioned until the bolt was drawn not more than twenty i seconds elapsed.