The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1891-01-03 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

EXECUTIONS AT LIVERPOOL AND YORK.  The execution of Thomas Macdonald for the murder of Miss Holt, schoolmistress, at Belmont, near Bolton, took place at Kirkdale Gaol oteliTuesriay. The morning was-terribly cold and pin y, Mew , lying thickly on the fields and roads in the vroinity of the gaol, and a keen wind blowing across the exposed piece of land in front of the part of the gaol where the black flag was hoisted. Despite the severity of the morning a large Lewd gathered outside. A few minutes before 8 o'clock the bell began to toll, and those having the orders the Sheriff, eight in number, were admitted to the gaol. The execution took place in the building known as the coach-house, and situated in the gaol yard. Here was erected the new apparatus, consisting of a link , chain attached to the cross beam, which can be regulated with a nicety to the weight of the person to be executed. The oross-beam is 12ft. from the tripdoor, and the pit is 12ft. deep. The condemned man passed a restless night., and rose early. He then partook of breakfast, and the Rev. Father Pennington, who has been administering spiritual oosafort to him since his condemnation, was early in attendance, and administered the last rites of the Church. Berry, who had slept in the gaol all night, then paid a visit to the condemned man, who appeared more than usually composed, and was paying earnest attention to the ministrations of the priest. Accompanied by Berry he proceeded to the pinioning cell, and there the executioner strapped his arms. Headed by the priest reciting the prayers for the dying, the procession passed to the scaffold, only a few yards distant. Here Berry strapped the culprit's legs, and stepping back drew the bolt. The gaol surgeon went below, and, having felt the pulse, stated that death occurred in three minutes, the shortest time ever known at Birkdale. The body was afterwards cut down and an inquest held. The hoisting of a blank flag upon Clifford's Tower of York Castle announced to the outside world on Tuesday morning that Robert %itching had suffered the extreme penalty of the law. A comparatively large crowd, consisting chiefly of artisans and boys, had oongrepted outside. %itching passed the night in troubled sleep, and as early 811 six o'clock was visited by the prison chaplain, the. Rev. H. Vyvyan. He was still engaged with the chaplain when Billington, the executioner, entered the condemned cell a few minutes before 8 o'clock. Beyond muttering a few inarticulate words, and exhibiting a nervous discomposure, he did not show any acute signs of emotion. The pinioaing was quickly performed. While %itching was standing over the drop he seemed to reel, . and nearly fainted, but the bolt was instantly withdrawn, and there was little vibration of it. The culprit's demeanour during the latter part of his confinement was marked by quiet resignation, excepting when he was visited by his wife and other relatives, on which occasion he relapsed into violent paroxysms of grief. He paid great attention to the ministrations of the chaplain and expressed himself very penitent. It is, underieood that shortly before his execution he left with the chaplain a (*Mention of his guilt of the murder of Police-sergeant Weedy, at Lseming, Wensleydale.