The Poole Telegram. — 1884-03-14 (Poole, Dorset, England)

EXECUTION AT LIVERPOOL.  SCE 'E ON THE SO FOLD. THE EXECUTIONER CENSURED.  Michael M.'Leau, a labourer, 18 years of age, was executed at Kirkdole gaol, Liver poi, un Monday morniug, at eigut o'clock, for the murder of a Spanish seaman, named ISLALIeZ, in Bleckstone-steeet, Liverpool. M'Lean was the leader of a gang of young ruffians who were the t-rror of the neighbourhood, and o ily a short date before the murder of Nunez he had surieuely stabbed a policeman. He was also wanted for other acts of violence, but managed to elude the police until after the murder of Nunez, when the whole gang if five were captured. The jury returire t a verdict of not guilty in the case of three of the poisoners, and of 6uilLy against M'Leau and Dempsey, recourtneudieg them to manly on account of their youth. Lie Home Secretary remitted the capital Punishment in the case ot Dempsey, but said he could root see uny mitigating circumstances in M'Lean'a case. M'Lean appeared resigned to his fate, and mounted the scaffold with a firm step. Turning then to the reporters, he s,id in a clear voice "Gentlemen, I ' c 'wider it a disgrace to the police voice, of Liverpool and the laws of the country that I am going to suffer death, and another boy is a dug to suffer imprisonment for life, for a crime of which we are both innocent, as God is my judge." The drop was 10 feet Si inches, and death wee instantaneous. Brune was the executioner. The inquest was held soon after nine o'clock by Mr. Brighouse, the coroner. raidence was given that Binne, the executioner, came to the gaol drunk on Saturday, and that he gave a drop of 10 feet 8i inches, whereas he had said it would be 9 feet 6 inches. Binns volunteered to give evidence, and denied that he had more than one glass of beer and a bottle of horehound on the Saturday. He was drowsy, and fell asleep, because he had beau up duriug the week with his wife who was ill. The jury censured Binns for the inefficient manner in whicn he had conducted the execution. The Press Association stated that although the execution was sucomsfully accomplished, Binee was in a very nervous state while on the scaffold. On his arrival at the gaol on Saturday Binns was conducted to his old quarters, and at truce fell asleep. When the warders went to wake him he became noisy and abusive, and threatened to use personal violence to those about him. Indeed, so violent did he become that the governor sent for the police, upon which Binns became quiet. Samuel Heath, Binns' assistant, was after this scene sake 1 to undertake the execution, but be could not do so, as thane refused to surrender his straps and other appliances, and there was no time to obtain others. Heath inforreel the reporters that he had not received his travelling expenses in connection with tips previous executions, and that though Bions had received £l5 for the execution of Flanagan and Higgins together with ES for h s assistant, this money bad not been paid to Heath. It has been ascertained that when Binns reached Liverpool on Saturday he went t publichouse near the gaol, where be had dinner, and, it is alleged, only two glasses of ale. Aft-ir leaving the gaol on Monday, Binns drove in a cab to a publichouie, accompanied by two men engaged on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. He af ,erwarde visited another publichouse, where he is said to have imbibed pretty freely, and where he exhibited his ropes ni straps to • number of persons. He then proceeded to the Lime-street Siation and booked to Dewsbury, being apparently very iar advanced in liquor.