The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1868-04-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF A MURDERER.  The execution of William Woreley, who was convicted at the last assizes of the murder of William Bradbury, at Luton, on the 17th October last, took place at Bedford, on Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock.  The particulars of the crime for which the culprit suffered the dread penalty of the law are shortly these. On Saturday night, the 17th October last, the man bradimry was returning from Luton with a bundle and basket containing some clothes which he had purchased in that town, and when passing Rand-green, on his way to his home at Lily, he was knocked down by Woreley by a blow with a winch used to wind up a grate, and Woreley afterwards administered several more severe blows upon the back of the head, and kicked the unfortunate man, and Welch (who was charged with Woreley with the murder, but who was admitted as evidence against Woreley, and acquitted of the capital charge robbed him of his clothes and his money. The poor fellow died in about an hour afterwards.  Several gentlemen hi Bedford and Luton exerted themselves to obtain a commutation of the sentence, and petitioned the Home Secretary upon the grounds of the absence of premeditation, aml because of the demoralising effecto of an execution, which would be greater in Bedford on account of the large educational establishment there, and, consequently, the number of young persons in the town. They also called the attention of the Home Seemtary to the bad character of Welch, whose evidence they contended could not be relied upon but a reply was received to the effect that there was no reason for interfering with the due course of the law.  Since Ms condemnation Woreley has conducted himself in a manlier becoming one in such an awful position, and has paid the greatest attention to the ministrations of the excellent and indefatigable chaplain, the Rev. S. Malmo-. The unfortunate man was visited twice by his wife and three brothers, and it Is almost needless to add that the interviews were of a most distressing nature. After his relations had left him on Saturday they wrote to him telling limo that there was no hope for him in this world, and Imploring him to seek for God's mercy. On Saturday night the governor informed him that all hope of his life being spared WU at an end, but the wretched man was not at all moved by thts announcement, but appeared to believe that he wonld be reprieved. The scaffold was erected upon the top of the entrance to the county gaol, snit was drtoed with black. It was no const, acted that only the head of the culprit could be seen. . .  Woreley displayed wonderful coolness, submitted to be pinioned with perfect docility, and walked to the scaffold without assistance, lie knelt at the foot of the scaffold to offer a brief prayer, shook hands with all around him, and bowed to the crowd on mounting the steps. The dreadful business was soon over, but the hundreds of men, women, and children who had tramped twenty miles to see the execution were partially disappointed, for the culprit's head was scarcely seen above the drapery which surrounded the scaffold, and when the bolt was withdrawn nothing but a vibrating rope remained in sight to indicate the "great moral lesson." The struggles of the convict lasted barely half a minute. His body was cut down at nine o'clock and buried inside the gaol.