The Atherstone Times. — 1879-08-30 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE EXECUTION IN WARWICK GAOL.  John Ralph, who was sentenced to death at the last Warwick Assizes for the wilful murder of Alice Vernum at Soling Hill, Birmingham, was executed on Tuesday utorning,within ths precincts of the gall at Warwick. Merwood was the executioner. Sioce his condemnation Ralph has ben visited by several relatives. Its wife heed en interview with hien of twenty miuntee' duration on Thursday last, and on Monday she visited him for the last time. She was seventeen when she married him, seven years ago and she assisted him in his calling of a basket hawker. Ralph is one of a family of four brothers anti four sisters. His father died about sixteen years a ; his mother is still living. The conlict was wretchedly ignorant, not knowing a single letter of the alphabet. For the past ten years he has been connected with the First Warwick Militia, and awing the annual training at Warwick he attended St Mary's Church and the Roman Catholic Chapel, affecting a preference for the latter, although his ienoranee on religious matters was most deplorable. Of idle habits, he left goad deal of business to his wfe ft very steady and indueiHous woman. Until he formed an adulterous intimacy with the murdered woman Relplths domestic happiness was AR great as entnmauly f dle to men in his In. Twelve 'mattes ago, when the intimacy began, his conduct towards his wife changed, and he became increasingly ftegligeut of his work, f irsook his home for days together, and was more thou unialty found at peblie muses. During the three months preeeding the murder he was only at his home twice— once for two &Is, and on the second oceasien for four days Hite wile wee obliged to break up her home eud live with her mother. It is believed that Mrs. Vernnin eupplied him with money. His wife was aware of the illicit connection with the deceased aid it was naturally a source of much bielteriu and unpleattantoees. On one occasion when he sought admission to the house he locked bin, out, and he thou obtained a clothem line and threatened tn hang himself, but the meter ended in threats. He seemed to have been greatly enamoured of Mrs. Vernum, considering her one of the best-looking women, as het ermed her, in Birmingham. Site woe to him almost daily while he was up with his regiment at Warwick, and it wee then that she fir-t displayed that " she was tired of him," as she described it to one of the witnasees examined on the trial. Ralph'. euepicione were first areused by her no, seceding tohie repeated requiem that she would visit Warwick to see hint in his billet. The first time that Ralph's wife saw him and the victim iogether was as they were leaving the Wrexham publ.c.houee together on the Thursday before the murder. He then told her that he was going home, but Mrs. Ralph refused him admission. She is now living near the Wrexham public-home, and, havieg been prevented by accident from fulfilling her calling as a hawker, her case is one which deieryee the sympathy of the charitable, eepecially as she has been the main support of her mother. On the evening APO!, which her husband was condemned she was, for the first time in her life, se z-id with a fit while going upstairs, and falling, sprtained her foot, which will. it is believed, prevent her eerning anything for two or three months. The only occasiene upon which R Alit evinced any emotions were during his wife a v.mits, and he, at such times, shed tears. Alth on eh told of the day of his execution, and that no Hen was being made to obtain a COMlSllltAtiOli of the sentence. he buoyed himself up with the Lops of a reprieve. fie ate