Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1875-12-23 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE WHITECHAP.EL TR AGEDY.  DIPCIRTAIg CONFEsSIOX BY THE  dULPRIT.  On Tuesday morning, Henry Wainwright was executed in the prison of Newgate, for the murder of Harriet Lane in Whitechapel, in September of last year, under circumstances which will be perfectly fresh in the minds of our readers. A large number of persons asumibled at the prison a fnll hour before the time which had been fixnd by the Sheriff for carrying out the sentence. Outside the gaol there was nothing to be seen, but morbi.l curiosity caused some hundreds of poisons to gather at seven o'clock, and to wait until eight o'clock, in order to see hoisted the black flag, which announced that Henry Wain, wright had expiated a foul murder. Inside the prison the preparations commenced early. The scaffold is in the chapel yard, and Ofinds at right angles with the position in which the drop used when executions were publicly conducted occupied. It st muds on a level with the fluor of the yard, which ha been excavated to the depth of about eight feet to allow for a drop which shall ensure the painless and almost instantaneous death of the culprits whose fate it may unlipppily be to die the deaths of murderers.  Shortly before eight o'clock the bell of St. Sepulchre's cammenced to toll, and as occasionally warders passed to and fro in the small yard, one corner of which was occupied by the scaffold, the susrense existing in the minds of the spectators became almost unendurable. The rope which, we may reinaili, was of unusual thickness, was attached to some dozen links of a stout chain, and dangled over the platform on which the culprit was presently to stand.  A few seconds after the cloak had struck eight, a door in the western corner of the yard was opr.ned, and Marwood the executioner emerged, walking side by side a ith Wainwright aod followed by Mr Sidney Smith, Governor of Newgate ; the Rev. Llo3 Jones, ordinary; the Sheriff, Under Sherriff, and from warders.  Wainwright was dressed in the clothes which he wore on his trial, and consisted of a black frock coat and vest with striped trousers, and patent leather boots. Ha seemed the least concerned of the group, and betrayed no sign of the almost sleepless night which he had passed, or fear of tke fearful I doom which WRS impendimt. Daring the night he had slept little, and in answer to the question of thp warder he that morning said "It matters little how I rested during the night, as I am about to enter upon a loag sleep." Taking a brief glance at the chain dangling loose, Wainwright placed himself upon the drop, and the ordinary commenced reading that nal of the Bur;al Service, which is used on these occasions. While this was proceeding Marwood took the culprit in band and made the last dread preparations. In the Spit place, he drew a white cap over Wainwright's face, and then proceeded to put the rope round his neck. This was not easy, owing to the fact that the culprit wore his beard long. The noose was placed under the chin of the condemned instead of behind the ear, which was the custom of Calcraft. While this was being done the Ordinary proceeded with his reading of the service—the culprit taking no part in the center:my, and in fact, utterly disregarding everything that was going on around him.  Mar wood then drew the bolt, and the drop being close upon six feet, death was instautaneous. At nine o'clock, the body was cut down and placed in a coffin on the drop. The placid features showod the painlessness of the death. At eleven o'clock, on Monday night, the culprit placed in the hands of the governor of the prison a written statement, in which lie appeals to the lovingki ndness of a merciful God that his transgressions may be blotted out, for the sake of that blessed Savour whom he h 4 so long neglected. He then acknowledges the justice of his punishment, and says he deserves it, though he dots not absolutely confess to the murder. He then expresses his sincere thanks to the Governor and all the officials for their attention, and t 3 his many friends, known and unknown, who have with Christian sympathy rendered assistance to his family. He hopes and truly believes that their many prayers for his eternal lie.ppiness and peace have been a!,swererl by a gracious and ever forgiving God, and concludes by commending his family to the hands of that Almighty Father who is the protector of the widowed and fatherless.