Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-12-07 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

STATICNIENT OF BINNS.  Late on Monday night, Diane, the executioner, made a statement with reference to the alleged bung• ling at the execution of the Liverpool murderer. At the time he made the statement BMus was perfectly sober, quite cool and crllected, and was evidently wishful to throw what light he could on the dreadful subject. He said : I arrived at the prison at ten minutes to seven, and went to the chief. warder. I had made all my preparations, and at eight minutes to eight received the convict, pinioned him in the usual way, and had to remain on the scaffold four minutes.—What was the reason that you had to remain on the scaffold that time? It was the governor's fault. -He told me to wait until his signal was given to me. Every arrangement was made on my part. The drop was Sit. fiin., and not 71 e. sin. I wait Al for the signal, but he did not give it, and I took it upon myself. I asked him twice. It was not usual to war the governor to give the signal ; he should give it himself. I asked him three times distinctly for it. I had then to step behind the man twice, as he was faintiug. When I had stepped behind him I said, "Now, are you ready ? " and the governor replied, " It's not eight o'clock." I said, "Are you ready ? " twice, and he again replied, " It's not eight o'clock." I then said, "I Ran ready." Then I dropped him.—Did you leave the gaol immediately? did the governor say anything to you? Nothing at all.—You went away and thought nothing further would be said or done in the matter? Nothing. I arrived at Dewsbury at 12.47, leaving Liverpool at ten and Manchester at eleven. It is not true that I was the worse for drink. I got straight up out of bed, partook of no breakfast, and went to the gaol. No man can say they ever saw Binus that morning or the day before take a drop of drink. The rope wan a new one ana pliable. The middle strand of the old rope was broken, and I had the new rope purposely made for fear the old one would not stand the strain. —ls the rope any thicker ? No ; it is an inch rope. and not as stated in the papers, an inch and a half. He considers the length of the drop given to have been adequate, and says all would have gone off well if the governor would have let him pull the lever the first time. It was only natural, he said, for the culprt to move his head about and faint when he had to wail for four minutes for the signal to be given. If required, he would have been only too wiling to give evidence at the inquest; but, as after previous executione, he caught the first train home. He had inspected the rope, and found it to be similar in every respect ts the 1 one used at Durham; and it seemed to him almost Wu• poinnole for the noose to widen after being once adjusted, owing to a leather washer fitting tightljr on 1 the rope, so tightly that, after being once placed close to the eyelet•hole, it required a strong effort to move it back again. In measuring the drop, he Lund it to be exactly 81t. 10in., and, pulled tight, would be fully 91t. The executioaer states that he nee an inch-thick rope, because he was wishful to avoid any possibility of it breaking, as the case was some rears ago at Leeds. As a contrast to the alleged bungling. Nana points out the efficient manner in which he had conducted the four previous executions; and his sole aim, he says, is to despatch an unfortunate conviet as quickly and painlessly a 9 possible.