The Poole Telegram. — 1883-06-08 (Poole, Dorset, England)

CAFFREY.  On Saturday morning Thomas Caffrey was executed in Kilmainham gaol for the murder of Mr. Thomas Burke. He is the foutth man who has forfeited his life for the Phoenix-park murder. Next Saturday Tim Kelly, the youngest culprit, aged 19 years, and the last up to the preeent, will ho hanged: Delany, the other man who plea led guilty to the Murder, was reprieved. Csffrey was deeply penitent. At half-pest sits o'clock. the Rev. Canon Kennedy and Rev. Mr. Fenelly entered the prison, and at once preceedei to the cell of the doomed m in, whom they conducted to the chapel. Here Caffrey en seised in religious exercise for some time, and received the Holy Communion. Toe cro ad outside the prison numbered 200 pereone, qomp Acid chiefly of boys and women, and members of the labouring class. Just as the prison clock chimed the first stroke of the eighth hour toe little black flag was run uo, announning that Merwood had completed his work. Ahout SO or si 100 of th se in the crowd knelt down' crossed themselves, and cOfered.up prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed. Calfrey'S mother and other relatives broke down ounpietely when the awfrfl signal was displayed. The deceased man's brother suddenly burst into a paroxysm of grief, and wandered about aimlessly for a few moments. Inside the gaol the proceedings were of the west formal but solemn nature. After Caffrey had heard miss and bad performed his final religious duties in the chapel, the little proces,ion was formed at a quarter to eight. When leaving the chapel Caffrey said he hoped his fate would b 3 a warning to all young men against jeinine secret soeietiee. Half way to the place or execution he was met by Marwood. He did not evince the slightest emotion during the process of pinions tog. The culprit glanced hurriedly at the scaffold, a slight tremor seemed to overcome his frame, but it was colgynelrymmoemne,ntary, and with a firm step he ascended the steps leading t the platform. Then he turned to the warmly shook hands with them, thanked them for their serv,ces, and expressing his great expectation of forgiveness in the next world, stood ready for his fate, Death did not !molt from rupture of the spinal cord, but from asphyxia, so that death was not instentane me. C sffrey made no statement and lef t no deelaration, In-yend the cue he had made some time since admitting the j twice of his se atence. He was twenty-four years of ace, and was like his brother, for a long period employed as quay porter. At one tine he served in the army. His wire died some time since, baying one chill, the issue of the marriage. He had been at one time in the employment of Jalll4B C arey, the informer. The inquest on the body was fixed for nine o'clock, the coroner being Dr. Hart. and Dr. William Alexander Carte testified that the cause of death was asphyxia, produced by hanging, and a verdict was returned accordingly. The following letter is said to have been written by Caffrey to his mother :—" Kilmainham Gaol, June Ist, 1823, half-past eight o'clock p.m. Dear Mother,—l write you these few lines for the last time in this world, and hope you will offer up all your sorrows along with my sufferings in atonement for my crime, and all the sins of my past lite. I hope you will forgive all who have done me harm in this world, as I forgive them from the bottom of my heart, as I expect to get forgiveness from my merciful Father in Heaven. Dear mother, I am just after rec dying the Holy Sacrament of confirmation, and I am quite prepared, with the help of God, to go before the judgment-seat of justice. Make sure to mind your religion, yourself, and the chili, and I hope to meat you seine day in heaven, where there will he no more p arting for all eternity, and there in the company of our blessed Mother and all the saint's, we will praise our blessed Redeemer for evermore. Tell all inquiring friends that I hope no one will ever throw a slur on my child or anyone belonging to me for the death I had te suffer, and t hope you will never have c euse to blush when my name is spoken, as I am paying the full penalty of my crime in this world, and I hope I will net have to suffer in the next. Whenever you see this letter pray for me. No more in this world, from your loving am,