Widnes Examiner. — 1896-12-04 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE WARRINGTON CONDEMNED MAN.  VISIT OF RELATIVES TO WALTON GAOL. PAINFUL INTERVIEW.  On Tuesday afternoon, the condemned man James Bate, of Warrington, who is under sentence of death for the murder of his wife, was visited at Walton Gaol by several relatives, namely, Bate's mother, who lives at Warrington, his twin children, Elizabeth and John Willie Bate, aged six years, and a married cousin, Mrs. Ann Naylor. They reached Liverpool at 12.15, the railway journey berng evidently one of great delight to the two children, who had never he3n to Liverpool or in a train before. Their childish glee was in marked contrast to the grief-stricken feeling of their grandmother, who fully realised the painful ordeal before her. The first obligation of the party was to secure the necessary order for admittance to the prison signed by a magistrate, and after the usual routine this was obtained, and they proceeded by train to Walton. The anticipation of the children seemed to rise as the destination of their journey neared, and their frequent expression that "We are going to SAC daddy flow" was very touching. The permit acted as an open sesame to the ponderous outer gates of the prison, but, it being visiting day, the party were subjected to a delay of an hour, which was spent in a cold, cheerless, fireless ante-room. The tedium of waiting was relieved by the motley stream of visitors that kept passing to and fre, and the Liverpool "Black Maria," with her involuntary crew of in-comers, passed through to the inner quadrangle where they were duly deposited. Many of the visitors, it may be mentioned, were apparently lady misaionaees. When four o'clock sounded no further visitors were admitted.  The credentials of the party having meantime been closely scrutinised in the Governer's department, and everything been found in order, at twenty minutes to five, amidst the gathering gloom of the prilon, the massive inner iron gates were opened, and the party passed through and were conducted to the iron-barred chamber. They were ushered in by a kindly warder,and found the prisoner James Bate in the adjoining room, anxiously awaiting them. The mutual recognition between the mother and her only son—her only child—was of a very painful character. This was intensified when the children, and particularly the boy, who seemed to be his father's special favourite, exclaimed,"Why wan't you let me come nearer you, daddy ; I can't see you ?" A narrow passage, closely barred, separates the visitors from the visited. In answer to his child's entreaty, the prisoner stood beneath the gas and said, " Can you see me now ?" The warder kindly lifted the one child in his arms, and then the other, so that they might have a better view. "Why, daddy,' exclaimed John, the boy. "vou are growing whiskers,and are you a scldier now?" Then turning to the warder, he said, " Open that door, and let me in to daddy; you have enno' o' keys. The impossible request was gently refused,and the conversation turned upon the incidents of the case, and more especially as to the efforts for a reprieve. When informed that his petition had been signed by the Mayor and the leading people of the town, the hopes of the condemned man were greatly raised. Through the courtesy of tke officials the interview was allowed to last from twenty minutes to five to twenty minutes past. The parting, as it may he expected, was of an even more pathetic nature, the children utterly failing to comprehend why their father was not to return with them, and sadly and sorrowfully date had to put them 6ff with the promise that he would come home next week and fetch something with him. The mother and the cousin were almost equally affected. It was not until seven o'clock that the party reached Warrington, after a never-to•he-forgotten experience. Two coaling of the condemned man visited him last Saturday and found him bearing up well. He made a special request to see his daughter Maggie, who gave evidence against him at the trial, but so far it has not been decided whether she will be taken to the prison. Mrs. Bate has received two letters from her son, in which he also refers hopefully to the prospect of a reprieve. The petition is now being considered by the Home Secretary, whose decision may be expected almost immediately, as the execution is fixed to take place next Tuesday.—Liverpool "Daily Post."  The order for Dr. Jam release was received at Holloway Prison on We.ineso ay, and at nine o'clock at night he was quietly removed in an ambulance by some of bis friends.