The Potteries Examiner : — 1875-04-24 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THE HYDE ROAD MURDER. EXECUTION OF HEAP.  Alfred Thomas Heap, chemist and druggist, of Manchester, who selas sentenced to death at the recent Liver. pool Assizes, for the wilful murder of Margaret McKivett, a young woman, twenty.six years of age, whilst procuring abortion, paid the extreme peaalty of the law at eight o'clock on Mcmday morning, within the precints of the county prison, Hirkdale. Prisoner's wife practised as a midwife, and on the 12th of March deceased, who was pregnant, went to see her, but was told she was dead. She then went to the prisoner, who lived apart from his wife, but was followed by her mother, who was uneasy as to what her daughter was doing. Whilst the mother of the deceased was standing in the shop talking to Carroll, the housekeeper, she heard a noise upstairs, and heard Heap call out to Carroll. The latter then went upstairs, and, being still uneasy, the mother ran upstairs to the room, and found her daughter lying on a bed in notate of complete insensibility, and the prisoner and Carroll standingover her trying to restore her. Mrs. Marshall, the mother, on seeing her daughter's condition, made a loud exclamation, and Carroll said, "Don't make a noise, as a constable might be passing, and would at once take Heap into custody." After a considerable time deceased was brought round by means of restoratives, and Mrs. 31 a r shall asked the prisoner what was the matter with her daughter, and he said, "She will be all right in a short time." Deceased returned home, and early on Sunday morning she had a miscarriage. Heap was sent for in the after- 1 noon, and he arrived at the house in a state of intoxication, lie asked Mrs. -.Marshall if the elecea.d had had I a miscarriage, and on being told she had, he said, "She will be all right now." The deceased continuing unwell, Dr. Pletcher was sent for on Monday, and when he arrived he found her in a dying state. She died the I following morning. A post mortem examination was made, and death was found to have been caused from I inflammation consequent upon two punctures in the . womb. The condemned man appeared exceedingly penitent since his conviction. He retired to rest at twelve on Sunday night, and slept soundly until three, when he awoke. He, however, soon fell asleep again, and did not awake until six, when he got up. He attended chapel at seven and partook of the Holy Coinmunion, after which he sat down to breakfast, of which he ate sparingly. Marwood, the executioner, was then I introduced to him, and, having pinioned him the procession started. The chaplain VMS reading the service for the condemned, and Heap, who appeared very calm and collected, walked up the scaffold without assistance. As soon as he got on the scaffold he stood for a moment, then placed himself under the fatal beam, and turned his face towards the sky while the noo=e was being adjusted. The chaplain continued to read the service, and ' after the cap had been drawn, Heap pronounced the only worm s he had spoken during the process, which were, " Lord Jeans, receive my soul." These had scarcely been pronounced when the executioner stepped back, drew the bolt, and the drop fell. Death was instantaneous. The drop was five feet six inches. Heap has made a statement in which he confesses having used instruments, but denies having any intention to commit murder. He expressed a strong desire that the statement which is a very lengthy one, should be published in the newspapers. The confession will be forwarded to the chairman of the Visiting Justices, and it is understood will be given to Heap's son, who will consult with his relatives as to the desirability of publishiug.