Darlington & Richmond Herald. — 1874-01-10 (Darlington, Durham, England)

THE DURHAM EXECUTIONS.  LEAVE-TARING OF THEIR RELA.TIVES. ARRIVAL OF THE- EXECUTIONER. On arriviag at Durham, I fund that the staple topic of conversation was the impenditig executions. There can be no doubt that the decision of the Visiting Justices to exclude all representatives of the press from witnessing the hanging of the three culprits has given rise to a feeling of surprise, and that the public of the Cathedral City condemn, and in strong language too, the procedure of the Visiting Justices, is beyond dispute. Iriasuluch as these gentlemen have taken upon themselves to put a construction on an Act of Parliament previously unknown (except in one solitary instance in Ireland), it may be interesting to your readers to be acquainted with their names. They are Messrs Rowland Burdon, J. F. Elliot, John Fawcett, E. H. Shipperdson, A. D. Shaftoe, William Mayor, P. S. Wilkinson, and W. Greenwell. Calcraft is now superseded, at least at Durham, and a stranger, named Marewood, took his place at the gallows on Monday morning. The new hadgman says he has had considerable experience in the "art of strangulation" in Scotland and Ireland.  In some quarters it was expected, up to Saturday morning, that Gongh, the Sunniside murderer (who, it will be remembered, was, recommended to mercy), would be spared with his life. No respite, however, arrived, nor does it appear that any serious efforts were ever made with a view of obtaining a commutation of the sentence. Gough is a Roman Catholic, and, since his condemnation, has been constantly visited by the Very Rev. Canon Consitt—one of the most esteemed ministers in the Catholic Church—who, this morning, administered the communion to the culprit for the last time. Subsequently, at the morning service at St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Church, Canon Consitt referred to the three unhappy men under sentence of death, and asked the prayers of the congregation on their behalf. The Very Rev. Canon stated that Gough was quite prepared to die, and that his conduct since his condemnation had lren everything that could be desired: On Monday morning at eight o'clock (the hour of the execution), mass was celebrated at the Roman Catholic Chapel for the repose of Gough's soul. The culprit Thompson, since his confession, has been very attentive to the ministrations of the chaplain (the Rev. J. C. Lowe), and prays frequently for forgiveness. Dawson, on the contra 7, so far as outward appearances are to be relied on, is hardened, and he disregards the ministrations of the chaplain. He was on Saturday visited by his father and mother from Darlington, who took a final farewell of their unfortunate son. On the previous day (Friday) Thompson's relatives saw him for the last time. Gough has no friends in England. On Friday and Saturday morning the culprits were exercised by themselves in the presence of the usual number of warders, and it is said the most aheerful-looking man in the company was Charles Dawson, who, it may be stated, has, since his incarceration, considerably increased in weight. The gallows does not (as has been erroneously stated by some of our contemporaries) occupy the same position as formerly. It has been erected at the east end of the woman's wing, immediately behind the Governor's residence; and here, I understand, all future hangings will take place. hiarewood, the executioner, arrived on Saturday afternoon, and took up his abode at the Court Inn. A legal friend of mine, who had some conversation with this functionary, says in features he is not unlike the " Willington weather prophet," but mach taller, and apparently about fifty years of age. On Monhay morning, the Rev. Dr. Dykes, vicar of St. Oswald, requested the prayers of the congregation on behalf of the condemned men.  ,