The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1883-05-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

DOUBLE EXECUTION AT TAUNTON.  On Monday morning, within the precincts of Taunton prison, the extreme senteace of the law was executed upon Joseph Wedlake, convicted for the murder ot filark Cex, at Winford, and George White. convicted for the murder of his wife, at Henstridge, near Wincanton ; and, in accordance with regulations issued by the High Sheriff of the county, the proceedings were conducted with as much privacy as the law would allow. The prison doors were cloeed against all who were not officially c mnecte I with the gaol. so that the execution was witnessed by the Sheriff, the chaplain, the wardere, the governors, and the surgeon. Since 1879, when the last execution t ,ole place at Taunton, considerable alteration has been effected in the interior arrangement of the geol. The prisons of the country have been taken over by the State, and are not now under the control of the county authorities, although we believe Visiting Committees representing the CJurt of Quarter Sessions, are permitted' to make periodical visite to the prison. Not only has this transferred authoryni applied to the Taunton prison, but the cell accommodation for civil prisoners has been much curtailed, and the greater portion of the gaol is used for the reception of military prisoners. There are, in fact, now two perate establishment made under one roil, v ith two governors and two sots of warders. Mr. Kiteley and his staff of officers have charge of the civil portion of the establishments. The !sentence of the law, urea' the last occasion was carried out in the van-house, a large room near the interior entrance gate; of the prison, but the changes to which we have adverted have rendered it necessary that another spot should be chosen. For some days the condemned men spsnt the greater part of the time iu Scripture reading and prayer. Beth were resigned to their fate. Wedlake, who ever since tho trial had been very penitent, frequently gave way to fits of remorse and grief ; but White, though equally resigned, had all along been more composed. Mar wood arrived at Taunton on Saturday, having travelled direct fries where, on Friday, he executed Daniel Curley, one of the Phcenix-park murderers. The scaffold was erected within the precincts of the civil prison, the site formerly used for such purposes being now included in the section of the gaol which has for the last few years been devoted exclusively to military prisoners. The chaplain, who was in constant attendance upon the condemned men, remained with them the greater portion of Sunday  evening. A. few minutes before eight o'clock on Monday morning the gaol bell began to till, and a procession, consitting or the gaol officials, the Sheriff, and the two culprits, wended its way to the place of execution. They took their politiuns under the drip, having previously had their arms pinioned ia their cells. Their legs were then strapped, white caps were drawn over their faces, and in a few seconds the bolt was drawn, and both men were launched Into eternity, the chaplain, the Rev. \V. Howse, reading the burial service. Immediately the drop fell a black flag was hoisted over the entrance to the prison, and those assembled without knew that the dread sentence of the law had been carried out. The bodies, according to the Provisions of the Capital Punishment Act, were allowed t hang for an hour, after which they were taken down and placed in rough woaden coffins. The black flag was lowered on the bodies being taken down end placed in a coffin, and the usual declaration was posted on the prison door, signed by tho High Sheriff, Mr. Vincent Stuckey, the prison chaplain, the Rev. W. Howse, and the governor of the prison, Mr. Kiteley, stating that judgment had been executed on both the condemned men. The certificate of the prison surgeon that thee sentence had been properly carried out was poste 1 alongside of it.