The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-09-11 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF THE ALDERSHOT MURDERER.  On Monday morning, at eight o'clock, the final sentence of the law was eairieo into effeet,utsbie the County Prison, Wineln-ater, on William Dix., who, it will be remembered was condemned to death on the 18th of last month for the wilful murder of Corporal Win. Brett The following are the leading circninsiances of the case The culprit was stationed with his regiment, the 7th Royal Fusiliers, at the camp at Aldershot, and OCell. pied part of in hut of which his victim was the corporal in charge. Brett had to report Dixon several times for trifling breaches of discipline, but not mole than, or, indeed, so much as, other non-commissioned officers had Mine, under whom Dixon was from time to time. On the 211th of July some of the men of , the regiment were engaged in filling the mattresses, but the culprit and a comrade, named Hen-hall, left their duty and went away to the canteen, where they were found drinking, and from whence they were fetched by Corporal Brett to com tinue the work. After it was done Dixon and Hens shall went and had more drink, and on returning to the but Henshall got his rifle from the rack, and on being asked what he was going to do made use of threats against Brett, declaring he would "put his light out before night." Seeing that he was under the influence of drink he was removed to the guard-room, and very soon afterwards Dixon was seen in the act of handling his rifle, and, as the deceased was approaching the hut, he levelled the weapon at him. One of his comrades, named Adams, called out to him to miud what he was about, upon which the culprit pointed the rifle at him, and said that he should have the I contents of it if he interfered. Dixon then levelled his gun at the corporal just as he was entering the hut, and shot him through the bead, killing him on the spot. After the occurrence Dixon quietly gave up his rifle, saying at the time, "Now I am satisfied ; tve done it." After his committal to the County Prison he was asked what he was brought there for, and he Te-1 plied "for shooting Corporal Brett." The deputy. governor of the prison said that was a bad job, and Inquired how it came about, to which Dixon replied, • Well, he was always bullying me." He also r,ferre, I to the same subject when he asked the sch.silinaater of the gaol to write a letter to his mother, and tell her that Cirporal Brett had acted like a tyrant to him. At that time such was the only reaoin he at all gave for the commission of the not. It in only just to state that at the trial the murdered man was proved to have been a kind, humane, and conviderste man to those under him. Subsequently, as Dixon was being brought to Winchester to take his trial he Retuned to be very unhappy, and spoke in most affectionate terms of his mother, at the same time saying that drink was the cause of what had happened. The culprit was brougnt down the name evening he was convicted, and ever since he has been under charge his general conduct has been very orderly and most attentive to all instruction given to him. o was, however, exceedingly retsina d, but evidently fel' his position a ivied deal, especialiy towards the loot few days. On Sanday he received Holy Communion, and afterwards wrote the following statement, and made, as will be seen, an earnest request that his last word. should be made public Dixon, now tying under sentence of death for