Widnes Examiner. — 1886-02-13 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

FOR THE PLUMPTON MURDER.  On Monday morning, Anthony Benjamin Budge, John Martin isaliam John White), and James Baker were executed in Carlisle Gaol for the murder of P.C. Byrnes, at Plumpton, on October 19th. The weather was cold and misty, but a very large crowd of people assembled in the vicinity of the gaol to see the black flag hoisted. The streets were blocked with people, an 4 many persons had taken up positions on tall buildings overlookiog the prison in the hope of seeing the sentence of the law carried out. The High Sheriff (Mr. L. B. Dykes) prevented the gratification of this morbid curiosity by causing the scaffold to he erected in the old treadmill shed, close to the cells were the convicts were incarcerated, and the complete seclusion of the funeral procession was secured by the erection of a boarding to cover the short distance on the way to the scaffold, which was not already roofed in. Since their condemnation Budge and Martin, who belonged to the Roman Catholic faith, have received the constant ministrations of the Rev. Canon. Waterton; and Baker has been attended by the Rev. James Wilson, chaplain of the gaol. Rudge and Martin were inclined at first to reject the services of a spiritual adviser, as they considered it would be contemptible for one of their type to turn pious at the eleventh hour. Canon Waterton, however, brought them to a proper appreciation of their position, and on Saturday both men received the Holy Communion after making sacramental confession. Baker was very attentive to the ministrations of the chaplain, and received the Holy Communion about half -auhour before the execution. He took his last farewell of his father, mother, brother, ana sisters on Friday, and on the same day kludge received a final visit from his brother and his young nephew, who was christened after the condemned man, and whom he he had expressed a wish to see before he died. At a quarter before eight o'clock the prison bell itegan to toll, and Berry, the executioner, and his assistant commenced to prepare the men for death. The scaffold was a new substantial structure, with a crossbar cap.tble of sustaining 16 tons. The floor was divided into two leaves, and the three men stood alongside one another close together. A few minutes before eight o'clock the condemned men, who had already been pinioned in their cells, were brought out and conducted to the place of execution. The distance that they traversed was short, and the grim engine of death was soon reached. Rudge and Martin were attended by Canon Waterton and Father Thompson, and the chaplain accompanied Baker. In low tones each minister offered the condemned the last consolation of religion. The other persons present at the execution were the High Sheriff, the Under Sheriff, three magistrates, representing the Visiting Committee, two newspaper reporters, and the prison officials. When the men reached the seaffold, Martin was placed in the middle, with Rudge on his right hand and Baker on his left. While Berry and his assistant were adjusting the white caps the convicts engaged in prayer, repeating the words, "Lord, have mercy upon my soul." Baker also said with reference to the woman, with whom he bad lived, and to whom he had written on Sunday night, "Nellie, keep straight." He added, "I am an innocent man; but I forgive everybody. Lord have mercy upon my soul; Christ have mercy upon my soul." At eight o'clock the bolt was drawn, and the three men dropped through the trap. Drops of 4ft. 6ft., and 6ift. were allowed, and death was apparently instantaneous. Before death Martin told Canon Waterton to say that he admitted firing the shot which killed Byrnes; but that he did it without intention to murder, tut simply to disable the officer. Both Rudge and Martin declared that the "fourth man" who has not yet been arrested "had nothing to do witk it," and had merely joined them on the road. Inquests were held on the bodies by the city coroner (Mr. J. Hevreteon Brown). when the usual verdicts were returned.